The Governors’ Biofuels Coalition (GBC) is holding its annual meeting this week in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the headquarters of ethanol production company POET. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, GBC chairman, and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard, a GBC member, will be leading a discussion of the accomplishments of the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Governor Branstad was one of …
ZeaChem Closer to Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol
Cellulosic ethanol got a little closer to commercialization with an announcement today from ZeaChem, Inc. ZeaChem officials report they have produced commercial-grade cellulosic chemicals and ethanol at their 250,000 gallons per year (GPY) biorefinery in Boardman, Ore. “ZeaChem is developing the first truly-integrated biorefineries for the production of a broad portfolio of economical and sustainable biofuels and bio-based chemicals,” said …
Ethanol Producers Respond to Market Conditions
Corn oil recovery is helping the bottom line of ethanol producers with tight margins, according to a new report from the Energy Information Administration. Beginning in summer 2012, the prices of ethanol and corn reached levels where production costs at relatively simple ethanol plants exceeded revenue. These simple plants, which are not able to recover corn oil, make up a …
Corn Use for Ethanol Steady
Projected 2012/13 U.S. corn ending stocks were unchanged in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate report out Friday, lowering exports but increasing feed use and keeping corn use for ethanol the same. Projected corn use for ethanol this season remains unchanged at 4.5 billion bushels, which is down 10 percent from last year on lower gasoline use, according to …
Ethanol High Priority for Corn Farmers
Ethanol was high on the priority list for delegates to the National Corn Growers Association Corn Congress policy meeting last week during the 2013 Commodity Classic. NCGA President Pam Johnson said they will continue to fight the attacks on both the Renewable Fuel Standard and the approval of E15 in the marketplace. “We will not let these attacks stand,” said …
Obama Picks New Cabinet Heads for Energy and EPA
President Obama has announced his picks for Secretary of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency administrator. The President nominated MIT professor Ernest Moniz as energy secretary and EPA official Gina McCarthy as administrator for the agency. Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen welcomed the nomination of McCarthy as a solid choice and is interested in getting to know Moniz. “(McCarthy) is …
EPA Approves New Biofuel Pathways Under RFS
Camelina, energy cane and renewable gasoline are now added to the list of qualifying feedstocks and fuels approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). EPA released its final rule to identify additional fuel pathways that meet the “lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction requirements for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and cellulosic biofuel” under the …
No Industry Input for Ethanol Hearing
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on the Environment will hold a hearing tomorrow on mid-level ethanol blends, but without any input from the ethanol industry. Witnesses scheduled to testify include representatives from AAA, motorcyclists and a research council that works for the petroleum industry and auto makers. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis CEO of Growth Energy …
Ethanol Opponents Appealing to Supreme Court
Oil companies and food manufacturers are taking their lawsuit seeking to ban 15% ethanol (E15) fuel to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lower courts have already rejected the attempt by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision allowing E15 in the marketplace as a consumer choice for vehicles newer …
Europe Imposes Tariff on US Ethanol
According to U.S. ethanol organizations, the European Commission (EC) is officially imposing a $83.03 per metric ton tariff on U.S. ethanol entering the European Union (EU). The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy issued a joint statement on the action. “This tariff is outrageous and based on absolutely no facts or evidence of harm. An extensive investigation was conducted …