A freshman Republican representative from Kansas today blasted higher ethanol blends during a House subcommittee hearing that focused on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “Why don’t I hear my constituents screaming for E15 and E85 if it’s such a good thing to lower consumer prices?” Congressman Mike Pompeo asked Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen during the hearing. …
Farm Group Opposes Bill that Would Weaken RFS
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is opposed to a bill introduced by Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) that they claim would weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by requiring fuel companies to blend only the amount of cellulosic ethanol currently being produced into gasoline. “Basically any weakening of the RFS is not a good thing for the country going forward. …
Biofuels Defense Investments Announced
The Obama administration today announced new investments in the biofuels industry as part of the Defense Production Act (DPA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Navy and Department of Energy jointly announced $30 million in federal funding to match private investments in commercial-scale advanced drop-in biofuels. The Energy Department is also announcing a total of $32 million in new investments …
Edeniq Producing Cellulosic Ethanol in California
A California-based biofuels company officially launched its Corn to Cellulosic Migration (CCM) pilot biorefinery this week. The CCM biorefinery is located at the headquarters of Edeniq in Visalia, California. According to the company, the pilot plant’s technologies can be used as bolt-on technology to existing facilities to allow the use of other feedstocks such as corn stover, switchgrass, sugarcane bagasse, …
Brazil Boasts Successful Biofuels Flight
Amyris, Inc. provided a renewable jet fuel blend derived from Brazilian sugarcane to Azul Brazilian Airlines who boasted a successful test flight. The Embraer E195 jet took flight from Campinas Viracopos Airport, flew over Rio De Janeiro, where the U.N. Conference for Sustainable Development (RIO +20), and landed at Rio’s Santos Dumont Airport. Known as Azul+Verde (“a greener blue” in …
Butamax expands Biobutanol Early Adopters Group
Four additional plants have joined the Butamax™ Advanced Biofuels Early Adopters Group (EAG), indicating their interest in biobutanol production. According to the company, Platinum Ethanol LLC of Arthur, Iowa; Little Sioux Corn Processors of Marcus, Iowa; Granite Falls Energy LLC of Granite Falls, Minnesota; and Siouxland Ethanol of Jackson, Nebraska have joined the EAG, which was launched in December 2011, …
New RIN Network for Biodiesel Industry
The RIN 9000 verification program developed by Lee Enterprises Consulting is merging with the RIN Integrity Network developed by Genscape to create a standard RIN program for the industry. The goal of the new program is to provide information that will both satisfy concerns of obligated parties as well as benefit producers. Susan Olson, VP of Analytical R&D at Genscape …
Free Biodiesel Workshops
The American Lung Association in Minnesota is hosting two free workshops on biodiesel, a renewable fuel alternative to diesel. The workgroups will take place Thursday, June 21 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm and Friday, June 22nd from 9:00 am to 11:30 am at the AmericInn at 1500 Highway 71, International Falls. National fuel expert Hoon Ge of MEG Corporation …
IRFA to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
Although ethanol has been used in Iowa for many decades, an Iowa-focused organization dedicated to the use of renewable fuels didn’t begin until 2002 – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). To celebrate the 10 year milestone, IRFA is hosting an event coinciding with the 34th anniversary of the first retail sale of E10, which just so happened to take place in …
New Energy Farms Announces Development of CEEDS
New Energy Farms (NEF) has developed a revolutionary new method of propagating energy grasses that will reduce farmer establishment costs by 50 percent or more. Cost effective scaling of perennial energy grasses such as Miscanthus, Arundo donax and energy cane has previously inhibited expansion. NEF has developed a new planting product for vegetative energy crops called CEEDS. These are small …