Tom Slunecka has been named the new executive director for the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. Prior to taking the helm of the soybean team on August 27, 2012, Slunecka was the vice president of marketing for PhibroChem where he focused on ethanol and animal agriculture. He also served as the executive director of the organization …
Kelly Davis Joins RFA
Kelly Davis is joining the Renewable Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) as Director of Regulatory Affairs. She is an ethanol veteran and before joining RFA full time, Davis chaired the RFA Technical Committee while working for Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company located in Benson, Minnesota. Davis will start with RFA on September 4, 2012 and be based out of the St. Louis, …
Aventine Enters Into Restructuring Agreement
Aventine Renewable Energy has announced the company has entered into a Restructuring Agreement with 100% of its term loan lenders. Under the terms of this agreement the company will convert the majority of its outstanding term loan debt into newly issued common equity, representing, on a fully diluted basis, approximately 92.5 percent of the issued and outstanding common stock after …
Danish Company First To Achieve WindMade Status
Widex, a Danish hearing-aid manufacturer, is the first company in the world to receive the recently established WindMade designation, a new global consumer label for companies that use wind energy. The WindMade label requires participating companies to obtain at least 25 percent of their electricity from wind power. A wind turbine at Widex’ new global headquarters in Denmark covers 95 …
Sky Factory Switches to Net-Zero Solar Power
The Sky Factory, a global fine art and technology company based in Fairfield, Iowa, will “flip the switch” to become Iowa’s first net-zero solar powered business June 7. Designed and installed by Fairfield’s Ideal Energy, the 3,500 square foot photovoltaic panel array, generating 54 kilowatts, is the largest private installation in the state and will generate 104 percent of Sky …
Frito-Lay Hits Million-Mile Mark with Electric Trucks
Frito-Lay and parent company PepsiCo are showing their commitment to environmental sustainability, by announcing that their all-electric trucks have just passed one million miles of use. Since going electric late last year, its fleet of 176 trucks by Smith Electric Vehicles has eliminated the need for approximately 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The all-electric trucks are used for deliveries on …
Growth Energy Announces New Communications Team
Two new team members have been added to Growth Energy’s communications team. Michael Frohlich joins Growth Energy as its new press secretary and will serve as the primary spokesperson and media contact for the organization. Michael Lewan joins the organization as its new public affairs associate and will be responsible for general outreach and strategic communication initiatives. Together, the two …
Protec Fuel Launches New Web Site
Just in time to celebrate Earth Week, Protec Fuel Management, a turnkey E85 ethanol company specializing in station conversions and fuel distribution nationwide, has a new web site. The site features a new logo and look, social media links, and a press page, just to name a few. E85 fuel can run in gasoline flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), is better for …
Bob Casper Named Chief Commercial Officer of POET
Bob Casper, President of POET Ethanol Products, was named Chief Commercial Officer of POET. In this newly created position, Casper will oversee the marketing and distribution of all products as well as risk management for POET. Since 2000, Casper has led POET Ethanol Products, which markets all of the ethanol and carbon dioxide for POET’s network of 27 biorefineries. Before …
Sapphire Energy Announces $144 Million Funding
San Diego-based biofuel developer Sapphire Energy, Inc. has secured the final installment of $144 million in a Series C round of venture funding that includes Arrowpoint Partners, Monsanto, and other undisclosed investors. This round of funding is being used to directly support Sapphire’s active and on-schedule commercial demonstration of an algae-based biofuels facility in Luna County, New Mexico. The Green …