The world’s largest ethanol producer could be getting even bigger soon. Speculation is that POET is behind a potential buyout of VeraSun Energy Corporation, which filed Chapter 11 less than a month ago. VeraSun announced this week that it received a “non-binding unsolicited indication of interest with respect to the purchase of substantially all of its assets.” Both POET and …
Ethanol Groups Join Together
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is joining with the newly-formed Growth Energy group. EPIC Executive Director Toni Nuernberg made the official announcement today that the organization’s board of directors is recommending a transition plan to the membership for the two groups to combine. “The mission of EPIC’s formation— growing ethanol awareness through public relations, marketing and promotions — will …
Ethanol Report from Cellulosic Summit
The third annual Cellulosic Ethanol Summit was held this week in Coral Gables, Florida and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen was once again chairman of the summit. In this “Ethanol Report” podcast, Dinneen discusses a number of issues – including the race to commercialize cellulosic ethanol, the new administration, getting more flex fuel vehicles on the road, …
Indy Chooses Brazilian Ethanol
The domestic ethanol industry is pleading with the Indy Racing League to reconsider the decision to make Brazil the official ethanol supplier for the 23 IndyCar Series races. In a letter to IRL commercial division president Terry Angstadt this week, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen implored the IRL to “at least ensure that the Indianapolis 500 be run on …
Florida Biofuels Developing
At the same time Florida was hosting the third Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in Coral Gables this week, U.S. Sugar announced an agreement with Coskata to explore building a 100 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol facility in Clewiston, Florida. The facility would be the world’s largest second generation ethanol facility, converting left-over sugar cane material into ethanol. That is great …
Ag Secretary Slams Food Industry for Ethanol Attack
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer spoke to the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit Wednesday in Florida and outlined all the advancements being made in biofuels and the potential for the industry in the future. “Nobody is talking about us going backward,” Schafer said, then quickly corrected himself, saying “almost nobody,” noting that the Grocery Manufacturers Association and some others would like to …
Ethanol Industry Fights Back
The ethanol industry wasted no time fighting back today against another attack by the food industry to blame higher prices on ethanol production. The newly-formed Growth Energy called on the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to “discontinue its deceptive attacks on the government’s investment in ethanol and other renewable fuels.” Growth Energy held a press conference shortly after the group “Food …
Florida Wants to Lead Cellulosic Ethanol Production
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson believes that Florida can be a leader in the production of cellulosic ethanol. “Because of the amount of sunshine, water and year-round growth that we have for cellulose potential, I think Florida can lead the nation in this process,” Bronson said during the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit on Tuesday. Bronson was the keynote speaker at …
Cellulosic Ethanol Summit in the Sunshine State
The third annual Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is underway in Coral Gables, Florida this week. Summit chairman and Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen kicked off the event on Tuesday morning. It is the first time the summit has been held outside of Washington DC and one of the reasons Florida was picked is because the state has become a leading …
Ethanol Report on Land Use
In this “Ethanol Report” podcast, Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association talks about a new land use report just released. The report systematically refutes claims that ethanol production will divert land from agricultural use, stressing that agricultural land can expand without “jeopardizing forest or other sensitive lands.” The report also gives historical context to global agricultural land use as …