Conab has released the results of its national crop survey and reported that the Brazilian sugar and alcohol sector will grind a record-breaking volume of sugarcane this year. Total harvest is expected to reach an estimated 629 million tons, a 10 percent increase over 2008. The increase in production is attributed to both good rains and expanded planted area, which …
Don’t Miss the Cellulosic Feedstock Summit
The 4th Annual Cellulosic Feedstock Summit is being held this year November 16-19 in Washington D.C. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Kristina M. Johnson, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In addition to the keynote, there are three key events taking place. The Finance & Investment Forum – The Forum will convene the cellulosic biofuels industry …
Studying New Feedstocks for Biofuels
The “World’s Largest Urban Farm and Research Test Facility” is studying a wide variety of new feedstocks that hold promise for future sources of both ethanol and biodiesel. Agricenter International recently offered a closer look at the new crops being grown there by the Memphis Bioworks Foundation AgBioworks program and BioDimensions, Inc. Among the crops that were planted this season …
EPA Officials Visit Iowa Biofuels Plant
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) hosted officials from the Environmental Protection Agency last week for a tour of agriculture and biofuels in Iowa. Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, and Margo Oge, Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, represented EPA on the visit that included the BioCentury Research Farm in Boone, an Iowa …
Ex-CEO Arrested for Selling Illegal RINs
The former CEO of biofuel company American Bio-Fuels, based in Abbeville, Alabama, was arrested yesterday for selling illegal Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). Arnesto, “Steve” Sobrado was charged with felony first-degree theft of property. American Bio-Fuels went out of business in June. According to an article published by the Dothan Eagle, the charge was a result of a report made by …
USDA Gives $13 Mil for Renewable Energy Projects
The USDA is handing out another $13 million in loans and grants for 233 renewable energy projects in rural areas of 38 different states. The projects were announced in this press release and during a speech at the Farm Progress Show in Illinois, that included some of the highlighted projects: The loan guarantees and grants can be used for renewable …
Nebraska Ethanol Industry Bounces Back
According to the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition (GBC), Nebraska’s ethanol industry has nearly recovered from the economic doldrums it faced last year and is back near full production capacity. An important indicator that the ethanol industry is recovering, Todd Sneller said of the Nebraska Ethanol Board, is the “modest job increase” they saw in the ethanol industry while reviewing state ethanol …
Ethanol Production Numbers Announced for June ’09
U.S. ethanol production is on the rise with the news that the industry has set new production records. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), American ethanol facilities produced 694,000 barrels per day (b/d) in June 2009. That is up 109,000 b/d from a year ago. Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), continues to outpace production. …
Ethanol in Focus at Farm Progress Show
Everywhere you go at the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week, people are talking about ethanol. Over at the corn grower tent marked by 30+ foot high corn stalks and an E85 blimp hovering overhead, they have information about how the carbon footprint of corn production has declined substantially in recent years and they are encouraging farmers …
California Groups Awarded DOE Funds for 55 E85 Stations
Mike Lewis of Pearson Fuels said, “I am excited to see that we are now in a stronger position to bring alternative fuel infrastructure to the hundreds of thousands of flexible fuel vehicles already on the California roads while measurably reducing the State`s dependence on foreign oil imports.” Pearson Fuels already has 13 E85 stations within California. He claims that …