Community solar projects have always been good for the environment, but a company in New Jersey is making them pay for individual investments, especially senior citizens living on fixed incomes. In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, I talk with Pete Ramsey, the Director of Business Development for GeoGenix. He explains that having an entire neighborhood put in a …
RFA Analyzes USDA Report for Ethanol
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) hosted a webinar this morning to discuss the new USDA Prospective Planting and Grain Stocks reports and what they indicate for America’s supply of corn and how demand from ethanol production might play into food pricing this year. Some of the main points made by RFA VP of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper about the …
I Can Hear The Boots On The Ground In DC
The “Biofuels Beltway March” is underway in Washington, D.C. and more than 60 grassroots members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) have their boots on the ground and are meeting with policy makers to set the record straight about ethanol. By the end of today, the ethanol advocates from 16 different states, will have engaged in 160 meetings with …
Senate Ag Holds Hearing on High Gas Prices
How domestic fuel can fight higher gas prices was the focus of a hearing today before the Senate agriculture committee. “Fundamentals and Farming: Evaluating High Gas Prices and How New Rules and Innovative Farming Can Help” featured a panel that included POET CEO Jeff Broin who testified on how the industry needs market access to help alleviate high gas prices …
Process Optimization Seminar Heading to Houston
Back by popular demand, the fifth Process Optimization Seminar is heading to Houston on April 27-29, 2011. The event is designed for plant managers, operations managers, technical Managers, lab Managers and general managers who are ready to get more out of their ethanol plant. The three-day course is taught by leading industry technical leaders from Phibro Ethanol Performance Group, Fermentis, …
RFA Says Ethanol Evolution Must Be Part of US Energy Future
As President Obama was preparing to outline his vision for America’s energy future in Washington this week, the president of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) sent a letter to Obama urging him to reaffirm his commitment to the continued evolution of America’s ethanol industry. In this “Ethanol Report” interview, RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen notes that no other energy …
The Convergence of First & Second Gen Biofuels
Often times, it appears that people pit first generation biofuel technologies against second generation biofuel technologies. This leads me to ask the question, Why can’t we all get along? Well, now we can with the convergence of conventional ethanol technologies and emerging algal biomass technologies being developed by BioProcess Algae. BioProcess Algae is based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island and the …
Higher Oil Prices Offset Higher Biofuel Feedstock Costs
A new study shows that U.S. farmers will enjoy better incomes in 2011, thanks to increasing crop prices. And while that might translate into higher feedstock costs for ethanol and biodiesel producers, the report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri shows higher oil prices should offset those higher prices being paid for the …
ACE Fly-In Participants Ready To Educate The Beltway
More than 50 American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) members and ethanol supporters from 15 different states are descending on Washington D.C. tomorrow as part of ACE’s annual fly-in. This year, Executive Vice President, Brian Jennings, said that the group will be playing a bit of offense and a bit of defense when they meet with more than 100 Congressional offices. …
Loss of DOE Loan Gurantee Program “Would Be A Tragedy”
There is a lot of action in the “Beltway” these days surrounding biofuels. One such conversation is around the fate of the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program. A group of policy makers want to end the program, which right now is funded with Reinvestment and Recovery monies. However, energy companies, such as Pleasanton, California-based Fulcrum Bioenergy, would be …