Legislation introduced last week in the House would extend expiring tax incentives important to the development of next generation biofuels. Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced the “Second Generation Biofuels Extension Act of 2013” (H.R. 3758) which would extend for one year the Second Generation Biofuel Producer Credit and the Special Allowance for Second Generation Biofuel Plant Property. Four fellow Democrats …
Analyst Offers Sobering Ethanol Outlook
AgResource Company president Dan Basse looked at the year in review for grain markets and gave his outlook for the future at the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) CSS 2013 and Seed Expo last week in Chicago. That included a pretty sobering outlook for corn and ethanol. First off, Basse said he expects North America to be “energy self-sufficient by …
Tips from Patriot’s Dave Gerhart on Improving Efficiency
When you want to learn about ethanol, you go to an industry veteran and I did just that when I spoke with Patriot Renewable Fuels Plant Manager Dave Gerhart who began his career in the early 80s at is what is now known as Nebraska-based Chief Ethanol Fuels. At the time, they were the largest dry mill ethanol plant in …
Abundant Corn Harvest Increases Ethanol Production
According to a recent Today in Energy published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), expectations of a record corn harvest in 2013 have helped lower corn prices and improve ethanol production margins. This has also increased ethanol production and supply. It was just last year that the 2012 corn harvest faced some of the most severe and far-reaching drought …
DSM Produces Cellulosic Ethanol at Industrial Level
Royal DSM, partnering with Denmark-based DONG Energy shows it is possible to produce cellulosic ethanol from wheat straw at an industrial level. This DSM news release says not only did the companies produce the cellulosic ethanol, but they showed a 40 percent increase in ethanol yield per ton of straw. The demonstration took place in DONG Energy’s Inbicon demonstration plant …
Annawan Mayor Kennard B Franks Applauds Patriot
Annawan Mayor Kennard B Franks applauds Patriot Renewable Fuels for how much their ethanol plant (and soon to be biodiesel facility) has done for the local community. “Patriot has helped us immensely,” said Mayor Franks. He noted that they knew they were in a great spot on Interstate 80 along with the railroad routes and two natural gas pipelines running …
IRFA to Host Renewable Fuels Forum
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is hosting a renewable fuels forum for Iowa’s leading Republicans seeking the GOP nomination to run for U.S. Senate in 2014. The seat is currently held by U.S. Senator Tom Harkin who is set to retire after his current term ends. The forum will be held at the Western Iowa Tech Community College Cherokee …
Anti Corn Ethanol Legislation Sparks Outrage
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) have introduced legislation to curb corn-ethanol use and production. The Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2013 eliminates the corn ethanol mandate within the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), an energy policy that mandates the use of 36 billion gallons of biofuel in America’s fuel supply by 2022. “I am pleased to join …
Murphy USA Opens First E15 Station
Murphy USA has opened the first E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) station in Arkansas, located at 2720 N. West Avenue in El Dorado. The Arkansas station is also the second Murphy USA location to offer E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline). E15 is approved for vehicles 2001 and newer, while both E15 and E85 can be used …
Gen Wesley Clark Testifies on RFS
General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.), co-chair of Growth Energy’s Board of Directors testified on the numerous benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today. One of his messages is that a reduction in the renewable fuel volume requirements of the RFS will move the biofuel industry backwards. “My message to the Committee …