More than 30 organizations are requesting an extension of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comment period for a petition that would increase the permitted amount of ethanol in gasoline from its current 10 percent level to 15 percent. The organizations signing on to the request range from livestock and meat associations to food processors, environmental groups and representatives of boats …
Corn Farmers Provides Facts About Land Use
Last week’s ruling by the California Air Resources Board on a low carbon fuel standard that penalizes corn ethanol on the basis of indirect land use has mobilized corn growers to get the facts out about the environmental impact of the nation’s largest crop. “It’s a little known fact that we are growing five times as much corn as our …
African Nations Join Global Renewable Fuels Group
Fourteen southern African nations are now members of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance. The Southern African Biofuels Alliance has joined forces alliance to help “promote biofuels friendly policies throughout the world.” Andrew Makenete, President of the Southern African Biofuels Association (SABA) called on other nations to speak out in favour of policies that would promote investment in biofuels particularly in …
Renewable Energy in First 100 Days Progress Report
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack counted progress toward energy independence among the Obama administration’s first 100 days accomplishments. During a meeting in Washington DC with agricultural journalists this week, Vilsack said implementing the 2008 Farm Bill was his number one priority when he took the office of secretary. “The president gave me an instruction when he hired me to continue …
Farm Bureau Supports Increasing Ethanol Blend Level
The American Farm Bureau Federation believes the federal government should increase the ethanol blend level up to 15 percent to help protect the environment, create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Lisa Jackson, AFBF president Bob Stallman said increasing the ethanol blend level up to 15 percent from the current level of …
Several POET Plants Earn Safety Award
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF)has recognized eight POET plants with the Annual Product Stewardship Award for their records of safe transport. BNSF presents the award to shippers who transport a minimum of 500 loaded tank cars of hazardous materials during the previous year with zero non-accident incidents. Earlier this year, several plants received a safety award from Union …
Ethanol Nameplate to Run at 67% Through 2010
The ethanol industry received some negative news today compliments of the newly released Soyatech Biofuels Monitor, a publication from HighQuest Partners. The study projects that for First Quarter 2009 the U.S. ethanol industry will operate at 67 percent of nameplate capacity through 2010. The study authors, in part, based their predications on data from the USDA Planting Intentions report that …
Scientists to Talk Biofuels at Symposium
The 31st Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals is coming up May 3-6 in San Francisco, with more than 800 scientists expected to attend sessions on topics ranging from commercialization of biofuels and their long-term sustainability to emerging technologies and turning algae into fuel. Government and private sector support for research, development and deployment of renewable fuels and chemicals …
Hereford Biofuels Sold As Part of Bankruptcy
One of the most notable ethanol plants in the country was sold today. The Hereford ethanol plant, which is most noted for its plan to turn more than 1 billion pounds of manure into fuel for the boilers that supply steam for the plant, was sold to its creditors for $25 million in credit. Societe Generale, is the lender and …
KL Energy Corporation Expanding Into Brazil
KL Energy Corporation, based in Rapid City, South Dakota, has announced a partnership agreement with add blue Ltda, based in São Paulo, Brazil, to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in Brazil utilizing KL Energy’s cellulosic ethanol technology for the use of sugarcane bagasse and straw feedstock. The plant will use KL Energy’s enzymatic process which will be integrated into a …