A mix of electrically powered and biodiesel and E85 ethanol fueled vehicles lead the list for the Automotive X Prize. This story from Consumer Reports says the $10 million prize will go to the team that makes a production-ready car that gets 100 mpg or the energy equivilant AND is sold at a profit for a reasonable price: “The teams …
Poll Finds Support for Corn Ethanol
A nationwide survey conducted for the National Corn Growers Association finds broad public respect and trust for family farmers and support for corn as food, feed and fuel. Ninety-five percent of those polled agreed that farmers are trusted messengers on issues such as agriculture, corn products and ethanol – and ethanol itself was supported or strongly supported as a good …
FDC Enterprises Awarded DOE Feedstock Delivery Grant
FDC Enterprises, based on Columbus, Ohio, announced today that it has won a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to develop supply systems to handle and deliver feedstocks for cellulosic biofuels production. The $21 million grant is being shared by five winners. The government is attempting to help speed up cellulosic biofuels production, or the production of fuel that uses …
Energy Reform? Then Don’t Follow California.
Many states look to California to set the stage for environmental and energy reform. They passed the first greenhouse gas emissions legislation. They passed the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. But not so fast. They are bankrupt. They still have some of the worst air pollution in the country. They still have “brownouts” when it rains. Let me give you an …
Company to Auction Ethanol, Biodiesel Equipment
What’s a loss for some ethanol and biodiesel producers could be a big gain for others looking to expand or get into the green fuel business. A pair of auctions… one in Nebraska and the other in New Jersey… by Maas Companies will offer some brand-new, out-of-the-box ethanol and biodiesel production equipment. Carelton, Nebraska is the site of the Altra …
Iowa Ethanol Producer Embarks on Algae Project
Iowa Governor Chet Culver was seeing green at the grand opening of the Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) Algae Project Thursday in Shenandoah. “This project here is an ideal of what this could mean not only to securing our energy future and helping fuel the world and lower emissions, but jobs in Iowa,” Culver said during the event held at …
MN Vikings Work with ALAMN to Promote E85
Volunteers from the ALAMN will be at the two Gold Lot entrances to identify FFVs and distribute the free passes. The ALAMN supports the use of cleaner-burning E85, and has partnered with the Minnesota Vikings to raise awareness and use of the ethanol-based fuel, sold at more than 350 stations in Minnesota. The first 25 FFV drvers in the Gold …
USDA Official Will Tour Iowa Biofuels Industry
USDA Deputy Secretary Dr. Kathleen Merrigan will get some first hand knowledge of Iowa’s ethanol industry during a tour scheduled for October 20. During her visit, Dr. Merrigan will learn about ethanol production, utilization of co-products and biodiesel research. Merrigan will first visit Lincolnway Energy, a 50-million gallon per year ethanol plant with a corn oil extraction process. Next, she …
Photos Win Ethanol Sturgis Contest
The Renewable Fuels Association has announced the winners of its E85 Flex-Fuel Challenge Sturgis Photo Contest. Tim Gillespie of Cameron Park, California was the Grand Prize winner of a $1,000 gift card to the motorcycle dealership of his choice after submitting his winning photo, “Sturgis Bikes 2009” pictured left. The photo contest was judged based on creativity as well as …
Coskata Unveils Semi- Commerical Cellulosic Plant
Coskata Inc., has finally unveiled it’s “semi-commercial flex ethanol facility” to the world today with the New York Times taking the lead. In the article author Matthew Wald writes, “The facility, built by a company called Coskata, is not quite proof that a new era is at hand for American transportation fuels. But with the company claiming it will be …