Is the food versus fuel debate finally subsiding? It has been hanging around since 2008 when the Grocery Manufactures of America launched a coordinated attack on the ethanol industry blaming them for the rising cost of food. It turned out that the greatest offender was actually rising oil prices which topped out over $150 per barrel. This week, the Wall …
Butamax Unveils Biobutanol Lab in Brazil
Today, Butamax Advanced Biofuels, LLC, a partnership between BP and DuPont to develop biobutanol, announced the opening of a biobutanol technology laboratory in the city of Paulínia, São Paulo state, Brazil. Butamax CEO Tim Potter joined Ricardo Vellutini, DuPont do Brasil’s President and Vice President of Agricultural Products for Latin America, for a ribbon cutting ceremony. Media were also welcome …
New Blender Pumps in Michigan
Growth Energy has partnered with Cooperative Elevator and Ignash Petroleum to install Michigan’s second and third blender pumps. The Cooperative Elevator pump will be installed in Sebewaing on Monday, November 8 and the Ignash pump was installed in Elkton last week. The companies received assistance to install the pumps – which offer varying blends of E30, E40, E50 and E85 …
UNICA Urges Congress to End Ethanol Tariff
“As the dust settled on a midterm election that significantly altered the political landscape, voters sent a clear message that cutting the deficit and ending wasteful government spending should be top priorities for Congress. Americans will be watching closely to see if lawmakers got the message. Eliminating ethanol subsidies and trade protection would be a good way to indicate that …
More Cellulosic Ethanol Investment Needed
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has lowered its projection for cellulosic ethanol production in 2011, which means investment in next generation biofuels is more important than ever. In a recent letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson, EIA administrator Richard Newell noted that they are now projecting cellulosic ethanol production will be just 3.94 million gallons next year, …
What Election Means for Ethanol
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen held a conference call with reporters this morning to discuss what yesterday’s historic election results may mean for ethanol policy, both for the rest of this year and in the next Congress. “Washington will be a more Republican town in January,” Dinneen said. “Will that have a meaningful impact on the U.S. …
INEOS Awards $100M Contract to Build Bioenergy Facility
INEOS Bio has awarded Tucker, Georgia-based AMEC a $100 million contract to build its BioEnergy Center in Indian River County, Fla. Once completed, the plant will be one of the first commercial waste-to-energy plants and the first one built using INEOS’s advanced BioEnergy Technology. When the facility is completed, it will produce 8 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year …
Ethanol Industry Files Against California LCFS
The ethanol industry is proceeding with its lawsuit against the state of California over a rule that they claim would shut corn ethanol out of that state. Late yesterday, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy filed papers in U.S. District Court in California asking the federal court to declare that California’s low carbon fuels standard (LCFS) violates the U.S …
Political Odd Couple to Highlight Ethanol Conference
America’s most well-known political odd couple will be the keynote speakers for the 2011 National Ethanol Conference, February 20-22 in Phoenix. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, James Carville and Mary Matalin will “present an enlightening and entertaining look at today’s most important political issues and a behind-the-scenes look at how the outcome of the 2010 Congressional elections will affect …
Biofuels Journal Ethanol Workshop A Success
The third annual BioFuels Journal Commercial Ethanol Technology and Research Workshop, in partnership with the American Coalition for Ethanol, was a success with nearly 100 attendees coming to St. Joseph, Missouri. This workshop is unique in that it focuses on bolt-ons for existing ethanol plants and new technologies for advanced biofuels. According to Myke Feinman, Publisher of BioFuels Journal, the …