Self Powered Cellulosic Refinery Launched

Joanna Schroeder

Back in 2009, Allard Research and Development debuted its small ethanol and biodiesel refineries. This month, they have released the first self-powered modular cellulose ethanol refinery that uses cellulose feedstock grown as part of the system in hydroponic shipping containers. The system can produce 20 gallons per hour and fits into 3,600 square feet and can be attached together to …

Cellulosic, Ethanol

New Energy & Commodities Investment Team Formed

Joanna Schroeder

Cary Street Partners has formed a new Energy & Commodities Investment banking team focused on energy and its related sectors including traditional and alternative energy as well as agriculture services. Joining the new group is Craig Shealy who was formerly the founder of Osage Bio Energy, currently up for sale. Shealy will serve as managing director and group head. “We …

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, bioenergy, biofuels, Ethanol

UNICA Launches Sugarcane Website

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) recently launched a new website to promote “clean solutions from sugarcane.” SugarCane.org was launched during the 2011 Ethanol Summit in São Paulo, Brazil. “We decided to launch this new site to share knowledge and information with a growing global community of people who want to know how their food and energy choices affect our …

Brazil, Ethanol, UNICA

Electric and Ethanol Power Win EcoCAR Competition

Cindy Zimmerman

Cars designed to run on electricity and 85 percent ethanol took top honors in a competition to engineer a more fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicle. A team from Virginia Tech University designed an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) using 85 percent ethanol (E85) to win first place in the three-year EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge competition sponsored by the Department of Energy …

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Crazy Week for Ethanol in the Senate

Cindy Zimmerman

For those of you who might be wondering just what the heck happened this week in the Senate, where they voted in favor of ethanol before they voted against it and then for it again, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen offers some insight in a post on The E-xchange blog. Dinneen explains that the vote Tuesday to …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

House Cuts Ethanol Blender Pump Funds

Cindy Zimmerman

While an amendment to cut federal funding for ethanol blender pumps failed in the Senate, another one passed in the House. The amendment, offered by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to the Agriculture Appropriations bill passed by a vote of 283-128. As the sun sets after a busy day on Capitol Hill for ethanol interests, the question is whether any of …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Ethanol Loses One Vote and Wins Another in Senate

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate voted to preserve federal funding for blender pumps right after it voted to end the ethanol blenders tax credit (VEETC) and associated tariff immediately. The amendment by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to prevent federal funding to help pay for installing alternative fuel infrastructure such as blender pumps and storage tanks at gasoline stations. The measure failed on a …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Senate Votes to End Ethanol Blenders Tax Credit

Cindy Zimmerman

The same amendment to end the ethanol blenders tax credit (VEETC) that failed in the Senate on Tuesday passed today on a vote of 73 to 27. The only difference between the two amendments is that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) took the lead on it instead of Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma who broke procedure to bring it to the …

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

Modular Ethanol Production System Wins FiRe Award

Joanna Schroeder

The Future in Review (FiRe) technology conference was held last week and during the event, 11 companies were honored for their “world-changing” technologies. Scientists from around the world submitted more than 1,000 technologies for review and one of the winners was waste-to-energy company Easy Energy Systems (EES). The company’s technology is the Modular Ethanol Production System (MEPS) that turns any …

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol

More Senate Ethanol Votes Today

Cindy Zimmerman

An effort to end the ethanol blenders tax credit continues today in the Senate. Just two days after an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) was defeated, the Senate is expected to vote on the same amendment, the effort this time spearheaded by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). A second amendment by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to prohibit federal investment in …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA