VeraSun Receives Financing

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the country’s largest ethanol producers is getting financing in place to maintain operations at 14 plants in eight states under Chapter 11 reorganization. VeraSun Energy Corporation reports it has received commitments for up to $215 million in debtor in possession financing and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court entered an interim order allowing VeraSun and its affiliates to borrow up …

Ethanol, News

Monsanto Invests in Sugarcane for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Monsanto is moving into the sugarcane seed business. The company has announced that “in the face of long-term changes driving greater global demand for food and biofuel sources” they are investing in sugarcane “to diversify its existing core crop portfolio and to leverage its experience in bringing innovations to the agricultural marketplace through breeding and biotechnology.” Monsanto will be acquiring …

Ethanol, Farming, News

Ethanol Industry Urged to Vote

Cindy Zimmerman

In this “Ethanol Report” podcast, Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association talks about why it is important for the industry to be involved in the political process and why every needs to get out and vote. No endorsements from the RFA on who to vote for, by the way, just vote because elections on both the state and national …

Audio, Ethanol, News, RFA

Indiana Ethanol Plant Starts Up

Cindy Zimmerman

The sun may be going down on one major ethanol producer, but a nice little 100 million gallon per year plant is just taking off in Indiana. Cardinal Ethanol in Randolf County, Indiana officially started grinding corn on Saturday in a very low key event, according to the Muncie StarPress.com. Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, local politicians, members of the press …

Ethanol, News

VeraSun Files Bankruptcy

Cindy Zimmerman

It was no surprise that VeraSun, one of the nation’s largest ethanol producers, filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 on Friday. The move has been expected as the company’s position continued to worsen after taking a fall on pricey forward corn contracts. The company was put on the market in September and Morgan Stanley was hired as an adviser. According …

Ethanol, News

Corn Growers Research Non-Fuel Ethanol Use

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol production can yield some non-fuel uses that have yet to be realized. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has been researching efforts that produce ethyl lactate from reactive distillation. Ethyl lactate is a general all-purpose solvent as well as a common ingredient in pharmaceutical preparations, food additives and fragrances, and it is typically derived from petrochemicals. The reactive distillation …

corn, Ethanol, News, Research

Biomass Conversion Technology Development

Cindy Zimmerman

A Texas company is moving forward with technology that converts non-food biomass into chemicals that can be processed into ethanol and other renewable fuels. Terrabon has developed and is currently licensing its MixAlco™ biomass conversion technology to commercial customers. The company will dedicate its research facility on November 7 in Bryan, Texas to test the scaled-up commercial feasibility of the …

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News, Research

New Ethanol Studies Released

Cindy Zimmerman

The Illinois Corn Growers Association today unveiled two landmark studies on ethanol that conclude production of the biofuel leaves a smaller carbon footprint than gasoline and has substantial room for growth without affecting corn supply to the food and feed sectors. Dr. Steffen Mueller, principal research economist at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Energy Resources Center, studied the carbon …

corn, Ethanol, global warming, News, Research