Boise, Idaho Mayor David Bieter has issued a directive to use biodiesel fuel in city vehicles as often as possible, with the goal of reducing petroleum consumption and cutting smog-causing emissions. According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, the announcement was made Monday during a ceremony to mark Idaho Renewable Fuels Awareness Days during the month of September …
New Broin R&D Man
Broin Companies has hired Dr. Mark Stowers as the Vice President of Research and Development. Stowers will join Broin Companies from MBI International in Lansing, Mich., where he has served as the President and CEO since 2001. MBI International is a leading firm focused on the development, scale-up, and commercialization of products from biotechnology. “We are extremely fortunate to have …
Chevron California Cellulosic Collaboration
Chevron Corporation and the University of California, Davis have “formed a strategic research collaboration to pursue advanced technology aimed at converting cellulosic biomass into transportation fuels.” According to a press release, the joint research effort will coordinate with the California Biomass Collaborative to focus on renewable feedstocks available in California, including agricultural waste such as rice straw. The objective of …
MO Ethanol
MO Ethanol is on the way. The grand opening for Missouri Ethanol will be Monday, Sept. 25 on the plant site near Laddonia, Mo. The event will include public tours of the facility and a fly-over from the Vanguard Squadron, the world’s only 100 percent ethanol-powered aerobatic fleet. Several dignitaries will be on hand to celebrate the event, including U.S. …
Melon Ethanol
How about a nice juicy slice of – ethanol? The National Watermelon Association is preparing for some research with USDA, the University of Georgia and an ethanol plant in Florida to use the estimated 700 million pounds of watermelons that are wasted each year for ethanol production. “We’re really excited about this,” says Watermelon Association Executive Director Bob Morrissey. “This …
Hawkeye IPO on Hold
Hawkeye Holdings, the holding company that owns Hawkeye Renewables of Iowa Falls, IA has announced that it has “temporarily delayed the initial public offering of shares of its common stock.” According to a press release, Bruce Rastetter, CEO of Hawkeye, said, “We have decided to temporarily delay our IPO in light of current conditions in the equity markets, and the …
Food vs Fuel Commentary
This comes from the Aberdeen (SD) News and the columnist is Alan Guebert of Ag Comm in Delavan, Ill. His conclusion on the food vs fuel issue is this: America will never run out of corn regardless of future domestic or foreign market demand. That bold prediction is not bold at all because price will ration supply. For proof, look …
Ethanex Hitches To Star
Ethanex Energy Inc., has entered into a joint venture with Star Ethanol, LLC for the construction and operation of an ethanol facility located in Franklin County, Illinois. According to a press release, the facility will incorporate the fractionation technology developed at Ethanex’s SEMO plant (in Cape Girardeau, MO) and will produce 132 million gallons of fuel grade ethanol per year. …
The Cool Factor
According to a Chicago Tribune personal finance columnist, ethanol has the “cool factor” when it comes to investments. Andrew Lackey’s September 17 column talks about some industries and companies that are currently on the “cool” list – including internet traffic services, TiVo and ethanol. How cool is that?
Hispanic Ag Co-op Considers Ethanol
Minority Agriculture Producers, an organization of Hispanic farmers and ranchers in Texas, is holding workshops this month to consider the possibility of getting together to start an ethanol production facility or two, or three. According to this story from Texas A&M Ag News, cotton farmer Donnie Valdez envisions three large factories in the Rio Grande Valley turning crops into bio-fuels …