BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Bimbo Bakeries USA is now delivering its bread and baked goods in vehicles fueled by propane autogas. The company’s 84 new Ford F-59 trucks are equipped with ROUSH CleanTech fuel technology, and operate in three of BBU’s major markets. In January, 30 units began operating from the company’s Chicago-area location, and 27 units began operating from its Denver-area office. The …

Bioenergy Bytes

Ethanol Contributed $2B to Minnesota’s Economy

Joanna Schroeder

A new study by ABF Economics found that the ethanol industry in Minnesota contributed $2.13 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2015. The report also found the industry generated $7.37 billion in gross sales for the same year. This in turn generated $1.6 billion worth of income for Minnesota households, supported 18,116 full-time jobs and contributed $93 million …

biofuels, Ethanol

RFA: Corn Ethanol Net Energy Improves

Joanna Schroeder

A new analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) finds that the net energy balance of corn-based ethanol at dry mill ethanol plants averages between 2.6 to 2.8, a improvement over previous estimates. Recent estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), found net energy gains between 2.1 to 2.3. However, RFA says its analysis uses more current dry mill …

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Military Use of Biofuels Topic at BIO World Congress

Joanna Schroeder

Biofuel use and support will be a topic at the upcoming BIO World Congress. The Honorable Dennis McGinn, assistant secretary of the Navy, Energy, Installations & Environment, will be speaking about “Overcoming Challenges to Biorefinery Scale Up”. His remarks will take place Monday, April 18, 2016 at 4:30 pm. In 2009, under Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus established aggressive …

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, BIO, Biodiesel, bioenergy, military

Masdar Institute’s Food & Fuel Facility Goes Online

Joanna Schroeder

Masdar Institute is celebrating the successful opening of its new research facility that will grow food and produce fuel in desert lands irrigated by seawater. The facility is located on a 2-hectare site in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is funded by the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC), a group dedicated to advancing the use of sustainable jet fuels. …

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel

NCGA Identifies Ethanol as Driver for Demand

Joanna Schroeder

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) held a press conference this week during 2016 Commodity Classic to discuss several key issues facing the corn industry and highlight the efforts currently in place to create solutions to the challenges that have been facing growers. NCGA Present Chip Bowling, a corn grower from Newburg, Maryland, said that the most important action the organization …

Agribusiness, Audio, Commodity Classic, corn, Ethanol, NCGA

U of York Team Aids in Biofuel Enzyme Research

Joanna Schroeder

A global research team is working together to help develop more efficient production methods for biofuel production. Scientists at the University of York are part of this team looking at how natural occurring enzymes can be used to degrade microbe-resistant biomass. The research is part of ongoing study of a recently discovered family of enzymes produced by fungi and bacteria, …

advanced biofuels, enzymes, Research

ROUSH Aids Nestlé Waters Switch to Propane

Joanna Schroeder

ROUSH CleanTech has recently assisted several companies convert to greener fleets. Nestlé Waters North America is adding 150 medium-duty beverage delivery trucks (Ford F-650) fueled by propane autogas. According to ROUSH CleanTech, over the vehicles’ lifetime, the 155 Ford F-650 trucks will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 24.6 million pounds. These units will be deployed beginning in April. …

Alternative energy, Propane

RFA: API Understates Benefits of RFS

Joanna Schroeder

Is the American Petroleum Institute (API) changing its RFS tune? In a recent interview with POLITICO Pro Energy’s Morning Energy, API President and CEO Jack Gerard said his organization was pivoting its strategy toward reforming the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rather than continuing to call for an outright repeal. A change of tune for sure but whether it’s on key …

biofuels, Ethanol, RFA, RFS

Mid American Agri Products Adds Cellunator

Joanna Schroeder

Mid American Agri Products/Wheatland (MAAPW) has gone online with Cellunator from Edeniq at its ethanol and biodiesel facility located in North Platte, Nebraska. According to Edeniq, the technology will increase the plant’s 44 million gallons per year (MGPY) of ethanol production by pretreating the corn slurry to liberate additional starch. The MAAPW facility also produces three MGPY of biodiesel. The …

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol