Kansas Cellulosic Plant Coming

Cindy Zimmerman

Abengoa Bioenergy will formally announce the site of its cellulosic ethanol plant later this month, but word is already out that it will be located in the southwest Kansas town of Hogoton. The $300 million project, which will be partly funded by a $72 million Department of Energy grant awarded earlier this year, which will also include a traditional corn-to-ethanol …

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Johanns Meets the Press Club

Cindy Zimmerman

When Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns spoke at the National Press Club on July 27, the inevitable question about ethanol was asked. “Corn-based ethanol may help the nation reduce its dependence on foreign oil, but critics say that ethanol costs almost as much as the energy it produces. Isn’t corn-based ethanol a wasteful way to produce energy, and won’t it …

Ethanol, Government, News

NEVC Testimony

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) testified this week at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on renewable fuels infrastructure, specifically looking at how to change the existing fuel distribution system to account for the anticipated larger volumes of ethanol and other biofuels. ”The 1,251 E85 fueling stations operating today in 41 states across the nation pale in comparison …

E85, Ethanol, News

North Dakota Gets “e” for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

A North Dakota law labeling ethanol at the fuel pump with the “e” logo officially went into effect this week. Fargo hosted the state’s official labeling kick-off event on Thursday at the Cenex Convenience Store. North Dakota Governor John Hoeven; Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) executive director Tom Slunecka; state legislators and North Dakota corn growers were all on …

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Popping the Popcorn Propaganda

Cindy Zimmerman

The The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today held a joint press conference and photo-op to dispel claims that ethanol and higher field corn prices result in higher popcorn prices for moviegoers. The “Popping the Popcorn Propaganda” event dramatically illustrated this point by displaying what $5 will buy you at a movie theater …

Ethanol, News

Florida Ready for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite a very limited availability in the Sunshine State, Florida consumers appear receptive to purchasing ethanol-enriched fuel at the pumps. A national survey released by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) found that while Florida has a slightly lower familiarity with ethanol than the national average, more than 70 percent of respondents in the state said they were likely …

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Presentations and Photos From Farm to Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Presentations from the 2007 Farm to Fuel Summit in Florida are now available on-line at floridafarmtofuel.com. All of the power point presentations from panels on Renewable Fuels Status Reports, Advancing the Science of Bioenergy, Business of Bioenergy, Biomass Resources/Feedstocks in Florida, and Renewable Energy Technology Grants Program are available, as well as the presentation on “25x’25 – America’s Energy Future” …

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, EPIC, Ethanol, News, RFA

Fill Up, Feel Good in Florida

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida stands ready to fill up and feel good as it endeavors to become a leader in both the production and consumption of biofuels, including ethanol. This edition of “Fill up, Feel Good” discusses the “Florida Needs Ethanol” campaign being conducted by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and features comments made by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Commissioner of …

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Fill Up Feel Good, News, Promotion

May Ethanol Numbers

Cindy Zimmerman

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, both ethanol production and demand moved higher in May, reflecting the growth in the ethanol industry and the increased gasoline demand at the beginning of the summer driving season. As oil refiners struggled to keep their facilities operating, ethanol production grew to an average of 406,000 barrels per day (b/d), according to information released …

Ethanol, News, RFA

Corn Prices Down

Cindy Zimmerman

Recent rain in the Midwest has helped the corn crop rebound and led to lower corn prices, according to a Forbes article. After as much as 6 inches of rain in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, much of corn crop received relief after a dry June. In mid-June, a little more than half of Illinois’ corn crop was in good …

Ethanol, News