Pacific Ethanol, Inc. announced today that its has filed for Chapter 11 of the U.S Bankruptcy Code. Pacific Ethanol is just one of many ethanol plants that have filed bankruptcy protection over the past 12 months. The Company and its marketing subsidiaries, Kinergy Marketing LLC (“Kinergy”) and Pacific Ag. Products, LLC (“PAP”), have not filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Pacific Ethanol …
Valero Invests in Cellulosic Company Qteros
Valero continues to position itself as a growing player in the ethanol industry through its investment in Qteros (formerly SunEthanol), a Massachusetts based company who owns the Q Microbe(TM) technology which turns biomass into ethanol. The investment was established through its acquisition of certain assets of Verasun Energy. Valero purchased several Verasun Energy plants this past April. Qteros, has developed …
More Time for Higher Ethanol Blend Comments
The Environmental Protection Agency is allowing another 60 days for comments on the proposal to allow an increase in the amount of ethanol that can be blended into regular gasoline. The original public comment period was to end on May 21 and will now end on July 20. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis said, “We are aware of over 10,000 …
House Bill Seeks to Improve Renewable Fuels Standard
The House Agriculture Committee last week introduced a bill to change provisions in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that are “limiting the potential for clean, homegrown renewable biofuels to meet our nation’s energy needs.” The Renewable Fuel Standard Improvement Act (H.R. 2409) was introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) along with …
Fourth Florida Farm to Fuel
Plans for the fourth Florida Farm to Fuel® Summit are progressing well and organizers expect the event on July 29-31 to be bigger and better than ever. This year’s summit will once again include leaders from the agricultural, government, academic, technology, and financial communities who will share their progress in reaching the commercial production of biofuels and renewable energy in …
EPA Responds to Indirect Land Use for Ethanol Issue
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has received a response from the Environmental Protection Agency explaining the decision to include indirect land use change in calculating estimates of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for biofuels, but the senator still believes it should not be a factor in the Renewable Fuels Standard. According to the letter from EPA acting assistant administrator Elizabeth Craig, the …
Vote Now for FEW’s High Octane Award
The ethanol industry has spoken and the Few Ethanol Workshop (FEW) now has seven candidates for its 2009 FEW High Octane Award. The award is presented at FEW and given to a person who has had a long-term tremendous effect on the growth of the ethanol industry. Here are the nominees: Doug Anderson, Green Energy Group Kathy Bryan, BBI International …
Two New Ethanol Production Systems Now Available
Two new families of ethanol production systems, or “mini-refineries” are being offered today from Allard Research and Development LLC, a company specializing in small to medium sized ethanol systems. These systems are available in either a fully automated (EFS) or manual process technology (MES) and are designed for use in business, municipalities, agriculture, and commercial markets. In a company statement, Adam Allard, …
More MN State Vehicles Fueled With Ethanol
Minnesota state fleet vehicles are using more E85 than ever, according to a new quarterly report from the Minnesota SmartFleet Committee, a group tasked with helping to reduce the state’s use of petroleum fuels in favor of cleaner-burning fuels such as E85 and biodiesel. In the first quarter of 2009, more than 12 percent of the total fuel used by …
Petition Shows Support for Increasing Ethanol Blend
An on-line petition drive sponsored by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has gathered more than 5,000 signatures in the past month from people in all 50 states who are in favor of the government increasing the amount of ethanol allowed per gallon of gasoline to 15 percent. “People want more ethanol, and the number of names signed to this …