Study Shows Ethanol’s Positive Economic Impact

John Davis

A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows Nebraska’s ethanol production capacity growth over the last 20 years is tenfold. This news release from the Nebraska Ethanol Board says the “Economic Impacts of the Ethanol Industry in Nebraska” also reveals ethanol in the state is producing 2,077 million gallons per year with 1,301 full-time employees at 24 facilities, and …

Ag group, Agribusiness, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Research, University

Iowa Gov Branstad to Address BIO World Congress

John Davis

Longtime advocate for biobased fuels Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will speak at this summer’s Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) World Congress in Montreal, Canada. This news release from BIO says Branstad is slated to speak during the July 20 plenary session titled, “State and Regional Approaches to Developing the Biobased Economy.” “Governor Terry Branstad is a true champion of our industry …

Ag group, BIO, biofuels, Biotech

Motor Clubs Make Pitch for E15

John Davis

The management of both the Association Motor Club Marketing (AMCM) and the Travelers Motor Club are making their pitch for the higher blend of ethanol known as E15. The American Coalition for Ethanol quotes AMCM Owner Gene Hammond from a blog post he wrote shortly after taking part on the “Biofuels Beltway March” fly-in (and speaking with Domestic Fuel), where …

ACE, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Oakland Biodiesel Plant Gets $3.4 Million State Grant

John Davis

A California biodiesel maker is getting a $3.4 million grant to build and operate a refinery in Oakland. Viridis Fuels, LLC, is the benefactor of the California Energy Commission grant that will help the company turn fats, oils and greases into 20 million gallons of biodiesel each year. The Viridis website says the company will use state-of-the-art technology that delivers …

Biodiesel

Wilks Equipment Backs New Biodiesel Blend Method

John Davis

Measuring the amount of biodiesel have been limited to Methods D7371 and EN 14078 which required FTIR spectrometers, putting expensive equipment in precarious positions either on a loading dock or in a truck. That’s why maker of analytical equipment, including biodiesel analyzers, Wilks is now backing the move to the ASTM D7861 biodiesel blend method and has the hardware that …

Biodiesel

Aemetis to Sell Biodiesel to India Tourism Buses

John Davis

California-based Aemetis, Inc. will start selling biodiesel to travel bus operators in India’s tourism industry. This company news release says a move by India government that allows biodiesel manufacturers such as Aemetis to sell to customers directly helped make the deal possible. According to a study carried out by Nielsen Research for the Department of Petroleum Planning and Analysis, Ministry …

Biodiesel, International

Iowa Lawmakers Ride-and-Drive on Biodiesel

John Davis

Lawmakers in Iowa got the chance to experience the power of biodiesel for themselves. The Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) held its its first ever Ride-and-Drive event at the capitol in Des Moines as part of the group’s annual “Biodiesel Day on the Hill” event, whose riders included Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds. “As a nation, we should …

Biodiesel, Legislation

Phoenix Energy Gets $4.9 Mil Grant for Biomass

John Davis

A California company has received a $4.9 million grant to build one of the first forest-sourced biomass gasification plants. Phoenix Energy‘s joint venture, North Fork Community Power’s project, received the money from the California Energy Commission to build the plant, as well as funding research into the emerging field of forest biomass use. The plant will utilize local forest biomass …

biomass, Government

Va Tech Scientists Turning Corn Husks into Hydrogen

John Davis

Scientists at Virginia Tech have found a way to get hydrogen from corn husks. This article from Yahoo says the husks and stalks are not only a plentiful feedstock for the potential car fuel, but they’re cheap, too. “We have demonstrated the most important step toward a hydrogen economy — producing distributed and affordable green hydrogen from local biomass resources,” …

Agribusiness, corn, Hydrogen

Canadian Company Plans Biomass Pellet Plant

John Davis

A clean-tech company in Canada is looking to build a $13-million commercial plant to turn biomass into pellets. This article from Halifax’s Chronicle Herald says Sustane Technologies Inc. will make the biomass pellets from landfill waste. The demonstration plant, which would be at Chester’s Kaizer Meadow landfill, is slated to be operational in mid-2016. Warden Allen Webber said Tuesday that …

biomass