Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal this week signed into law the Advanced Biofuel Industry Development Initiative, the most comprehensive and far-reaching state legislation in the nation enacted to develop a statewide advanced biofuel industry. Louisiana is the first state to enact alternative transportation fuel legislation that includes a variable blending pump pilot program and a hydrous ethanol pilot program. The legislation …
VeraSun Delays Startup of Third Plant
Due to the current market volatility, VeraSun Energy will delay the startup of its 110 million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility in Hankinson, N.D. This is the third VeraSun facility that has delayed startup operations this month due to market conditions, the other two being Welcome, Minn., and Hartley, Iowa. Construction on the Hankinson facility will be completed by the end of …
Improving Ethanol Plant Efficiency
Improving the efficiency of ethanol plants is critical for a number of reasons, but especially in light of high corn prices that are cutting into margins for producers. POET has been working on improving the efficiency of their plants for years now according to President and CEO Jeff Broin (pictured here on the left with Nathan Schock, director of public …
Conference Addresses Ethanol Policy Issues
“Policy Risks and Consequences for the Biofuels Industry” will be one of the topics addressed during a Farm Foundation conference entitled “Transition to a Bioeconomy: Risks, Infrastructure and Industry Evolution” June 24-25 in Berkeley, California. Seth Meyer with the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) will talk about some of the findings in a new report …
Ethanol Groups Working Together
The three major ethanol producer groups are working together to combat negative publicity and keep ethanol moving forward. Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Toni Nuernberg says the three groups – EPIC, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol – complement each other. “All three of us have a roll to play in this industry,” Nuernberg …
Just Say “Yes” to Ethanol
Buttons of many colors can be seen on hundreds of name badges walking around the 2008 Fuel Ethanol Workshop creating a positive mantra for the ethanol industry. The “Yes Ethanol” buttons are the creation of Lanser Public Affairs, an agency in New Berlin, Wisconsin that specializes in helping ethanol plants with site approval and community relations. The husband and wife …
Team Ethanol at the FEW
Visitors to the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop this week in Nashville had a chance to meet Indy car champion and Team Ethanol car owner Bobby Rahal of Rahal Letterman Racing in an appearance sponsored by ICM, Inc. With a model of the Number 17 Team Ethanol car behind him, Rahal chatted with ethanol industry representatives about the season so far …
Moving Beyond 10 Percent Ethanol
Moving beyond ten percent ethanol offers both opportunities and challenges for the industry. On a panel addressing the issue at the 2008 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Tuesday was Robert White with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC). White has spearheaded the nationwide pump branding and E85 program for EPIC and he talked about some of the success stories they have …
Ethanol High Octane and Excellence Awards
The ethanol industry honored two of its own Tuesday for excellence in research and promotion during the 24th annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Nashville. The annual “High Octane Award” was presented to David Kolsrud, president and CEO of DAK Renewable Energy in Brandon, SD. “He is an advocate for this industry,” said BBI International president Mike Bryan in presenting the …
Ethanol Industry Winners
Two ethanol plants were honored by the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday with the Energy Star Combined Heat & Power Award. POET Biorefining in Ashton, Iowa, and East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC in Garnett, Kan., were recognized with the award for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In April 2004, POET began full production at an ethanol plant in Ashton. …