Aventine Renewable Energy officials expressed optimism about the future for ethanol this week as they emerged triumphant from bankruptcy. The Pekin, Illinois-based ethanol producer announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 restructuring on March 15, naming Thomas Manuel as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. “Emerging from bankruptcy with good liquidity, modest debt and lower overhead …
Ethanol Tax Incentive Loss Would Mean Lost Jobs
According to a report out today from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), failure to extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) would reduce U.S. ethanol production capacity by 38% and eliminate 112,000 jobs in rural communities already hemorrhaging employment opportunities. “Ethanol has provided an unparalleled, value-added opportunity for agriculture and rural America,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “Supporting nearly …
RFA to Release Report on Cost of Ethanol Blenders Incentive Loss
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is set to release a new report today warning about the economic ramifications of allowing the tax incentive for ethanol blending to expire at the end of the year. In a preview obtained by Domestic Fuel, allowing the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) to expire would cost the country more than 100,000 jobs and …
Canadian Government Invests in GreenField Ethanol
According to a recent article in Ethanol Producer Magazine, Canada’s largest ethanol company, GreenField Ethanol located in Varennes, Quebec, will be receiving up to $79.75 million from the Canadian government. The funds are being distributed as part of the ecoENERGY for Biofuels program. The funds will be used to help the plant engage in future research and invest in additional …
Sorghum Poised for Bigger Role in Ethanol Production
Today, about 1/3 of the sorghum crop goes into ethanol production. An interesting little piece of information I picked up when I spoke with Gerald Simonsen, the Chairman of the National Sorghum Producers during Commodity Classic. Sorghum is a good feedstock for ethanol production for several reasons. First, it uses half the amount of water used in corn production and …
“Baby Girl” Wins Cutest Kid Photo Contest
The winner for the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) E85 Flex-Fuel Challenge Cutest Kid Photo Contest is in – Latisha Martinex of Virgina Beach. Ms. Martinex will receive free ethanol for one year and her photo was selected by the judges based on creativity and quality. More than 1,000 photos were submitted and of those, “Amira and her Snow Love,” submitted …
Actress Daryl Hannah Speaks Out for Ethanol Blends
Daryl Hannah has changed her hat, per se, and along with the promotion of biodiesel, she is now promoting higher blends of ethanol. On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Hannah’s ’79 Pontiac Trans-Am, that was featured in the movie “Kill Bill,” will be featured in the TV show EcoReview. The Topic is The Greening of the Auto Industry: from Paint to …
Delay on E15 Waiver “Troubling”
The E15 waiver was a hot topic during Commodity Classic and for good reason: EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, in response to a question asked during a Congressional hearing, said she felt they’d be ready to make a decision late summer. Originally, the EPA was to have ruled on the E15 waiver, that would waive the Clean Air Act to allow …
Ethanol Report on What’s Wrong With RFS2
In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” we hear from Geoff Cooper, Vice President of Research and Analysis for the Renewable Fuels Association, about what is right and what is wrong with the rule for the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard released early last month by the Environmental Protection Agency. The good news is that the RFS2 improves upon the rule …
Wisconsin Researchers Unlock Biomass Sugars for Fuel
A team of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have figured out how to get the the sugar molecules trapped inside inedible plant biomass, a key step in the creation of cellulosic biofuels. This press release from the school says the process, featured in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, converts up to three-quarters …