A long delay in permitting has led POET, the world’s largest producer of ethanol, to cancel plans for construction of a new facility in Glenville, MN. Larry Ward, Vice President of Project Development for POET, says permitting has delayed the project for over a year. “When we selected Glenville for a second ethanol production facility, we believed that we would …
Seminole Electric Looking for Renewable Energy
Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc. is exploring ways to incorporate renewable energy. The Tampa, Florida-based company is requesting proposals for potential renewable energy sources. The Florida generation and transmission cooperative is seeking up to 250 megawatts of renewable energy to help meet its member systems’ growing demand and to diversify its resource portfolio. Seminole is not charging a fee for proposal …
EPIC Speaks Out Against Ethanol Scapegoating
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has gathered data from multiple sources that debunk claims that America’s renewable fuels are a large player in soaring food prices. Toni Nuernberg, the Executive Director of EPIC wants to spread the word that changing the nation’s renewable fuels standard is not the answer to driving down global food costs. Recent calls to reduce …
Renewable Energy Bill Passes Florida Legislature
A comprehensive energy bill has passed the Florida legislature, and now goes to the governor for an expected signature. This story from the Orlando (FL) Sun-Sentinel says the measure has provisions specifically addressing renewable energy in the state: The bill, which addresses Gov. Charlie Crist’s call for policies that combat global warming, is made up of 112 sections that could …
Biofuels Digest Diverts Blame to China
China, not biofuels, are to blame for rising food costs. At least, that’s what The Biofuels Digest suggests. The online publication says their study finds that for every bushel of grain used to make U.S. ethanol, six are used to support Chinese meat demand. A change in Chinese meat consumption habits since 1995 is diverting eight billion bushels of grain …
Nebraska Breaks Ground on State’s Largest Wind Farm
State and local officials were on hand this week for the groundbreaking of what will become Nebraska’s largest wind farm. This story from the North Platte (NE) Bulletin says the wind farm, near the Northeast Nebraska town of Bloomfield will be the state’s first community-based wind project: When completed, the Elkhorn Ridge Wind Facility will have 27 wind turbines and …
NBB Helping Develop Soybean Oil Enhancement
Working with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is granting $1.2 million to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, Mo. for a three-year project to enhance oil production from soybeans. This NBB press release says it’s just another step the group has taken to free this country from foreign oil dependence: …
Canadians Support Biofuels
The U.S. isn’t the only country in North America that’s trying to fuel change in fuel standards. The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association says a new poll suggests Canadians are just as bio-conscious… A new nationwide poll shows that Canadians overwhelmingly support the national renewable fuels strategy to blend biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel in Canada’s fuel supply. The national Praxicus …
Missing 500,000 Barrels a Day
An opinion piece in GreenEnergyWar.com asks an interesting question: Wouldn’t we miss the 500,000 barrels of oil that biofuels replace every day? Check out what former California Energy Commissioner John Geesman (who, by the way, has also been following California politics for more than 40 years) has to say: As debate continues to rage over the role which biofuels policies …
New Biodiesel Production Method Lands Student on GMA and Before Congress
A student from Augsburg College in Minnesota has come up with a new method of biodiesel that has landed his story on Good Morning America and before the Senate Agriculture Committee. This story from TwinCities.com says Brian Krohn, along with chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, Krohn’s college adviser, are making biodiesel from non-food stocks like algae: Their research is drawing attention …