Novozymes and Beta Renewables have joined in a partnership to jointly market and develop cellulosic biofuel solutions. As part of the agreement, Novozymes will acquire a 10 percent share in Beta Renewables, paying approximately $115 million cash for the equity, marketing fees, other intellectual property rights and milestone payments. The partners will offer biofuel companies Novozymes’ Cellic enzymes embedded into …
Economist Bruce Johnson To Address NEB Meeting
Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln, Dr. Bruce Johnson, will be addressing the attendees of the Nebraska Ethanol Board (NEB) meeting tomorrow, October 30, 2012 at 10:00 am CDT at the University of Nebraska East Campus Union in Lincoln. He will be discussing the recently released “2010 Economic Impact of the Nebraska Agricultural Production Complex.” The report focuses on the …
Green Plains Renewable Energy to Sell Grain Elevators
Green Plains Renewable Energy has entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell 12 grain elevators located in northwestern Iowa and western Tennessee to The Andersons The sale involves approximately 32.6 million bushels, or 83%, of the Company’s reported agribusiness grain storage capacity and all of its agronomy and retail petroleum operations. The estimated sales price for the facilities and …
BP Continues Biofuels Backout
BP is continuing its biofuels backout with the announcement that it is abandoning its $300 million cellulosic project in Highlands County, Florida. This is the second major announcement of the company moving away from the production of renewable energy. Last December, the company exited the solar business. According to an interview with Matt Hartwig in the Washington Post, the company …
State Corn Groups Work For Consumer Choice
State corn associations across the country are working to bring more choice for consumers at the pump through the use of higher blends of ethanol, such as E15. Several programs are in place to help retailers install the infrastructure needed for consumers to take advantage of EPA’s decision to allow E15 to be used in vehicles 2001 and newer. In …
POET-DSM Partners with ANDRITZ
POET-DSM has signed on the International Technology Group ANDRITZ, to supply a two-step biomass treatment process for the commercial-scale cellulosic bioethanol plant under construction in Emmetsburg, Iowa known as Project LIBERTY. The technology was designed to help draw out available sugar in the collected biomass, in this case corn stover, corn cobs, and husks, so it can be converted into …
First Nebraska Retailer to Offer E15
A fuel retailer in one of Nebraska’s larger cities is now offering customers the choice of 15% ethanol at the pump. Uncle Neal’s Phillips 66 in Lexington has become the first retailer in Nebraska to offer E15 for use in 2001 and newer vehicles and will soon be holding a grand opening promotion to celebrate. “This was a long time …
Ethanol Discounted in Honor of Odyssey Day
In honor of the National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey, Farmers Union Oil of Southern Valley Cenex located in Wahpeton, North Dakota will be discounting ethanol fuel blends. On Friday, October 26, 2012, E85 will be discounted 85 cents per gallon, E30 will be discounted 30 cents per gallon and E20 will be discounted 20 cents per gallon. Odyssey Day …
Governors Decline Iowa Hospitality
Despite planned trips to Iowa, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell declined invitations to visit an Iowa ethanol plant and cattle operation from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). Both governors were part of a group that filed for waivers of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) for 2012 and 2013. At this time, the Environmental Protection Agency …
LCFS Would Benefit Minnesota
According to a recent study from Political Economy Research Institute, a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in Minnesota would have a positive environmental and economic impact. The paper, “The Employment Impacts of a Low- Carbon Fuel Standard for Minnesota,” studied the employment impacts of three different scenarios both to 2021 and further to 2035. In each situation, employment is measured …