President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to be his Secretary of Energy. Dr. Chu has been heavily involved in biofuels research to find alternative and more efficient feedstocks for ethanol and biodiesel production. At a 25x’25 Renewable Energy Summit earlier this year in Omaha, Chu said, …
USDA Lowers Corn Usage for Ethanol
The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) from USDA projects less corn being used for ethanol this year. According to the report released this morning, ethanol use for corn was lowered by 300 million bushels lower “as prospects for blending above federally mandated levels decline.” Financial problems for ethanol producers are reducing plant capacity utilization for existing plants …
Positive Ethanol Plant News
Despite the tough economic climate for all industries, including ethanol, there are still some plants moving toward production. BioFuel Energy Corp. of Denver has reached a debt repayment plan with Cargill and two other debt holders to help the company get two plants on-line in Nebraska and Minnesota. According to a release from BioFuel Energy, “Despite the significant hedging losses …
Iogen Provides Cellulosic Ethanol for Race
For the second year in a row, Iogen Corporation of Canada fueled Green Alternative Motorsports’ (GAM) high performance race vehicle with cellulosic ethanol for the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race in Willows, California. Iogen manufactured and provided 300 gallons of cellulosic ethanol for the GAM LeMans Prototype (LMP3) car #87 for the 25 hour race in which the car …
ACORE Forum Urges New Ethanol Policies
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) held a two day forum on Capitol Hill last week with hundreds of renewable energy executives, financial experts, and policy makers who remain optimistic about the industry’s future. The 2008 Phase II of Renewable Energy in America National Policy Forum featured Policy recommendations on renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable development, the environment and …
Ethanol Fuels Big Three Bail Out Caravan
The Big Three auto makers traveled to Washington this week to ask for a bailout in fuel efficient, high mileage cars, including flex fuel vehicles that run on up to 85 percent ethanol. General Motors’ Rick Wagoner (left) made the trip in a black hybrid Chevrolet Malibu, accompanied by a flex fuel Buick Lucerne, which runs on fuel that is …
Top Ethanol Producer Addresses Farm Forum
The head of the world’s largest ethanol producing company was keynote speaker at 12th Annual Farm Journal Forum in Washington D.C. today. POET CEO Jeff Broin says his company is considering various options to purchase ethanol plants, although he would not specifically comment on rumors that they might buy the bankrupt VeraSun or any of its assets. “There are a …
Court Rules VeraSun Can Reject Corn Contracts
Corn growers were happy to have their day in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Tuesday for VeraSun Energy Corporation but the outcome was not favorable. As expected, bankruptcy law and the ruling will allow VeraSun to reject any contracts that are economically disadvantageous to VeraSun, including corn growers’ contracts. According to National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Chairman Ron Litterer of Iowa, they …
Biofuels Part of Policy Summit
The Food and Agriculture Policy Summit, co-hosted by Farm Foundation and Farm Journal Media this week is focusing on the wide range of domestic and global issues facing the food system and agriculture today, including biofuels. The summit kicks off today with the Farm Journal Forum on “What Will Change Bring? Impacts of a New Congress and Administration in the …
Indy Ethanol Fallout
Several different groups are pressuring the Indy Racing League to rethink its decision to partner with Brazil for ethanol to fuel the Indy Car Series. Among them is a conservative, free market group called American Future Fund (AFF) which launched a radio ad which urging Hoosiers and others to call the IRL and tell them to continue using American ethanol …