It’s been a rough year for ethanol but the industry continues to move forward. The hundreds of ethanol industry representatives at the 21st Ethanol Conference and Trade Show this week were “cautiously positive” about the future, according to American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) executive vice president Brian Jennings. “They recognize some of the volatility we are facing, they recognize that …
Scientist Animates Ethanol Enzyme
An animated version of an enzyme that could accelerate the process of making cellulosic ethanol from woody plants and farm waste looks kind of like “a Technicolor dinosaur fossil chomping on dinner.” National Renewable Energy Laboratory senior scientist Michael Crowley was awarded second place in the Department of Energy’s Electronic Visualization competition for his animated version of cellobiohydrolase Cel7A, “a …
Nebraska Governor Urges Ethanol Unity
Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman is calling on the agriculture industry to stick together on the issue of ethanol. As keynote speaker at the 21st Ethanol Conference and Trade Show in Omaha Wednesday, Gov. Heineman noted that Nebraska is a large livestock producing state, as well as the nation’s number two ethanol producing state. “Corn-based ethanol is going to be around …
Supplying Needs for Animal and Ethanol Plant Health
With increased feed costs, the ethanol and livestock industries have seemed to be at odds lately. But one company exhibiting at the 2008 Ethanol Conference and Trade Show supplies the needs of both sectors with key products and services. PhibroChem is a specialty chemicals supplier featuring key products for a variety of industries, including ethanol. One of their main products …
POET Announces Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Plant
At the 21st annual American Coalition for Ethanol conference on Wednesday, POET CEO Jeff Broin announced that the company will complete construction on a $4 million pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol production facility by the end of this year. The pilot plant will be adjacent to POET’s corn ethanol pilot facility and a nine million gallon per year ethanol production facility in …
Ethanol Industry Meets in Omaha
The 21st Ethanol Conference & Trade Show is underway in Omaha with the theme “Fueling Revolution.” The event kicked off officially with the opening of the trade show at the Qwest Center. The conference is expected to draw more than 1,200 attendees, with more than 200 companies represented at the trade show. Topics that will be covered during sessions over …
John Deere, Clean Fuels Clearinghouse Announce Partnership
John Deere Agri Services has teamed up with Clean Fuels Clearinghouse, developer of the RINSTAR™ Renewable Fuel Registry, to provide Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and reports that meet the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard. This press release from John Deere says AGRIS V9 system users will be integrated with the RINSTAR solution: The RIN-based system was created to identify, …
Ethanol Group Expands Board
The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) this week voted to expand its board of directors to add representation from key ethanol companies and grassroots organizations. With the vote, four new members have been added to the board – Ron Fagen of Fagen, Inc; Greg Krissek of ICM; Todd Sneller with the Nebraska Ethanol Board; and Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO …
USDA Increases Corn Crop and Ethanol Use
Ideal summer growing conditions have helped the U.S. corn crop bounce back from flood damage, according to the latest report from USDA. The August crop production forecast is now 12.3 billion bushels, nearly five percent higher than predicted last month. It is still down 6 percent from last year’s record, but up 17 percent from 2006. The big story in …
Cellulosic Ethanol Demo Plant Opens in Montana
A cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant opened Monday in Butte, Montana – reportedly the first such plant to integrate the use of both cellulose and starch based feedstocks. California-based AE Biofuels celebrated the opening of its plant with various government representatives, including both U.S. senators and Governor Brian Schweitzer, who commented that he was proud “AE Biofuels’ groundbreaking technology was developed …