Thousands of people across the country defined “What is renewable to you?” when they selected the video, “Funky Fresh Flex Fuel” created by Chip McAfee from Arizona as the winner of the E85 Flex-Fuel Challenge. The contest was launched by the Renewable Fuels Association in early March to get a new generation of Americans, mainly college students, engaged in the …
Pennsylvania Looks to Stimulus Money to Help Biofuels
Pennsylvania’s governor is looking to the federal government to help along his state’s biodiesel and alternative fuel vehicle industries. Governor Ed Rendell is asking the U.S. Department of Energy for $15 million in federal stimulus bucks for Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles Pilot Grants: “As part of Pennsylvania’s Energy Independence Strategy, the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative mandates the production and …
Clinton at Ethanol Summit 2009: Save the Trees
The Ethanol Summit 2009 is in full swing in Sao Paulo, Brazil with President Bill Clinton kicking off the festivities yesterday. His main message was that while biofuels are an important element in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it cannot happen at the continued destruction of rainforests. In an article published by Reuters yesterday, Clinton was quoted as saying, …
Boeing: Biofuels Just Fine For Aircraft
One of the world’s biggest makers of aircraft says that in initial tests, biofuels don’t affect performance and present no technical or safety problems, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent. This story from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that word comes from the top people at Boeing: “It meets all jet fuel requirements and then some,” …
WI Businessman Plans to Open Biofuels Stations
A Milwaukee businessman has big plans to bring biofuels to southern Wisconsin. This story in the the Business Journal of Milwaukee says Peter Grimes is opening a biodiesel and ethanol station in the southeast Wisconsin town of Cudahy next month… and there’s plans to open up at least six more over the next two years: Grimes, a managing partner of …
Study Examines Ethanol Policy Options
A new study done by the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) looked at the impact of eleven different policy scenarios for ethanol on the market, food and ethanol prices, and overall farm income. Among the options considered was increasing the allowable blend of ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent, which the study found would result …
Ethanol: Where is the Industry Heading?
What is the ethanol industry’s financial future? This question will be asked and answered by three of the most influential ethanol organizations including Growth Energy, ACE and RFA, during the 5th Annual Biofuels Financial Conference. The conference, sponsored by Christianson & Associates, PLLP, will focus on the financial challenges and opportunities for the biofuels industry. The conference is being held …
Ethanol Bob in Brazil
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen is in Brazil for the Ethanol Summit 2009 in Sao Paulo and is providing an up-to-the-minute account of his visit via Twitter. Among Dinneen’s comments so far since he arrived in Brazil early this morning: “Just passed a fuel station. Alcohol (ethanol) was 1.09, gasoline was 2.29. Units are litres and Rials, …
Toledo to Test Cellulosic Ethanol
The city of Toledo, Ohio is testing cellulosic ethanol in city vehicles this summer. In partnership with Virginia-based SuGanit Systems, the city will test the company’s formula for ethanol from biomass feedstock on three city fleet vehicles. The tests will measure emissions, miles per gallon and cost differentials, among other factors, according to city officials. The Toledo Free Press reports …
Planting Switchgrass for Cellulosic Ethanol
Some farmers in Tennessee are testing out the first switchgrass seed varieties specifically developed for biofuels production. Their goal is to learn first-hand how to manage this new crop, and then use that knowledge to facilitate the development of the bioenergy industry in Tennessee. Tennessee growers Tony and Tim Brannon – pictured here getting some planting done last week – …