The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO) has released new data showing that global food prices in August experienced the steepest monthly drop since 2008, which casts doubt upon concerns about the impact of ethanol production in food price increases. According the the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA), the recent decline in food prices coincided with …
Explaining Dropping Biodiesel RIN Prices
The price for D4 biodiesel renewable identification numbers (RINs) has dropped by more than 50 cents since the middle of June, leaving many scratching their heads and asking, “Why?” Analysts from the University of Illinois have an explanation. The first factor contributing to the decline in D4 biodiesel RINs prices is the price of soybean oil, which is the main …
GE Provides Biomass Gasification for Project
GE is providing an integrated biomass gasification solution to power a bioenergy plant in California. This news release from the company says it struck the deal with Western Energy Systems and San Francisco-based Phoenix Energy to provide this for the North Fork project, the next in a series of bioenergy plants that Phoenix Energy is building in the state. GE’s …
Ethanol Report on Growing Biofuels Infrastructure
USDA has announced new funding for biofuels infrastructure at fueling stations and Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen thinks EPA should pay attention to that message. In this Ethanol Report, Dinneen also comments on what Congress may or may not do the rest of this session, and how another big corn crop makes keeping the RFS on …
American Ethanol “Top Gun” at Lake Ozark Shootout
American Ethanol made a big splash at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout held in central Missouri recently. More than 100,000 spectators gathered to watch nearly 100 boats race along the one-mile course, and the boat crowned as the “Top Gun” was the American Ethanol 51-foot Mystic Powerboats catamaran. The boat, named after its fuel, logged a top speed of …
California City Switches to Renewable Diesel
A California city has switched to using renewable diesel in its municipal fleet. This story from Patch.com says Walnut Creek in the Bay area is one of the first cities in the area to make the switch. So far, the conversion has been seamless, Walnut Creek Public Works Manager Rich Payne said. “We haven’t noticed anything in terms of performance …
German Biodiesel Quality Group Starts Glycerol Test
A German group that maintains quality standards for biodiesel will carry out round-robin tests for pharmaceutical glycerol. This news release from AGQM (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitaetsmanagement Biodiesel) says this will be the first time for the tests, and registrations will still be accepted until Sept. 20, 2015. Round Robin Tests to check test methods and the proper handling of professional laboratories have …
USDA Applauded for Biofuel Infrastructure Support
This morning, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to help provide access to more renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. In response, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) applauded USDA for expanding its efforts to provide consumers with fuel choice at the …
Enerkem Raises C$152M in Funding
Waste-to-biofuels and biochemical company Enerkem has raised C$152.6 million and initiated the production of biomethanol from non-recyclable household garbage at the Enerkem Alberta Biofuels full-scale facility in Edmonton, Canada. The financings are comprised of a recently accessed C$29 million debt facility from Integrated Asset Management Corp.’s (IAM) Private Debt Group as well as C$50 million in private placements from current investors …
USDA Announces Funding for Biofuel Infrastructure
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to help provide access to more renewable fuels for America’s drivers. “The Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership is one approach USDA is using to aggressively pursue investments in American-grown renewable energy to create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help Americans save money …