Rookie Jeff Simmons in the #17 Team Ethanol car for Rahal Letterman Racing started the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix 13th – his best Indy pole position yet, ahead of teammate Danica Patrick who was 15th. But, even though Jeff was in the lead on lap 9, Team Ethanol was one of at least seven cars that spun out on …
Cowboys Coach Invests in Biodiesel
TexCom, Inc. has received a $6 million project finance equity commitment to expand its Biodiesel operations into the state of Oklahoma, according to a news release. A group led by former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys Coach Barry Switzer has committed $6 million as the equity component for a Biodiesel plant to be constructed for purposes of serving the …
Iogen Wants Loan Guarentees for Idaho Plant
Iogen officials say they want to build a $300 million plant to make ethanol from barley straw in Idaho, but they are waiting on loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy that would cover any losses investors might have if the project failed. The Ottawa Sun reports the company would like to start building in the fall of 2007. …
Another Ethanol IPO
Reuters reports that number two U.S. ethanol producer VeraSun Energy Corp. is planning to go public later this month. The IPO is the start of an ambitious campaign by the company to double its ethanol output to 560 million gallons a year by the first quarter of 2008, according a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ethanol Night at the Races
Indy’s not the only race celebrating ethanol. Brown County Speedway opens for the season with Ethanol Night tonight. The racing season in Aberdeen, SD will run through Sept. 30. Aberdeen is the latest site chosen for an ethanol plant to be built by Glacial Lakes Energy.
We Want More
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, new data from the polling firm Public Opinion Strategies shows that 78 percent of Americans support increasing the use of ethanol and two-thirds of Americans support the increased use of biofuels in general. Additional results show that 91 percent of Americans feel the country is facing an energy crisis and 53 percent believe we …
Coconuts for Biodiesel
It may not be just for suntan lotion anymore. International Fuel Technology Inc. of St. Louis and CIIF Oil Mills Group of the Philippines, the world’s largest coconut producer, have begun a research and development program to expand the use of coconut oil in biofuels blended with diesel fuel. According to a company release, the administration of Philippine President Gloria …
Music Festivals Go Green
According to MTV news, some big name summer music festivals are making themselves more environmentally friendly by using biodiesel in fleets and generators. For example, organizers of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee June 16-18 plan to use 25,000 gallons of cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel for all its non-music stage generators. The Warped Tour, whatever that is, plans …
Florida Legalizes E85
E85 is now legal in Florida. According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the notice of the rule change making it legal to sell E85 in the Sunshine State was published in April. NEVC is gearing up to work with vendors to make the fuel available to Florida motorists. Florida Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson has been a big promoter of …
Broin Plant News
The Broin Companies today announced plans for development and construction of Premier Ethanol, LLC near Portland, Indiana, as well as plans to build a second Pro-Corn Ethanol production facility in Minnesota. The Indiana plant is a 120 million gallon per year (MGPY) project and the Minnesota facility will produce 60 million gallons of ethanol annually.