People who keep track of such things say that higher gas prices are causing a major increase in web searches for domestic fuel terms such as ethanol and biodiesel. According to Hitwise, the share of U.S. internet searches for the term ‘ethanol’ was up 212 percent for the four weeks ending May 13, 2006 versus the four weeks ending April …
Geographic Growth
From the deep South to the wild, wild West – ethanol is expanding it’s horizons. Ethanol is a hot topic in Louisiana “where sugar cane, soybeans. sorghum and corn could be tapped for fuel production,” according to this article from the Advocate. According to the story, at least three commercial domestic fuels plants are planned for the state and another …
Hornish Wins 4th Indy Fast Lap
For the fourth time in two weeks, Sam Hornish, Jr. recorded the “Ethanol Fast Lap” and $2,500 with a speed of 224.951 miles per hour. The Marlboro Team Penske driver has been the fastest driver for all four Ethanol Fast Laps days in Indy 500 practice, collecting $10,000 from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. The final Indy Fast Lap …
Two More Ethanol Plants for Iowa
According to the Des Moines Register, Iowa is getting two more ethanol plants – one in Superior and one in Buffalo. Green Plains Renewable Energy plans to build a 50 million-gallon-a-year plant near Superior that will be similar to a plant Green Plains is building in Shenandoah. The Superior plant will open in spring 2007. River/Gulf Energy is a Quad-City …
Ethanol Myths and Realities
Business Week Online tries to take a somewhat balanced look at ethanol here that falls a bit short. The article has a decidedly cynical tone about ethanol but does present some positive information regarding the energy issue, presenting the findings of Michael Wang with the Argonne National Laboratory for Transportation Research – some very good research. Whenever anyone starts talking …
Golden Gate Biodiesel
Biodiesel’s heart is in San Francisco now that it has become the largest U.S. city to institute citywide use of B20. According to a release from the National Biodiesel Board, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Directive designed to increase the pace of municipal use of biodiesel in the city which uses about 8 million gallons of diesel …
Auto Makers Back 25x’25
According to Paddock Talk, the CEOs of General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler are supporting efforts that seek to provide 25 percent of America’s energy needs from renewable sources by 2025, known as 25X’25. In meetings with Congressional leaders today, Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda, Ford Motor Company Chairman and CEO Bill Ford and General Motors Chairman and CEO …
100 Illinois Ethanol Pumps
Illinois Corn Growers are proud to announced the grand opening of the state’s 100th E85 fuel station Wednesday in Litchfield. According to ICGA, Gov. Blagojevich contributed $40,000 in state funding to establish the new E-85 facilities in Litchfield, and he is also investing $25 million to support research, production and consumption of ethanol in Illinois as part of the state …
Badger State Ethanol
Here’s a nice shot of the Badger State Ethanol plant in Monroe, Wisconsin – sent in by reader Gary Dikkers, who took it “on a very cold day in February.” The plant started production mid-October, 2002 with a name-plate capacity of 40 million gallons of ethanol and 128,000 tons of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) each year. Since startup, …
JW Writes
Jim Jubak of MSN was writing about solutions to our energy problems and solicited suggestions from readers. He got several, including both ethanol and biodiesel. He decided to do further research on the subjects and the first one is ethanol. He’s looking for good information on the subject, so here’s an opportunity for you to jump in the mix. Send …