Advanced BioEnergy, LLC has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Heartland Grain Fuels, L.P., has closed on a $118 million financing package for its South Dakota ethanol production facilities. According to the company, the financing will be used to refinance Heartland Grain Fuels’ existing debt, complete construction of a 40 million gallons nameplate per year expansion facility at Heartland’s existing Aberdeen …
UL Announces E85 Pump Certification
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has announced the establishment of safety requirements for E85 fuel dispensing equipment and is now ready to start certification investigations, according to a UL news release. The establishment of safety requirements follows the completion of UL’s comprehensive research program to investigate potential safety concerns associated with dispensing highly concentrated ethanol-blended fuels. The research included extensive gathering of …
Biogas-powered Swiss Cheese Production
The Fairview Swiss Cheese Plant in Pennsylvania soon will be running in part on biogas made from its own waste products. The plant broke ground last week on the renewable energy project, which converts food waste into gas, according to a release from the office of Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. “The Fairview Swiss Cheese Plant is just one more …
Flex Fuel Conversion Kit Receives EPA Certification
An alternative fuel conversion unit has received certification from the Environmental Protection Agency for use on certain types of fleet vehicles. Flex Fuel U.S. of Chicago reports that its Flex-Box Smart Kit™ fuel conversion system is “the first and only E85 conversion unit has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fleet vehicles.” The Flex-Box Smart Kit is …
USDA Lowers Corn for Ethanol Forecast
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand forecast has lowered its estimate of how much of this year’s corn harvest the ethanol industry would use by another 100 million bushels. It was the second straight month the forecast has been reduced reflecting lower indicated plant capacity utilization and lower returns for ethanol producers due to recent declines …
Ethanol Promotion Events
Kansas flex-fuel motorists can take advantage of bargain prices while pumping up the local economy at an E85 grand opening in Manhattan, Kansas on Friday. E85 will be available for $1.85 a gallon at the Farmers Cooperative Association in Manhattan. The first 50 cars to fill up with E85 will receive an IndyCar® Series #17 Team Ethanol diecast car. Free …
“e” Marks the Spot in Illinois
Representatives from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) were on hand last week to introduce the “e” brand to Illinois at an Illinois Corn Marketing Board event in the Village of Northbrook. EPIC’s Director of Operations, Robert White, says significant developments such as the Renewable Fuels Standard in the Energy Bill, higher gasoline prices and positive media coverage of …
Report Highlights Future of Ethanol
A National Research Council report released today examines policy options and identifies opportunities for new agricultural techniques and technologies to help minimize effects of biofuel production on water resources. While many media reports have focused on the potential effects increased corn ethanol production could have on water supplies and quality, the report was focused on identified options for addressing those …
Blender Pumps for Minnesota
Border States Cooperative has opened Minnesota’s first ethanol “blender pumps” in Ortonville, near the South Dakota border. The blender pumps allow motorists to choose several different blends of ethanol from the legally mandated 10 percent up to 85 percent. Border States Cooperative officials say they put the blender pumps in last year for E85 but were unable to use them …
Latest Ethanol Figures
Ethanol production continued to grow in July, averaging 421,000 barrels per day, according to the Energy Information Administration. Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association, also increased to 446,000 barrels per day. RFA reports that, so far this year, the U.S. is averaging 399,000 b/d with average demand exceeding production at nearly 425,000 b/d. Currently, 130 ethanol biorefineries …