Earlier today, Matt Horton, CEO of California based Propel Fuels was featured on CNBC’s “The Tech Effect”. The title of the piece: Going Green One Tank at a Time. The premise is how air quality officials in Sacramento, California are spending millions so owners of flex fuel vehicles can find gas stations offering environmentally friendlier fuels. Horton noted that ‘today’ …
White House Responds to Brazilian Tariff Questions
Ethanol groups expressed concern and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called for clarification this week on the White House’s position regarding the U.S. tariff on imported ethanol after a statement in favor of lifting the tariff was made by the President’s nominee for ambassador to Brazil. During his confirmation process, ambassador nominee Thomas Shannon said that removing the tariff would be …
CARB Updates LCFS Numbers in Favor of Sugarcane Ethanol
For months the ethanol industry has been working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to update their calculations of ethanol’s emissions reductions. A victory has finally been achieved as California has updated its calculations of sugarcane ethanol’s emission reductions. The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) welcomed the announcement. Joel Velasco, UNICA’s chief representative for North America, said, “UNICA applauds …
Ethanol, Biodiesel to Grow By More than 12% A Year
A new report says that the world’s biofuels market is prepared to grow by an average of 12.3 percent a year between 2007 and 2017. This post from Biofuels International says that a report by industry research specialists RNCOS shows ethanol and biodiesel production worldwide will grow at 6.04 percent and 5 percent a year respectively between 2008 and 2019: …
E85 and Biodiesel Promotions in MN
August 1: 9 am – 1 pm 85¢ off per gallon of E85 Goodhue Country Station 100 Third Ave in Goodhue, MN Supporters include the Goodhue/North Wabasha Counties Corn & Soybean Growers, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, US Department of Energy Clean Cities, American Lung Association in Minnesota & The Clean Air Choice™ Team August 18: 10 am – 2 pm …
Qteros: Cellulosic Ethanol Production Breakthrough
Qteros, formerly Sun Ethanol, recently announced that it has broken the barrier of ethanol production from cellulosic biomass feedstocks such as corn stover, sugarcane and woody biomass. As most biofuels companies report the production of 50 grams of ethanol per liter, Qteros says it is now producing 70 grams of ethanol per liter or approximately 100 gallons per ton. The …
Cob Collection Trials Successful
It’s harvest time somewhere and it’s in Texas. Today, the first cob collection of 2009 is complete and POET is continuing to work with agricultural equipment manufacturers and growers to discover the most efficient and affordable means for harvesting cellulosic feedstock. July 6-22, equipment for harvesting corn cobs was tested near Harlingen, Texas. The trials were in anticipation for larger …
Senators Urge EPA to Approve Higher Ethanol Blends
A bipartisan group of nearly 20 senators have sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging approval of up to 15 percent ethanol blends in regular gasoline. The letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson was signed by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Claire McCaskill …
Nebraska Students Win Award for Ethanol Report
Eight journalism students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are receiving a national award for an in-depth report on ethanol. The report titled “Ethanol: Salvation or Damnation?” has taken first place in a student reporting category in the Society of Environmental Journalism’s 2009 awards. According to SEJ, “the students took a vital issue in their community and shone a light on …