There was great news for the biofuels industry yesterday afternoon as Quad County Corn Processors, a biorefinery based in Galva, Iowa, broke ground on its Adding Cellulosic Ethanol (ACE) project. There were dozens from the local community on hand for the celebration and joining them was Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO, Bob Dinneen. In speaking to the crowd …
Quad County: Versatile Renewable Energy
“I’m listening to the presentation that Delayne [Johnson] gave you and looking around at the faces of the people I know that have stepped up for years – you put your capital on the line, you put your ideas on the line, and you put your hard work on the line,” began Congressman Steve King during his remarks at the …
Quad County Breaks Ground on “ACE” Project
Quad County Corn Processors officially broke ground today in Galva, Iowa on its Adding Cellulosic Ethanol “ACE” project. Dozens of local community members joined ethanol industry reps and local politicians to celebrate the milestone that ethanol plant General Manager Delayne Johnson said was four years in the making in the R&D lab. Delayne explained during his remarks, “With the addition …
ABFA Gives RFS Testimony
The Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA) gave testimony last week regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). One of the issues ethanol detractors are using in their attempt to modify or even repeal the RFS is the so-called blend wall. ABFA Executive Director, Michael McAdams said in response to this issue, “Calling for the full repeal of the RFS over a short …
Appalachian State University Receives Biomass Grant
Appalachian State University Department of Technology and Environmental Design professors David Domermuth and Ok-Youn Yu have received a $45,000 grant from the N.C. Agricultural Foundation for a project to economically convert biomass to biofuel and useful biochar. The grant, along with a current grant from the EPA, is being used to complete the university’s bioshelter/greenhouse at the Watauga County Landfill …
A New Use for Algae in Biofuel Production
According to an article in the journal Phycologia, a recent research study examined a promising freshwater algal strain for possible genetic engineering applications that could make it a viable biofuel. The research, conducted by a research team in Japan, was aimed at reducing the time from research to commercial production of algal-based biofuels. The article takes an in-depth look at …
EWG Has No Love for Corn Ethanol
During the recent Subcommittee on Energy and Power’s hearing to review the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) as well as during a recent RFS briefing sponsored by the Advanced Biofuels Association last week in D.C., the Environmental Working Group (EWG) made it very clear that they have no love for corn-based ethanol. Scott Faber, EWG senior vice president for government affairs …
Algae Biomass Summit: A Must Attend
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) will be hosting its 7th annual Algae Biomass Summit this fall, September 30-October 3, 2013 in Orlando, Florida. To get an overview of key speakers and topics, I turned to ABO Executive Director Mary Rosenthal. To date, Rosenthal said that have nearly 100 speakers confirmed along with a huge poster presentation and more than 60 …
Gevo Supplies Coast Guard with Isobutanol
Gevo, Inc. has begun supplying the U.S. Coast Guard R&D Center with initial quantities of finished 16.1% renewable isobutanol-blended gasoline for engine testing. The U.S. Coast Guard R&D Center is using the Gevo-blended fuel as part of a 12-month, long-term operational study on marine engines that began during June. The testing is being performed under a Cooperative Research and Development …
Lawmakers Seek Compromise on RFS
Some lawmakers during a House Energy subcommittee hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) attempted to work toward getting some compromise between the two sides of the debate. One side, represented by the oil industry, wants to see the RFS completely repealed. The other side, represented by the biofuels industry, would prefer no change to the law. Congressman John Shimkus …