I know, I know – the “Ballad of Ricky Bobby” is about NASCAR and this is an Indy car …. whatever. It still works. Believe it or not, there are lots of people out there in the real world who actually, shockingly – don’t really know the difference. I admit it … I never knew the difference until last year. …
Souped-up Supra
At the American Coalition for Ethanol meeting last week, Brad Mayo of Nashville had his souped-up 1997 Toyota Supra on display, which he has fine-tuned to run on up to 95 percent ethanol. And not just run … run FAST! (Only in a street car race, of course – otherwise he drives the posted speed limit!) Brad was working on …
Seeds For Growth
Sandia National Laboratories and Monsanto Company are joining forces to increase ethanol production through new varieties. According to a press release, the arrangement is aimed at aligning Sandia’s capabilities in bioanalytical imaging and analysis with Monsanto’s research in developing new seed-based products for farmers, including corn products that may be able to produce more ethanol per bushel.
Company Plans to Build First Cellulosic Plant
Alternative Energy Sources, Inc. (see previous post) has announced plans to build the first cellulosic ethanol facility in the U.S. with the acquisiting of Flex Fuels USA Inc. of Huntsville, Alabama. According to a news release, Flex Fuels USA has developed proprietary ethanol production technology methods of producing cellulosic ethanol made from biomass and other types of waste. Kansas City, …
USDA and DOE Fund Biofuels Research Projects
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy are jointly funding some $5.7 million dollars in research projects aimed at the development of alternative fuel resources. According to a USDA release, USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research awarded the grants “to facilitate the use of woody plant tissue, specifically lignocellulosic materials, …
Congress May Cut RFS Funding
According to an AP article, House and Senate spending bills would drastically reduce Environmental Protection Agency dollars for a law designed to boost ethanol use. The article reports that of the $11.4 million requested by President Bush to implement the Renewable Fuels Standard in last year’s energy bill, the House has approved only $2.4 million and the Senate only $1.4 …
Big Plant Planned For Indiana
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined officials from Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc., Consolidated Grain and Barge Co., and the Ports of Indiana Friday to announce plans for a 220 million gallon ethanol facility. The plant, which will be the largest in the state, will be built on 116 acres at the Port of Indiana in Mount Vernon, according to a …
Consistency is the “e”
Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Tom Slunecka took to the podium at the American Coalition for Ethanol meeting this week to talk about how EPIC and ACE are working together to add value to the “e”. “EPIC has only been around for about 18 months, but we are starting to make a real impact with consumers around the …
ACE Reporters
Here we are, Chuck and Cindy, together again for the SECOND week in a row – here at the American Coalition for Ethanol meeting in Kansas City. But, don’t get used to it. Chuck left today for Norway to attend the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists annual congress. We both attended that event together last year in Switzerland because it …
So Many Plants, So Little Time
Here’s a brief run-down of some recent plant related announcements: Indiana – Premiere Ethanol and the Broin Companies broke ground August 3 on a state-of-the-art 60 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery near Portland, Indiana. When fully complete, Premiere Ethanol will use 21 million bushels of corn and produce 356,000 tons of Dakota Gold Enhanced Nutrition Distillers Products™. New York …