E85 (85 percent ethanol/15 percent gas) will be available for 85 cents a gallon at the Farmers Coop Elevator in Bellingham, Minnesota on Wednesday, August 19 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Located at 300 Railroad Road, the promotion will also offer a 30 cents per gallon discount on E30 and a 15 cents discount per gallon on E15. The …
USDA Predicts Big Corn and Soybean Crops
USDA is forecasting the third largest corn crop on record and the second largest soybean crop in a new planted acreage update released today. U.S. growers are forecast to produce 13.7 billion bushels of corn this year, according to the report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). That is actually a four percent decrease from last year’s production, but …
Iowa E15 Retailer Grants Available
Iowa fuel retailers interested in adding E15 ethanol blends to their consumer fuel options have an opportunity to apply for grants through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP). The program gives retailers financial assistance to install or upgrade fuel dispensing equipment to offer E15. “Adding E15 to the state renewable fuels infrastructure program provides a missing link to expanding …
Iowa State Fair to Host Prez Soapbox
Iowa State Fair visitors have an opportunity to see what presidential candidates think about energy and agricultural issues compliments of the Des Moines Register’s Presidential Soapbox series. A majority of the presidential candidates from both parties have confirmed they will speak from the soapbox during the fair. A total of 14 Republicans and four Democrats are on the soapbox schedule …
E15 Hot Topic at ACE Ethanol Conference
E15 will be a hot topic at the upcoming American Coalition for Ethanol Conference next week. The topic of how higher blends can help fuel retailers to succeed will be discussed during a panel in Omaha, Nebraksa August 19-21. Panelists include Todd Garner, CEO of ProTec Fuel and Jim Pirolli, VP of Fuels for Kum & Go. The August 20th …
Scottish Scientists Identify Algae Best for Biofuels
Scientists in Scotland have identified which algae are the best for biofuels. This article from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) says the researchers used a new technique to figure out which ocean-based strains had the highest oil content. The screening revealed two marine strains, Nannochloropis oceanica and Chlorella vulgaris, which had a dry-weight oil content of more than …
What Iowa Legislators Support the RFS?
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has published a list of which legislators support the RFS in Iowa. Iowa is the top producing biodiesel and ethanol state and is also a leading cellulosic ethanol producing state. The bipartisan list includes city, county and state government officials who publicly support the …
Growth Energy Praises 10 Years of RFS
Saturday, August 8 marked the official 10th anniversary of President Bush signing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) into law. The legislation promotes the use of biofuels in replacement of fossil fuels and is in effect until 2020. According to Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis, the RFS has been an overwhelming success and is accomplishing the goals it was designed to …
Time to Learn More about Biodiesel & Bioheat
Next week I’ll be attending the Biodiesel and Bioheat Forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. Want to join me? Get registered now. Home heating oil and biodiesel leaders will discuss a biodiesel blend with significant environmental and economic benefits and the role Minnesota soybean farmers can play in meeting the demand of this market. “The Midwest …
Governors Announce Ethanol Labeling Initiative
In an effort to promote the American Ethanol brand, Iowa and Nebraska Governors have announced a statewide pump labeling initiative to promote the use of ethanol blends including E10, E15, E30 and E85. Both states are offering the approved labels free of charge. The American Ethanol brand was introduced in 2011 when NASCAR adopted E15. So not to confuse consumers, …