Soy-based biodiesel will once again be part of the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) season this year, thanks to the sponsorship of the United Soybean Board (USB) and the soybean checkoff. As part of a larger strategy to promote soy biodiesel’s benefits among diesel users, the checkoff will once again co-sponsor the NTPA season of approximately 80 tractor pulls across …
E15 in Spotlight at Indiana Ethanol Forum
EPA’s approval this week of 15% ethanol blended gasoline (E15) as a registered fuel dominated the Indiana Ethanol Forum at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center Pavilion in Indianapolis yesterday. The invitation only event featured comments from Governor Mitch Daniels, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate John Gregg, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Pence, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen, and author …
Vilsack Announces Advanced Biofuels Roundtable
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the 2012 Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference, presented by Biofuels Digest, Tuesday in Washington D.C. and announced an upcoming Advanced Biofuels Industry Roundtable to be held next month. Vilsack said the Roundtable will be a joint effort between USDA, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Navy and will be held on May 18 “as …
Broin Steps Down as CEO of POET
The founder of the country’s largest ethanol company is stepping down as CEO. POET founder Jeff Broin will continue managing and leading the company’s board as Executive Chairman, while Jeff Lautt has been named CEO. Lautt has been with POET since 2005, serving as President of the company for the past year. In stepping down as CEO, Broin says he …
Oregon Governor Tours ZeaChem Biorefinery
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber took a tour of the ZeaChem 250,000 gallon-per-year biorefinery in Boardman Monday as the company announced it has begun construction on the Department of Energy-funded project for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Earlier this year, the company announced the start of operations of the core facility for the production of intermediate chemicals acetic acid and ethyl …
EPA Approves E15 as a Registered Fuel
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally taken the official step of approving 15% ethanol blended gasoline (E15) as a registered fuel. On Monday, the EPA announced the approval of the first applications for registration of ethanol to make E15. “Registration of ethanol to make E15 is a significant step toward its production, sale, and use in model year 2001 …
Propane at the Pump
More and more fleets and private vehicles these days are being converted to run on propane, adding to the more than 15 million vehicles worldwide now running on autogas – about 200,000 in the U.S., according to Alliance AutoGas. Department of Energy statistics note that there are actually more LPG (liquified petroleum gas or propane) fueling stations in the United …
Research Shows Value of Ethanol Co-Product for Dairy
Research by a South Dakota State University dairy science student shows the energy value of the ethanol co-product distillers grains (DDGS) in dairy feed. Sanjeewa Ranathunga was recognized for his research at the recent annual meeting of the Midwest American Dairy Science Association meetings with the Young Dairy Scholars Award. Ranathunga is in the final stages of his Ph.D. program …
USDA Announces Ten Rural Energy Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected 10 projects for funding 10 to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy consumption and implement renewable energy technologies. The funding will be made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which was authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. “For the first time in 13 years, imported oil accounts …
Most Corn Acres Since 1937 Expected
The last time the United States planted as many corn acres as USDA is predicting for this year, Franklin D. Roosevelt was just entering his second term as president. It was 1937 when an estimated 97.2 million acres were planted. This year, the USDA Prospective Planting report predicts that corn growers will plant nearly 96 million acres – 95.9 million …