There may still be corn left standing in the snow, but USDA says the 2009 corn crop was a record setter. In today’s crop production summary report, USDA projects U.S. corn production at a record 13.2 billion bushels, up from 12.9 billion bushels projected in USDA’s December forecast and 1 percent above the previous record of 13.0 billion bushels set …
New Enzyme Could Help Cellulosic Ethanol Production
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have created a new enzyme that has the potential to create plants that are easier to convert into cellulosic ethanol. “Increasing the ‘digestibility’ of plant matter is one main approach to making plants a viable alternative energy source,” said Brookhaven biochemist Chang-Jun Liu. Plants with less lignin in their cell …
Growth Energy Introduces Market Development Newsletter
The first issue of the Market Development FYI Newsletter includes the following articles: Big Oil Letting Go of Retail Outlets; MSDS Sheets for Ethanol Blends; Missouri Opens First Blender Pump; Blender Pump Tax Fix Sought; States Offer Additional Infrastructure Tax Credits; E85 Makes Inroads on Cost and Availability; Dresser Wayne Promotes Blender Pumps; Member Spotlight and much more. To sign …
Ethanol Group Critical of Biofuels Policy Paper
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling the new policy paper by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy released this week a continuation of “the orchestrated campaign to limit, and ultimately eliminate, the use of biofuels to displace foreign oil.” The report, which was funded by Chevron Technology Ventures, concludes that “the current U.S. biofuels program that promotes corn-based …
Keynote Speaker Announced for Ethanol Conference
The keynote speaker for next month’s 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference will address the issue of using mid-level ethanol blends from the automobile industry perspective. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has announced that Thomas G. Stephens, General Motors Vice President for Global Product Operations, will keynote the conference in Orlando on February 15-17. “The importance of a cooperative and constructive …
Cellulosic Ethanol Demo Plant to Open in TN
DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) and University of Tennessee/Genera Energy will hold a grand opening celebration later this month for one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol demo plants, located in Vonore, Tenn. Among the featured speakers at the grand opening on January 29 will be Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who helped with the groundbreaking for the plant in October …
Record Ethanol Production in October
According to the latest figures from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. ethanol production hit a record high in October 2009 of 740,000 barrels per day, up 93,000 barrels from October 2008. Ethanol demand also reached an all time high in October, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. The organization calculates that demand totaled 767,000 barrels per day in October, …
AG CONNECT Expo to Highlight Renewable Energy
The new AG CONNECT Expo debuting next week in Orlando has something for everyone in every area of agriculture, including renewable energy, thanks to the sponsorship of 25x’25. Breakout sessions on renewable energy scheduled for the expo next week include Renewable Fuels Revolutionizing Agriculture, The Role of Agriculture and Forestry in a Reduced Carbon Economy, Harvesting the Wind, and Bioenergy …
Cellulosic Ethanol Demo Plant for Georgia
A Valero Energy Corporation subsidiary is joining forces with an Atlanta engineering firm to build a cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant in west central Georgia. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced that the new plant is a partnership between Diamond Alternative Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, and American Process, Inc.. “Georgia is striving to be a world leader in …
Rolling Ethanol Fireplace
With much of the United States experiencing record cold and snow right now, this decorative yet practical German-engineered ethanol fireplace could be just the ticket for a little extra warmth from room to room. According to the Google English translation of the Conmoto Online Shop that offers the product, “ROLL FIRE balances its stainless steel tank at the ball rolls …