In a commentary on the Natural Resources Defense Council blog, the organization’s Director of Renewable Energy Policy Nathanael Greene criticizes the ethanol industry for what he calls a “highly inflated jobs study” released earlier this week. Greene claims the industry’s jobs numbers are “way off” because they use both inflated jobs multipliers and inflated economic impact, creating what he calls …
Ethanol Starts 2010 With Record Production
U.S. ethanol production began 2010 on a record pace. The latest report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) puts January 2010 ethanol production at an average of more than 818,000 barrels per day, compared to 188,000 in January 2009. EIA also reports fuel ethanol imports of 1.4 million gallons in January. Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association …
Biofuels Benchmarking Annual Report Released
Today, Christianson & Associates, PLLP (C&A) has released a new in-depth report that looks into ethanol plant efficiency and financial viability. The Biofuels Benchmarking Annual Report is in its 7th year and analyzed the operational and financial performance of more than 50 ethanol plants along five major “bench” areas: overall ethanol industry analysis, regional ethanol plant analysis, production capacity analysis, …
E85 for 85 Cents Off in Vestavia Hills, Alabama
In addition to the ethanol promotion, E85 customers can win one of five $100 fuel cards. The first 20 will receive two tickets to the race. UNICA renewed its fuel supply agreement with the Indy Racing League for the 2010 season in November of last year. Under the new agreement, the IZOD IndyCar Series will continue to utilize sugarcane ethanol …
Loss of Ethanol Incentives Could Cost Jobs in Half the Nation
New research indicates that allowing the ethanol tax incentives to expire at the end of this year would mean job losses in 25 states, not just the Midwest. According to additional research conducted by economist John Urbanchuk, non-traditional ethanol producing states like California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, and Tennessee would be hit by job losses due to the expiration of the …
Study Shows Impact of Removing Ethanol Tariff
Brazil is eliminating its tariff on ethanol imports and wants the United States to do the same, but a recent study shows Brazil has far more to gain in that deal. The study, prepared by IHS Global Insight, determined that eliminating import tariffs and increasing the tax on domestic ethanol would have severe economic consequences for both American ethanol producers …
Ethanol Company Posts a Profit
Investors in California’s BlueFire Ethanol should be pleased to see that the company posted a profit in 2009. The company, which is focused on the production of ethanol and other biofuels from non-food cellulosic wastes, reported 2009 revenue of $4,318,213 – which amounts to a four cent profit per share. According to BlueFire CEO Arnold Klann, “Through BlueFire’s continued progress …
Brazil Eliminates Tariff on Ethanol Imports
In a bid to get the United States to eliminate tariffs on imported ethanol, the Brazilian government has announced it will reduce their tax on ethanol imports to zero from the current 20 percent through the end of next year. The Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) announced the temporary reduction Monday and it is expected to go into effect …
BIO to Congress: Fund $25M for Cellulosic Production
Today, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a letter to House and Senate appropriators asking them to fund the Section 942 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 labeled as Production Incentives for Cellulosic Biofuels to the tune of $25 million for 2011. Known as a reverse auction program, BIO is encouraging this action as a way to assist pioneer …
Process Optimization Seminar Success
Nearly 60 ethanol plant managers attended the second Process Optimization Seminar held in Indianapolis this week. The interactive seminar is a team effort of Fremont Industries, Fermentis, Novozymes and Phibro Ethanol Performance Group. “All four of us companies got together and realized a need to provide training for plants,” said Steve Rust with Fremont. “So we decided to provide this …