San Antonio, TX-based retailer H-E-B has announced that it will offer E-85 in five store locations from San Antonio to Waco by the end of summer. According to a company press release, the five sites are strategically located along IH-35, the nation’s main artery that runs from Mexico to Canada. H-E-B also selected the sites based on their proximity to …
Foreign Investment in Domestic Fuel
According to the Des Moines Register, Australia’s Global Ethanol announced plans this week to build a plant in Belmont, IA. This is the same group that recently bought controlling interest in Midwest Grain Processors operation at Lakota, IA. In addition, British agribusiness giant Tate & Lyle announced plans last week to build a plant in Fort Dodge, IA. Global Ethanol …
Mold Could Increase Ethanol Production
According to a release, researchers at Iowa State University have found a way to use mold to convert corn fiber into ethanol. And that could boost ethanol production by about 4 percent or 160 million gallons a year, said Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. “I believe this is a breakthrough,” said van …
JW Writes
While domestic fuels have the possibility to stem our dependence on foreign oil, most would agree that it would not be possible to completely supply our need for fuel. Based on our current consumption of oil, more than 90% of the arable land in the US would be required to produce enough ethanol. A large part of the corn and …
Ethanol-Mart
Watch out for falling ethanol prices if Wal-Mart decides to start selling E85. Officials with the world’s largest retailer met recently with ethanol industry representatives to discuss the possibility of offering ethanol at its 383 U.S. gas stations.
Corn Farmers on Ethanol High as Sugar Interests Mull Fuel Future
Corn farmers are “giddy” with the rising use and price of their commodity, according to this article in Business Week from St. Louis. Meanwhile, Florida sugar cane farmers are still hesitant to jump on the ethanol bandwagon, according to this Sun-Sentinel story, saying “As sexy as ethanol sounds, we’ve got to be able to make a profit.” That would be …
Chevron Goes Bio
Chevron Corporation has formed a biofuels business unit to advance technology and pursue commercial opportunities related to the production and distribution of ethanol and biodiesel in the United States, according to a company release. Chevron officially announced the business unit at a groundbreaking ceremony in Galveston, Texas to inaugurate construction of one of the first large-scale biodiesel plants in the …
Kick It
Actor and environmentalist Robert Redford has a commentary today on cnn.com about kicking the oil habit. His main purpose appears to be the promotion of KickTheOilHabit.org, which is “based at the Center for American Progress and works with partners from the Natural Resources Defense Council to Consumers Union, MoveOn.org to the Apollo Alliance.” The classy site features ways you can …
100th Ethanol Plant Celebration
Approximately 1,200 people attended the grand opening celebration May 26 for the new $80 million Frontier Ethanol – the 100th ethanol plant to begin operations in the United States. The plant, which will produce 60 million gallons of ethanol annually from 21 million bushels of corn, is the 23rd ethanol plant built by Broin Companies. CEO Jeff Broin is pictured …
Saab BioPower
Ethanol can be even more efficient than gasoline with the right engine, and Saab has the engine. According to Mobile Magazine, the 9-5 2.3t BioPower engine runs better on E85 than it does on regular gasoline – 210 bhp compared to 185 bhp. Earlier stories about the BioPower engine, such as this one in Popular Science, say it’s 184 horsepower …