New Biofuels Projects Funded

Cindy Zimmerman

Ten new government-funded research projects were announced today to help accelerate bioenergy feedstock production. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited a waste-to-energy bioprocessing facility under construction in Florida today to announce that the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) have awarded 10 grants totaling $12.2 million to spur research into improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of growing biofuel and bioenergy …

bioenergy, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, feedstocks, Government, USDA, Waste-to-Energy

SunPower Biodiesel Fuels Tractor Pull Winners

Cindy Zimmerman

The power of the sun wins tractor pulls. Tractors fueled by SunPower Biodiesel took both first and second place in Northern Wisconsin Tractor Pull event, part of Almena Fun Days, and first in the Turtle Lake Fair Tractor Pull, also in Wisconsin. The winning tractors were running on B99 – a 99% biodiesel blend. The winners were from DRM Farms …

Biodiesel

Ag Secretary to Visit Florida Advanced Biofuel Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is scheduled to pay a visit to a Florida advanced biofuel plant on Thursday afternoon. Vilsack will tour the INEOS New Planet BioEnergy facility in Vero Beach. The company received a $75 million USDA loan guarantee earlier this year to help build and operate a biorefinery capable of producing eight million gallons per year …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA, Waste-to-Energy

Ethanol is Small Part of The Andersons Business

Cindy Zimmerman

The Andersons has an ethanol division that operates three ethanol plants in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio that are collectively capable of producing 300 million gallons of ethanol, but that is just a small part of the 60-year-old company’s diverse business interests I learned a lot about The Andersons this week on the Conservation Technology Information Center 2011 Conservation in Action …

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa to Showcase Ethanol Pride During Straw Poll Week

Cindy Zimmerman

As the media heads to Iowa next week for the August 13 Straw Poll in Ames, they will have the opportunity to learn more about the importance of ethanol to the state and the nation. Iowans Fueled with Pride is hosting a series of events during the week to provide the media with opportunities for first-hand interaction with leaders in …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, politics, RFA

ACE Urges Ethanol Industry to Contact Congress

Cindy Zimmerman

Members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) are being urged to contact their congressional representatives during down time this month. ACE Executive Vice President Brian Jennings says there are three key issues important to the ethanol industry that they are encouraging members to discuss with congressmen and senators during the August Recess. They include the offer by the ethanol …

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Rapeseed Research to Help Optimize Plant Oil Production

Cindy Zimmerman

New energy department research is aiming to increase the use of plant oils as renewable resource by optimize the production of oil in the seeds. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a computational model for analyzing the metabolic processes in rapeseed plants — particularly those related to the production of oils in their …

biofuels, feedstocks, Research

INEOS Says Advanced Biofuel Plant is on Schedule

Cindy Zimmerman

Contrary to recent media reports, INEOS Bio officials say the joint venture facility in Florida to produce advanced biofuels from waste will start on time next year. “Things are progressing well and are on-track at the Vero Beach site,” said Peter Williams, Chairman of INEOS New Planet BioEnergy and CEO INEOS Bio, in a statement. “As is the case with …

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Recruiting for Biofuels Careers

Cindy Zimmerman

Development of next generation biofuels means companies like Novozymes are growing and creating jobs at a rapid pace. The key is finding qualified people to fill those roles. Novozymes was one of the companies that participated in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable held this week at Purdue University. Novozymes Recruitment and Employer Branding Manager Darlene Godsey says …

biofuels, Cellulosic