Propane Supplies Good for Winter

Cindy Zimmerman

Propane supplies are in good shape going into the winter, according to Randy Miller, GROWMARK director of propane operations. Regarding total inventories, Randy says 60 million barrels is the total to shoot for to feel comfortable going into the winter. “And we just did get to 60 million,” he said recently. “We’ve had some pretty good inventory increases the last …

Audio, GROWMARK, Propane

USDA Funds Algae Fuel Project in New Mexico

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA has issued a loan guarantee that will allow a biofuels firm to construct a facility in New Mexico to produce “green crude” oil from algae which can be refined into transportation fuel. The loan is going to Sapphire Energy, which intends to design, build and operate a $135 million integrated algal biorefinery (IABR) in Columbus, N.M., for the production …

algae, Biodiesel, biofuels, biojet fuel, USDA

IEA Warns of Insecure Fossil Fuels Future

Cindy Zimmerman

The world is heading for an insecure and inefficient energy future unless there is a “bold change of policy direction” soon, warns a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The 2011 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO), released by IEA last week in London, said there is still time to act, but the window of opportunity is …

biofuels, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International, Oil

Iowa RFA Questions Rick Perry on Oil Subsidies

Cindy Zimmerman

As presidential candidate Rick Perry returned to Iowa today, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) took the opportunity to question the Texas governor’s plan for energy tax incentives. After the IRFA pointed out that Perry’s energy plan would end ethanol tax credits in less than two months, but allow oil tax subsidies to continue indefinitely, a Perry spokeswoman told Bloomberg …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Oil, politics

Ethanol Report from NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

Once again this year, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) took part in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual Trade Talk. This unique event allows over 100 agricultural companies and organizations to have access to the nation’s farm broadcast professionals all at the same time. It is what you can truly call a “win-win” situation as the exhibitors can get …

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

Alaska Airlines Goes Green on Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Alaska Airlines has gone green with commercial flights on biofuels. Starting this week, Alaska Airlines began 75 commercial passenger flights in the United States powered by biofuel made from used cooking oil. Two maiden biofuel-powered flights left Seattle November 9 bound for Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore. Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier, Horizon Air, will continue to operate select …

biofuels, biojet fuel

Farmers Harvest Biomass for Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmers in north central Iowa have harvested 61,000 tons of corn crop residue to produce cellulosic ethanol, but delivery to POET’s Project LIBERTY plant in Emmetsburg is contingent on funding of a federal program that provides incentives for biomass production. Some 100 farmers are waiting for word on the status of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) in the 2012 …

Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, POET

Nebraska Ethanol Coalition to Promote FFV Awareness

Cindy Zimmerman

A new grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be used to promote flex fuel vehicles, flex fuel pumps, and driver education in Nebraska, one of six states that will be working with the FlexFuel Vehicle Awareness Campaign. The Nebraska Ethanol Industry Coalition (NEIC) will be heading up the statewide project with partners including the Nebraska Ethanol Board, …

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, USDA

Soybean Checkoff Promotes Biodiesel and Bioheat

Cindy Zimmerman

For the fourth year, the United Soybean Board (USB) through the soybean checkoff is joining with U.S. Department of Energy-affiliated Clean Cities to build demand for soy biodiesel and Bioheat® in major urban areas by providing some reimbursement incentive. The Clean Cities program is a government-industry partnership sponsored by DOE that has more than 90 local chapters across the United …

Biodiesel, Soybeans