University researchers from California, Iowa and Chile have found that sugarcane ethanol production creates up to seven times more air pollutants than previously estimated, according to news from the University of Iowa. The research team used agricultural survey data from Brazil to calculate emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from the entire production, distribution, and lifecycle of sugarcane ethanol …
Ethanol and the Corn Supply-Demand Picture
According to USDA, global corn production for 2011/12 is projected at a new record high of 867.5 million tons, despite a smaller crop here in the U.S. The latest World Agricultural Supply Demand report estimates the U.S. crop was down 3.5 million tons this year compared to last year, but foreign corn production is expected to be 43.4 million tons …
Doing the Ethanol Shuffle
There’s a hot new craze called the “Ethanol Shuffle” that’s sweeping seaports from Sao Paulo to Los Angeles. No, it’s not a new dance, this shuffle is all about the “confounded realignment of the global ethanol trade.” Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper wrote about the “Ethanol Shuffle” this week on the RFA E-xchange …
2012 Ag Events Calendar
ZimmComm New Media is proud to announce the very first (that we know of) Ag Events Calendar. This slick 10×15 wall calendar includes dates for all the major ag-related and biofuels events in 2012, along with photos each month from the 2011 events that we covered. There’s photos from the National Biodiesel Conference, National Ethanol Conference, Commodity Classic, Iowa Corn …
Ethanol Industry Wants Cellulosic Incentives Continued
Advanced biofuel producers are calling on Congress to take action now to ensure that tax incentives for cellulosic ethanol continue past 2012. In a letter to Congressional leaders, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) asked for a multi-year extension of the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Special Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property, both of which are …
Pacific Ethanol Raises $8 Million in Stock Sale
Pacific Ethanol reports that they have entered into a “definitive purchase agreement with a group of institutional investors to raise $8.0 million in a private placement transaction.” In addition, the company has signed purchase agreements to acquire an additional 7% interest in the Pacific Ethanol production facilities, according to a company news release. Of the net proceeds from the financing, …
Ethanol Exports Remain Strong
The latest government data on exports for October shows continued strong demand overseas for U.S. ethanol. According to the data, exports of denatured and undenatured ethanol which are not eligible for VEETC totaled 121.4 million gallons. That is just short of the record 127.4 million gallons of exports set in July 2011. On the Renewable Fuels Association E-xchange Blog, RFA’s …
GROWMARK Perspective on Energy Policy
2011 has been a challenging year for getting anything done in Washington DC, including as it relates to both agriculture and energy policy. “In agriculture, when it comes to energy, we want reliable, economically competitive sources,” says GROWMARK government affairs director Chuck Spencer. “As a country, what we are looking for is energy security and that’s going to come from …
Life Cycle Analysis Favorable for Biodiesel
Comparing the life cycle analysis of soy products to petroleum products shows clear environmental advantages on the soybean side. Early last year, the United Soybean Board released the findings of a life cycle analysis report that compared several different soy-based products with the same products made from petroleum sources, including soy biodiesel. The peer-reviewed study was done by Omni Tech …
Iowa Biodiesel Interests Plan Radio Ads for Basketball
Iowa’s biodiesel leaders are unveiling new radio ads for Iowa State/Iowa men’s basketball games to promote biodiesel to consumers. “These radio ads are designed to encourage Iowans to learn more about the industry’s starting line-up of performance, quality, support for Iowa agriculture, green-job creation, as well as price and availability,” said Jon Scharingson, Director, Sales and Marketing at Renewable Energy …