A new poll indicates that Americans are better informed about the various factors affecting food price increases than one might think. The poll, commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association, found that 46 percent of Americans believe rising oil prices is the number one cause of increasing food costs, followed by 15 percent citing increasing global demand. By contrast, just 7 …
Yellowstone Bacteria Could Be Hot for Ethanol
A heat-loving bacteria discovered in Yellowstone Park has potential for the ethanol industry. According to an article in the Jackson Hole News, Scientists found the bacteria, called Candidatus Chloracidobacterium termophilum, in Octopus and Mushroom springs and the Green Finger Pool, not far from Old Faithful. The bacterium grows best in temperatures between 120 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit and could help …
GM Still Pushing NASCAR to Go Green
A note in the Winston-Salem Journal’s “NASCAR Notebook” this week once again brings up the GM push to get ethanol in the race. Brent Dewar, GM vice president in charge of racing, said “We are guests at this party. But we’re also a partner, and we think this would be the right signal to send to America. We have to …
PA County Farm Bureau Invests in Ethanol Plant
A second ethanol plant is in the planning stages for Pennsylvania. According to the Times-Tribune, the Wayne/Pike County Farm Bureau has secured an option on 90 acres in Texas Township for a $161 million ethanol plant. Still in its formative stages, the locally-based Indian Orchard Energy Corp. would be the facility’s shareholders, likely giving 20 to 30 percent of the …
SD Democrat Calls Ethanol Critics “Misguided”
A South Dakota congressional representative supports increasing the Renewable Fuels Standard in the energy bill and fires back at critics of ethanol. According to an article in the Daily Republic, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin says opponents of the biofuel industry are using “misguided and inaccurate” claims in an attempt to derail the growth of renewable fuels. While discussing her …
Distillers Grains Conference Success
The first-ever International Distillers Grains Conference in Illinois earlier this week attracted nearly 600 participants, including 144 international importers and leaders in agriculture. The conference, sponsored by theU.S. Grains Council, offered participants the opportunity to acquire information pertaining to U.S. distiller’s dried grains (DDG), including inclusion rates, quality assurance, transportation issues and an introduction to U.S. DDG exporters. At the …
How Ethanol is Made
Take a trip back to a 1960’s science class and learn how ethanol is made, courtesy of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. This short, informative and amusing little video simplifies the process of ethanol production into a fun step-by-step series of cartoon images. The link to the video can be found on EPIC’s home page.
Only CBOT Has Corn Ethanol Futures
The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) is the only game in town when it comes to ethanol futures. According to Reuters, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange recently delisted its ethanol futures contract traded on the Globex electronic trading platform. CME’s corn-based ethanol contract was delisted, along with its fertilizer contracts for Urea, Urea Ammonium Nitrate and Diammonium Phosphate. There is a …
Energy and Farm Bill Updates
Ethanol interests are hoping that Congress might finally get the energy bill into conference committee this week. Brian Jennings with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) says, “It sounds like Democrats and Republicans are beginning to work out some of the political differences and procedural differences they had in moving forward,” Jennings says. “I would predict that hopefully this week …
Florida Alternative Fuel Locator
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson has announced a new website that provides locations in the state where E85, E10, biodiesel and biodiesel-blended fuels can be purchased. “This tool will enable motorists to locate renewable, cleaner burning fuels around the state,” Bronson said. “I am very pleased that a number of facilities are now making these fuels available …