A new U.S. based company called Alkol, has launched 1Hour Flex, a technology, according to the company, that allows any car to run on any amount of ethanol (E85) or gasoline. The conversion is reported to take less than one hour. The company has its roots based in Brazil where there are more flex-fuel vehicles on the road than anywhere …
Ethanol Report on USDA Crop Forecast
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association on today’s increased corn crop forecast from USDA, how it disputes the indirect land use change theory and food versus fuel debate. Cooper also comments on the importance of ethanol to our national security as we remember the anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks …
More Corn for Ethanol
The U.S. Department of Agriculture increased the forecast for the nation’s corn crop by two percent in the September crop production report out Friday morning. The forecast is now an even 13 billion bushels, just 100 million bushels short of the 2007 record crop. The soybean crop, already expected to be the biggest ever, was boosted another one percent in …
Minnesota Ethanol Plant Grand Opening
After more than three years of planning and construction, Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton, Minnesota is ready to open the doors and celebrate. The plant was officially announced on June 7, 2006 and began grinding corn last month. The new 55 million gallon a year facility will hold its grand opening on September 11, the eighth anniversary of terrorist attacks on …
Brazilian Sugar Crop Forecasts Dropped
In a follow up to a recent post about the forecasted record sugarcane harvest in Brazil, it appears that this won’t come to fruition. UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, has released today the news that heavy rains in South-Central Brazil, the country’s top sugarcane producing region, caused a drop of 23.8 percent in the volume of sugarcane crushed during …
BRAIN-y Idea Helps Wisconsin Biodiesel & Ethanol
Wisconsin will be getting $1 million to help put in E85 ethanol and biodiesel stations and infrastructure across the state. This article from the Milwaukee Business Journal says that the new Biofuels Retail Availability Improvement Network (BRAIN) will fund the installation of 27 E85 and biodiesel retail locations around the state, as well as support the installation of biodiesel blending …
E85 and Biodiesel Promo in Sioux Rapids, IA
The First Coop Association is one of many stations to take advantage of the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and the Iowa Soybean Association. Through the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program, Iowa Corn and IRFA partners with retailers for grand openings for E85 and ethanol blender dispensers. …
Competition Underway to Build Biofuel Snowmobile
The race is on… but this time it’s to build a cleaner burning snowmobile. This post on the Good Green Cars blog says the Society of Automobile Engineers… aka SAE International… has challenged college engineering students to build a snowmobile that runs on biodiesel, ethanol or electricity: The snowmobiles will be rated in categories like emissions, noise, and acceleration.The idea …