Brazil is eliminating its tariff on ethanol imports and wants the United States to do the same, but a recent study shows Brazil has far more to gain in that deal. The study, prepared by IHS Global Insight, determined that eliminating import tariffs and increasing the tax on domestic ethanol would have severe economic consequences for both American ethanol producers …
Ethanol Company Posts a Profit
Investors in California’s BlueFire Ethanol should be pleased to see that the company posted a profit in 2009. The company, which is focused on the production of ethanol and other biofuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, reported 2009 revenue of $4,318,213 – which amounts to a four cent profit per share. According to BlueFire CEO Arnold Klann, “Through BlueFire’s continued progress …
Brazil Eliminates Tariff on Ethanol Imports
In a bid to get the United States to eliminate tariffs on imported ethanol, the Brazilian government has announced it will reduce their tax on ethanol imports to zero from the current 20 percent through the end of next year. The Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) announced the temporary reduction Monday and it is expected to go into effect …
Fortune Brainstorm Green Biofuels Session
Three CEOs of companies working toward next-generation biofuels will take the stage at Fortune Magazine’s Brainstorm Green conference in California next week. Joining the conversation on “Beyond Corn Ethanol?” will be Jeff Broin of POET, William Roe of Coskata and Jonathan Wolfson with Solazyme. Broin will also take part in another discussion on “Renewable Energy – Hype and Reality” with …
Process Optimization Seminar Success
Nearly 60 ethanol plant managers attended the second Process Optimization Seminar held in Indianapolis this week. The interactive seminar is a team effort of Fremont Industries, Fermentis, Novozymes and Phibro Ethanol Performance Group. “All four of us companies got together and realized a need to provide training for plants,” said Steve Rust with Fremont. “So we decided to provide this …
UK Report on Food Crisis Vindicates Ethanol
A new report commissioned by the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has concluded that drought and high oil prices, not biofuels, were behind the so-called food crisis of 2007/2008. “Available evidence suggests that biofuels had a relatively small contribution to the 2008 spike in agricultural commodity prices,” the report noted. “Studies which have found a large …
More Corn Acres for Food and Fuel
More corn acreage is in the forecast for this year, according to the USDA Prospective Plantings report out today, and there is still plenty more in storage. According to the forecast, farmers intend to plant 88.8 million acres of corn in 2010, three percent more than both last year and 2008. Meanwhile, the Grain Stocks report shows corn stocks as …
Ethanol Bob Tweeting President’s Energy Speech
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen is on location at the site of President Obama’s speech this morning on energy initiatives for the United States. The event is being held in a hanger at Andrews Air Force Base with the backdrop of a Navy Green Hornet jet that will fly on biofuels on Earth Day. The president is …
Study Finds Benefits of 20 Percent Ethanol Blends
A new study from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) finds benefits to the gasoline blended with 20 percent ethanol (E20). The study by RIT’s Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies indicates that E20 reduces emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide compared with traditional gasoline or E10 blends. In addition, the research team found no measurable impact to vehicle drivability or …
Petroleum Industry Files Suit Over Renewable Fuel Standard
The petroleum industry has filed a legal challenge over the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), which was just finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency. Both the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) filed the lawsuit Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia challenging the EPA rule, officially published …