In an effort to convey the urgent need for Congress to extend the biodiesel tax incentive, American Soybean Association (ASA) farmer-leaders are participating in a biodiesel fly-in today to meet with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. Participating from ASA are grower-leaders Joe Steiner of Ohio, Bob Henry of Kansas and Darryl Brinkmann of Illinois. These ASA leaders are joining …
Florida Biodiesel Firm Acquires Puerto Rico Company
A Florida-based biodiesel firm is investing in a Puerto Rico company’s algae biofuels research. Alternative Fuels Americas (AFA) announced today that it is acquiring Sustainable Agro Biotech of Puerto Rico, which has been developing proprietary technologies “to recycle carbon dioxide emission into microalgae varieties with robust growth and oil production capabilities and to achieve commercially feasible harvesting of microalgal products.” …
CHS Energy Remains Bullish on Ethanol
CHS Energy is bullish on ethanol. That’s according to CHS Energy Director of Sales Mark Fenner, who was giving interviews at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting meeting in Kansas City. “We don’t know about the tax incentives, but even without it, I think we’re going to see strong use for ethanol because it is less expensive than traditional …
Brazil Starts Ethanol Pipeline Construction
Brazilian energy company Petrobras officially began work this week on a $3.3 billion ethanol pipeline that will be able to transport 21 million cubic meters of ethanol per year from north central Brazil’s Goias state to the Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo states. Once complete, the pipeline will replace daily delivery runs by 1,500 tanker trucks. At present, 95 percent …
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you have food on your table today – thank God and thank our nation’s fabulous farmers and ranchers for the affordable, safe and abundant food supply they produce for the world. I found this poem online that gives good reasons to give thanks today for those who produce the food, fuel and fiber that we all enjoy everyday: I’m …
Gore Ethanol Comments Generate Industry Response
A Reuters report out of Athens today on former Vice President Al Gore’s comments about corn ethanol has generated responses from the U.S. ethanol industry. According to the article, Gore said, “It is not a good policy to have these massive subsidies for (U.S.) first generation ethanol,” while speaking at a green energy business conference in Athens. He blamed his …
Gene Find Could Boost Cellulosic Ethanol Production
The discovery of a new gene could help in the production of cellulosic ethanol. Purdue University scientists have found the last undiscovered gene responsible for the production of the amino acid phenylalanine, a discovery that could lead to processes to control the amino acid to boost plants’ nutritional values and produce better biofuel feedstocks. The researchers have determined that the …
Ethanol Report on California LCFS
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has decided to use the latest research on indirect land use change (ILUC) for implementing the state’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS), meaning the current ILUC penalty for corn ethanol likely will be cut by at least half by the spring of 2011. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the resolution is good news …
EPA Decision on E15 for Later Models Delayed
The Environmental Protection Agency says it will now be the end of the year before testing of 15 percent ethanol blended fuel in vehicles older than 2007 model year is complete. According to a very brief statement issued by the EPA, the Department of Energy has informed EPA that “lab testing of E15 in model year 2001-2006 vehicles will now …
Delay Expected on E15 for Later Model Vehicles
Reuters is reporting today that the Environmental Protection Agency is likely to delay a decision on the use of E15 in cars and pickup trucks built from 2001 to 2006 by up to a month. Using an unidentified source, Reuter’s reporter Tom Doggett said the agency wants to do more testing on the effects of 15 percent ethanol blended gas …