During this year’s Sturgis event in Sturgis, South Dakota, bikers from across the country who were staying at the Buffalo Chip Campgrounds were treated to free ethanol-blended fuel compliments of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The “Free Fuel Happy Hours” promotion enabled motorcyclists to fill their tank, free of charge, with 93 octane E10 (10 percent ethanol). This high octane …
In Center Ring: Biofuels Versus Big Oil
The National Conference of State Legislators kicked off in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday and today the group has invited Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) along with Patrick Kelly of the American Petroleum Institute (API) to debate the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to Cooper, the invitation was extended because state legislators want to learn more about the program …
Big Oil Files Waiver to Cap Ethanol
Big Oil has been defeated time and time again in court related to the growth of the biofuels industry, but they have not been deterred. This week, the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) filed a partial waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), requesting that total ethanol requirements be dropped to 9.7 percent. …
American Ethanol Inducted in NASCAR Hall of Fame
American Ethanol driver Austin Dillon unveiled a display at the NASCAR Hall of Fame to celebrate his win at the Mudsummer Classic held at the Eldora Speedway on July 25, 2013. The exhibit features a jar of dirt Dillon scooped up near the finish line with the Eldora golden shove, his winner’s trophy and the No. 39 American Ethanol truck …
Patriot Renewable Fuels: A 5 Year Retrospective
Patriot Renewable Fuels based in Annawan, Illinois came online on August 31, 2008, during the first financial crisis of the industry and the beginning of the financial crisis in America. But this didn’t keep the biorefinery from success, and later this month the plant is celebrating its fifth anniversary. I spoke to Gene Griffith today to get a retrospective on …
Why Sugarcane Ethanol is Essential to RFS
There is a significant amount of attention being paid to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) but one area that hasn’t been talked about much is the role of sugarcane ethanol in the RFS. To learn more, I spoke with Leticia Phillips the representative for North America with UNICA – the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association. She said that under the RFS, …
Why You Should Not Miss the ACE Conference
The 26th American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Conference is less than two weeks away. The event is being held in Des Moines, Iowa August 26-28th and the conference will be offering great sessions covering issues that are important to the ethanol industry. I asked Shannon Gustafson, Director of Strategic Projects for a brief overview of some of the key issues …
Akash Selects Interneer Software for Biofuels Ops
Houston, Texas-based Akash Energy selected software developer Interneer, Inc. to help the provider of biodiesel and ethanol, as well as petroleum products, automate some business processes. This Interneer news release says the business mobile apps will be used throughout Akash’s distribution chain, from raw material sourcing through distribution to Akash’s retail stations, expected to open later this year: In 2013, …
Corn Oil Biodiesel Adds Arrow to Ethanol’s Quiver
More ethanol plants are squeezing more profits out of the corn they use by recovering more of the oil in the process and turning it into biodiesel. This article from Ethanol Producer Magazine says by the end of the year, as many as 80 percent of U.S. ethanol plants could be recovering corn oil. WB Services is offering ethanol producers …
IRFA Unveils E85 Wholesale Price Listing Service
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has launched an E85 Wholesale Price Listing Service. The IRFA lists E85 prices from wholesale distributors with the intent of increasing transparency in the marketplace, allowing retailers to review supply options in one location. “The goal of our E85 wholesale price listing program is to assist retailers in providing their consumers with the lowest-cost …