Because it is so important for their farmer members, propane is a big part of the energy business for GROWMARK. Randy Miller, Director of Propane Operations says that they’ve been marketing propane for years. “Obviously, being ag-related, grain drying is a big part of our propane business,” he says, adding that the last couple of years have increased demand for …
Ag Secretary Highlights Renewable Energy Efforts
During a visit to a Massachusetts renewable energy company on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted USDA’s continuing efforts to invest in research and development projects that will help reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil. Vilsack toured Agrivida, a company that is developing technologies to reduce the cost of converting biofuel feedstocks into sugar, focusing on sorghum, corn stover, and …
Bill Encourages Domestic Fuel Use for Military
The “Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security Act” has been re-introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), who introduced the bill at the end of the last Congress, once again put forth the bipartisan bill which will allow Civilian Agencies and Military Agencies to extend multi-year contracts from the current limit of 5 years to up …
Bullish on Biodiesel
Biodiesel is back, but it needs the tax credit to keep it going. At the 4th International Biomass Conference and Expo, Joe Jobe with the National Biodiesel Board, said they are very optimistic about the state of the industry right now. “Our plants are coming back on line and we’re very bullish,” Jobe said. “We believe that we’re going to …
AE Biofuels Re-Starts California Ethanol Plant
The AE Biofuels ethanol plant in central California is back in production. Subsidiary AE Advanced Fuels Keyes has restarted operations at the 55 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California and hired about 50 full time employees. The company announced in March it was restarting the plant, which has been closed since 2009. The original $130 …
Ethanol Supporters in DC
Growth Energy today welcomed ethanol supporters from Missouri, Minnesota and North Dakota to Washington, D.C. for a series of meetings with members of Congress to raise awareness about ethanol and its role in keeping gas prices down, strengthening our nation’s energy security and creating jobs in rural communities. The Missouri delegation includes Greg Krissek and Monique Garcia from ICM and …
Record Corn Crop Forecast as Ethanol Exports Grow
Despite flooding of farm land and delayed planting in many areas, USDA is forecasting a record corn crop for this year. The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate for May represents USDA’s initial assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects. The report projects corn production for 2011/12 “at a record 13.5 billion bushels, up 1.1 billion from …
Florida Farm to Fuel Summit Postponed
Florida’s annual Farm to Fuel Summit has been postponed. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam sent out an announcement today saying that a bill passed during the recently concluded Florida legislative session prompted the decision. The Florida legislature approved the transfer of the State Energy Office from the Executive Office of the Governor to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer …
Ethanol Potential in Giant Sweet Potatoes
At the International Biomass Conference and Expo last week, Dr. Janice Ryan-Bohac attracted a lot of attention carrying around a sweet potato the size of a newborn baby. Ryan-Bohac is president of CAREnergy, Carolina Advanced Renewable Energy, located in South Carolina and dedicated to the development of dedicated energy crops for the southeast, such as the eTuber™ sweet potato and …
RFA Report Highlights Ethanol Feed Production
The livestock feed generated as a by-product of ethanol production is enough to make 50 billion quarter-pound hamburgers each year, according to a new report from the Renewable Fuels Association. According to the report, America’s ethanol producers supplied nearly 35 million metric tons (mmt) of livestock feed in the 2009/2010 marketing year, which is greater than the total amount of …