Pacific Ethanol will be booted from the NASDAQ unless its stock goes up soon. NASDAQ sent a letter last week notifying Pacific Ethanol that “it does not comply with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5450(a)(1).” The company has been given 180 calendar days, or until …
Brazil Proposes Sugarcane Zoning
In a pro-active attempt for the Brazilian ethanol industry to distance itself from ties to deforestation, the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently announced a legislative proposal called, “The Agro-ecological Zoning of Sugarcane,” that would in essence, “zone” where sugarcane could be grown and harvested throughout the country. The amount of sugarcane grown has increased significantly due to …
Studying Sorghum for Ethanol in Maryland
Researchers at Salisbury University in Maryland are studying the potential for growing sweet sorghum for cellulosic ethanol in the state. Since May, eight sweet sorghum varieties have been growing on a Wicomico County farm for evaluation as potential stock for ethanol production on the Delmarva peninsula. Dr. Samuel Geleta of Salisbury Univerisity’s Biological Sciences Department says about half of the …
Hops Could Solve Ethanol Bacteria Issue
An AP wire story out last week highlights the use of hops in ethanol production to combat bacteria. DomesticFuel did a feature on BetaTec, the company referenced in the article, about two years ago after their debut at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop. They market a product called IsoStabTM , which is derived from natural acids found in hops and …
RFA Urges EPA to Level Playing Field
A new video launched by the Renewable Fuels Association makes the point that other fuels have indirect effects, not only biofuels. The video, which shows images of burning oil wells, oil spill damage, oil contamination of natural habitat, and the destruction brought on by oil exploration and tar sands excavation, is meant to draw attention to the Environmental Protection Agency’s …
New President for Missouri Renewable Fuels Group
Members of the Missouri Renewable Fuels Association (MoRFA), an organization comprised of the state’s six farmer-owned ethanol plants and the Missouri Corn Growers Association, have selected Ryland Utlaut of Alma, Mo., as the organization’s 2009-10 president. Utlaut, president and general manager of Mid-Missouri Energy, a majority farmer-owned ethanol plant in Malta Bend, Mo., assumes the new leadership responsibilities Oct. 1. …
Report Finds Oil Subsidies Higher Than Ethanol
A new report from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) finds that federal subsidies for fossil fuels are twice that of renewables. According to a summary on the ELI report store website: The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production, according to research released by ELI. The study, which reviewed fossil fuel …
Pioneer Explores Alfalfa’s Role in Cellulosic Ethanol
The lowly alfalfa crop could play a role in the future of cellulosic ethanol. Alfalfa is the nation’s most popular legume and actually our third most valuable crop, but it is often taken for granted and somewhat under valued. However, the many benefits of the crop could make it a potential frontrunner in the cellulosic ethanol race, especially if new …