A tree that can reach 90 feet in six years and be grown as a row crop on fallow farmland could provide an additional feedstock for biofuels production. According to a Purdue University release, researchers Clint Chapple and Rick Meilan (pictured with trees) are using genetic tools in an effort to design trees that readily and inexpensively can yield the …
Purdue Energy Summit
Next week, Purdue University and U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar will host an energy summit to discuss industry and policy perspectives on how our nation can significantly reduce its dependence on foreign oil. Richard G. Lugar-Purdue Summit on Energy Security will bring more than 600 leaders to the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, Ind. to discuss national energy issues and policy. …
866-BIODIESEL
Truckers on the nation’s highways can now find biodiesel just by calling a toll-free hotline. The National Biodiesel Board has announced the launch of 866-BIODIESEL where truckers and other motorists can locate biodiesel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to an NBB release, the Biodiesel Hotline staff has access to mapping software linked to a database that …
Absolutely Ethanol
Absolute Energy and its farmer-owners broke ground on a new facility near St. Ansgar, Iowa today. That’s Absolute, with an “e” on the end, for ethanol. These guys are planning on making alcohol for energy, not to be confused with Absolut, the vodka. When complete, this state-of-the-art biorefinery will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol and 320,000 tons of distillers …
Blue + Yellow = Green
Garst Seed Company is showing its true colors. The company recently launched its Blue + Yellow = Green (BYG) initiative. Blue signifies Garst’s leadership in the seed corn industry, while yellow represents kernels of corn bred to enhance ethanol production. Added together, they create green — the color representing the environmental and earth-friendly renewable fuels such as ethanol, as well …
Biodiesel Hotline for Truckers
As truckers increasingly demand homegrown biodiesel, a new toll-free number will help them find retail availability anywhere in the United States. Friday, at the Great American Trucking Show, the National Biodiesel Board will announce the launch of the Biodiesel Hotline. The hotline will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We’ll have that number as soon as …
Light Posting
I apologize for the light posting this week. I have been doing a “virtual press room” for the National Institute for Animal Agriculture ID INFO EXPO 2006 this week in Kansas City, so that has been keeping me busier than normal and out of the office. But, as you can see from the previous post, I did still manage to …
Johanns on Food vs. Fuel
I had the opportunity for a 15 minute interview with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns today in Kansas City. I was wearing many hats, so I had to ask him questions on several topics, but I did get in a question about food versus fuel when it comes to ethanol. Basically, the short answer is – use all you want, …
US BioEnergy Groundbreaking
A ground-breaking event will be held Friday in Hankinson, N.D. on August 25 for US Bio Hankinson, the biggest ethanol plant in North Dakota. (see previous post). The 100 million gallon per year ethanol plant, being constructed by US BioEnergy Corporation, will consume approximately 36 million bushels of corn and will produce 320,000 tons of distillers grain annually.
Kitchen Sisters Cook Up Biodiesel
Peabody-award winning Public Radio broadcasters the Kitchen Sisters are featuring Deep Fried Fuel on NPR’s Morning Edition this Thursday, August 24. That would be tomorrow morning as this is posted, but NPR does offer podcasts of features if you miss it. The Hidden Kitchen program “explores secret, underground, below-the-radar community cooking going on throughout America and how communities come together …