Quinn Dickinson, research specialist at the University of Madison’s Wisconsin Energy Institute who also works with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), has helped to design a new strain of yeast that he believes holds great promise in improving the efficiency of making biofuel from biomass such as switchgrass. Dickinson’s goal is to solve a problem in the biomass …
DOE Announces Biomass to Biofuels Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $11.3 million in funding to develop flexible biomass to hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways. The goal is for these roads, per se, to be able to be easily modified to produce advanced biofuels and/or bioproducts, depending on market demand. Using a DOE example, one pathway could consist of a route to …
Preview of National Ethanol Conference
The Reverend of Renewable Energy, Mr. Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association, in traditional fashion, provides us with a preview of the 21st National Ethanol Conference. The Conference kicked off this morning at English Turn Golf & Country Club with the annual NEC tournament. The weather threatened but held off for a beautiful day. Bob says the agenda includes some great …
NREL Discovers New Biorefinery Process
Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new biorefinery process that more efficiently converts algae to ethanol. The process, Combined Algal Processing (CAP), was featured in the journal Algal Research. The research builds on a project previously completed by NREL In that work, the research looked at two promising algal strains Chlorella and Scenedesmus, to determine …
Iowa Corn Remains as Sponsor of Iowa Corn 300
Iowa Corn Growers Association along with Iowa Speedway have announced a multi-year sponsorship renewal of the IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 through 2018. This is the 10th year of partnership and the extension makes Iowa Corn the second longest entitlement sponsor in INDYCAR racing. “The Iowa Corn 300 reaches a global audience with an expanding viewership,” said Mark Heckman, Iowa …
NFU Calls on Court to Review #RFS
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has filed a petition seeking the courts to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to follow congressional direction as mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, NFU is asking for a review of 2014, 2015 and 2016 volume targets. “Undermining the RFS is …
EPA Chief Defends #RFS Decisions
During a hearing on Wednesday, House Agriculture Committee members questioned EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, on many agency actions, including decisions made regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In her opening statement, McCarthy defended the volume obligation requirements under that RFS that EPA set last year, “The final requirements boost renewable fuel production and provide for robust, achievable growth of the …
Flint Hills Licenses Edeniq’s Cellulose Technology
Flint Hills Resources has signed an agreement to license Edeniq‘s Pathway Technology for all of its ethanol plants. The ethanol group has been an investor in the company since April of 2012 and a customer since June 2012. “This comprehensive Pathway agreement is the seventh license agreement between our companies, including the installation of Edeniq’s Cellunators at three of FHR’s …
Top 100 People in Advanced Bioeconomy Announced
The Top 100 People in Advanced Bioeconomy for 2016 has been released by Biofuels Digest. The top spot went to Tom Vilsack, USDA Ag Secretary. Other notables on the list included #3 Daniel Oh with REG; #10 Brent Erickson with BIO; #12 Terry Branstad, Iowa Governor; #21 Bob Dinneen with RFA; #22 Brooke Coleman with ABBC; #26 Joe Jobe with …
Pacific Ethanol Improves Production Efficiency
Pacific Ethanol is reporting they have signed a technology license and purchase agreement with Whitefox Technologies. According to the agreement, Pacific Ethanol will be adopting Whitefox’s clean fuel membrane system that will separate water from ethanol during the plant’s distillation process. The ethanol plant expects commercial operations using the new technology in the third quarter of 2016. Neil Koehler, Pacific …