When you want to learn about ethanol, you go to an industry veteran and I did just that when I spoke with Patriot Renewable Fuels Plant Manager Dave Gerhart who began his career in the early 80s at is what is now known as Nebraska-based Chief Ethanol Fuels. At the time, they were the largest dry mill ethanol plant in …
Abundant Corn Harvest Increases Ethanol Production
According to a recent Today in Energy published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), expectations of a record corn harvest in 2013 have helped lower corn prices and improve ethanol production margins. This has also increased ethanol production and supply. It was just last year that the 2012 corn harvest faced some of the most severe and far-reaching drought …
A Q&A with JatroDiesel
JatroDiesel’s technology has been selected by Patriot Renewable Fuels for its 4-5 million biodiesel facility under construction next to its ethanol plant in Annawan, Illinois. The biodiesel plant, when it goes into operation in September 2014 will use the corn oil produced during the ethanol process for its primary feedstock. To learn more about the multi-feedstock biodiesel technology, I spoke …
Annawan Mayor Kennard B Franks Applauds Patriot
Annawan Mayor Kennard B Franks applauds Patriot Renewable Fuels for how much their ethanol plant (and soon to be biodiesel facility) has done for the local community. “Patriot has helped us immensely,” said Mayor Franks. He noted that they knew they were in a great spot on Interstate 80 along with the railroad routes and two natural gas pipelines running …
IRFA to Host Renewable Fuels Forum
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is hosting a renewable fuels forum for Iowa’s leading Republicans seeking the GOP nomination to run for U.S. Senate in 2014. The seat is currently held by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin who is set to retire after his current term ends. The forum will be held at the Western Iowa Tech Community College Cherokee …
Anti Corn Ethanol Legislation Sparks Outrage
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) have introduced legislation to curb corn-ethanol use and production. The Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2013 eliminates the corn ethanol mandate within the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), an energy policy that mandates the use of 36 billion gallons of biofuel in America’s fuel supply by 2022. “I am pleased to join …
Murphy USA Opens First E15 Station
Murphy USA has opened the first E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) station in Arkansas, located at 2720 N. West Avenue in El Dorado. The Arkansas station is also the second Murphy USA location to offer E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline). E15 is approved for vehicles 2001 and newer, while both E15 and E85 can be used …
Gen Wesley Clark Testifies on RFS
General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.), co-chair of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors testified on the numerous benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today. One of his messages is that a reduction in the renewable fuel volume requirements of the RFS will move the biofuel industry backwards. “My message to the Committee …
ACE to Host RFS Comment Webinar
The American Coalition for Ethanol has announced the grassroots ethanol organization will be hosting a webinar at 11:00 am CST on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 on how to make comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed RFS rule for 2014. “The individual and personal stories of grassroots ethanol supporters from all walks of life are critically important …
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reach $544B
According to the World Energy Outlook fossil fuel consumption subsidies have reached $544 billion in 2012, up from $523 billion in 2011. This news has caused the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) to criticize leaders of the most developed nations for failing to reduce fossil fuel subsidies despite their commitment to eliminate them four years ago. This weekend marked the …