Four additional plants have joined the Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels Early Adopters Group (EAG), indicating their interest in biobutanol production. According to the company, Platinum Ethanol LLC of Arthur, Iowa; Little Sioux Corn Processors of Marcus, Iowa; Granite Falls Energy LLC of Granite Falls, Minnesota; and Siouxland Ethanol of Jackson, Nebraska have joined the EAG, which was launched in December 2011, …
Ethanol Co-Product Prices Higher
Tight corn supplies, higher corn prices, low ethanol processing margins, export demand and high soybean meal prices are among the factors contributing to higher prices for dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), the ethanol co-product used as livestock feed. South Dakota State University economics professor Darrell Mark says price for distillers grains usually declines going into summer as cattle feedlot …
Hurdle Cleared for Sale of 15% Ethanol Blends
The Environmental Protection Agency has given its approval for the first retailers to sell 15% ethanol blended fuel. “Today, the last significant federal hurdle has been cleared to allow consumers to buy fuel containing up to 15 percent ethanol (E15),” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This gets us one step closer to giving the American consumer a real choice at …
Farm Bill Amendments Target Energy Programs
Several of the more than 200 amendments proposed for the 2012 Farm Bill in the Senate would negatively impact Farm Bill energy programs. Among the growing list are two from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) that would eliminate all energy title mandatory funding and prohibit loan guarantees. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) is seeking to kill the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Sen. …
Ethanol and Environmental Groups Unite for RFS
Ethanol, environmental, science and advanced biofuels groups jointly signed a letter to Congressional leaders this week asking them to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and extend expiring tax incentives for cellulosic biofuels. The letter was signed by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the Natural Resources Defense Council …
The Future for Corn Stover in Biofuels
The future of using corn stover for advanced biofuels was one of the discussion topics at last week’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference in Indianapolis. Nathan Mosier with the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University, told the conference that the corn refining industry has done a great job of using the corn kernel to create various value-added products. …
USDA Increases Ethanol Usage Number
The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) are bumping up the use of corn for ethanol in the 2011-12 marketing year. According to the June 12 report, the 50 million bushels adjustment upward to corn usage for 2011/12 reflects the latest ethanol production and trade data. “Weekly ethanol production has increased since mid-April after gradually declining from the …
Ethanol Safety Training in Iowa
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), CN Railway and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are co-hosting two Ethanol Safety Seminars in Iowa this week. The Dubuque, IA seminar will be held Wednesday at the Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility, also co-hosted by Big River United Energy. The Waterloo, IA seminar will be held Thursday at the Hawkeye Community College, also …
US Ethanol Exports Trending Lower
Last year was a huge year for exports of U.S. ethanol and co-products, but so far this year it appears unlikely exports will reach that same high level. U.S. ethanol exports in 2011 totaled 1.2 billion gallons. As of April, exports stood at just under 309 million gallons, which would bring this year’s total to under a billion gallons if …
American Ethanol Sweepstakes Launched
NASCAR Official Partner American Ethanol has announced a new campaign to grow more awareness among NASCAR fans about the benefits of American Ethanol. The “American Ethanol Sweepstakes” includes a national promotion from June 8 through August 31, paid media with Turner Sports for NASCAR on TNT and NASCAR.com, race entitlement sponsorships at Iowa Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway, and experiential activation …