Maintaining the quality of fuel stored commercially or on the farm has a lot to do with making sure the storage equipment is keeping the fuel clean and dry. That’s why GROWMARK’s energy division stresses good storage tank maintenance to farmers. “Engine manufacturers as far back as the 1930s said the number one thing to do with all fuel is …
Iowa Leads the Way in Renewable Fuel Growth
According to a new study by Cardo ENTRIX, the “renewable fuels industry has grown spectacularly over the past decade and Iowa has been a major participant and beneficiary.” This is no surprise as Iowa leads the way in biodiesel and ethanol production. To learn about some of the key highlights of the study, I spoke with Brad Albin, VP of …
Iowa Gov. Brandstad Declares Iowa Ethanol Day
June 15, 2012 was a big day for the renewable fuels industry in Iowa. It was the 34th anniversary of the first gallon of commercial E10 being sold, the 10th Anniversary of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and E15 is ready to go in Iowa following a federal EPA announcement that the final regulatory hurdles had been cleared. I …
New Ad Campaign Shows Biodiesel on the Fast Track
For years, the folks at the National Biodiesel Board have been emphasizing how their green fuel is on the fast track to more jobs and American energy independence. Now, in a new web and television campaign, they’re also talking about how biodiesel is also part of the literal fast track of vehicle land speed records. Check it out: The ad …
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 …
$1.8 Mil Grant to Fund New Tech at Cal Biodiesel Plant
A California biodiesel maker receives a $1.8 million state grant to fund some new technologies at an existing refinery at a military base. A press release from its parent corporation, Biodico, says Biodiesel Industries of Ventura, LLC got the grant to use at Biodico’s 10 million gallon per year facility at the National Environmental Technology Demonstration Site, at Naval Base …
9,000 Acres to be Dedicated to Non-Food Energy Crops
An additional 9,000 acres in New York and North Carolina, and the expansion of an area in Arkansas, is being set aside as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project. USDA announced $9.6 million will be spent to fund this latest effort to use more non-food crops for the production of biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol: “Increasing …
LS9 Opens Biodiesel Demo Plant in Florida
Renewable energy and chemical producer LS9 has opened it’s demonstration plant in Okeechobee, Florida and is expected to be producing 75,000 gallons of biodiesel and biochemicals from local feedstocks in the coming months. This company press release says the retrofit of the plant was completed last month: “The opening of our demonstration plant in Florida moves LS9 from a development …