GROWMARK is providing more homegrown fuels for members and area businesses around central Illinois. The regional agricultural supply company bought the Menard Terminal from Magellan Midstream Partners in 2008 and today it handles gasoline, diesel, ethanol and biodiesel for FS members within a 120 mile radius, in addition to non-member companies like Casey’s and Thornton’s. Terminal Manager Pete Nance says …
ABO Goes to Washington
The Algal Biomass Organization (ABO) may be relatively young, having been formed in March of 2006, but they have made some significant strides in Washington, D.C. in lobbying for advanced biofuels such as algae, to play on the same field as cellulosic biofuels. I caught up with Mary Rosenthal, ABO’s executive director after her multi-day trip to D.C. to learn …
Ag Will Have a Role in Growing Alt Energy
Recently, Dr. Richard Newell from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) testified during a Senate Ag Committee Hearing to discuss high gas prices and the role agriculture may play in developing energy sources for America. Newell believes that agriculture could have a very prominent role in the country’s energy production over the next 20 years. “Starting with a high level overview …
Don’t Miss Out On The Process Optimization Seminar
You only have two days left to attend the Process Optimization Seminar at the early bird rate. This year’s event is being held on April 27-29th in Houston, Texas and marks the first year where the seminar will couple classroom style learning with hands on activities executed in a refinery and lab. To learn more about the event, I caught …
USDA Announces Funding for Ethanol Blender Pumps
During a press briefing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a USDA program will provide funding for installation of ethanol blender pumps to provide Americans with flexible fuel vehicle with more choices when they fill up. “This announcement is going to help expand the national biofuels industry and create jobs across the country,” said Vilsack. USDA is issuing a rule …
Learn How to Improve Ethanol Plant Margins
Gas prices may be on the rise resulting in a great market for ethanol, but ethanol plant margins are still tight. You can learn hands-on strategies to improve your ethanol plant margins by attending the fifth Process Optimization Seminar in Houston, Texas on April 27-29th. The seminar is sponsored by several leading ethanol industry companies including Phibro Ethanol Performance Group, …
DF Cast: Community Solar a Good Choice for Individuals
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 …