Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative (SELC) has completed a major expansion of its ethanol plant in Sioux City, increasing production capacity of the corn-based fuel to 60 million gallons annually. The larger plant can now process more than 20 million bushels of corn. In addition to 60 million gallons of ethanol, the factory produces 400,000 tons of wet distiller’s grains …
The “e” on TV
The ABC sitcom “Carpoolers,” which airs on Tuesday nights, featured the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council’s “e” logo in this week’s episode entitled “First Fight.” As the name implies, Carpoolers is about a group of guys who carpool to work together from their suburban homes. The gas-saving connection makes it a great show for the ethanol brand’s first product placement. …
“Fields of Fuel” Reviews
The biofuels documentary “Fields of Fuel” made its debut this week at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to mixed reviews. AFP reports that the biodiesel film is “not to everyone’s tastes at Sundance.” The reviewer, who interviewed film director and activist Josh Tickell, focused on the food versus fuel controversy rather than the film itself, saying “not everyone is …
WI Governor Proposes Energy Independence Plan
Wisconsin’s governor is proposing an aggressive plan to make his state a leader in renewable energy. From the text of Gov. Jim Doyle’s speech, he has called for lawmakers to approve his strategy to increase his state’s homegrown power through the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund: Over the next 10 years Wisconsin will invest $150 million to help our businesses, our …
MO Governor Makes Surprise Announcement
Missouri’s youngest governor has decided not to run for a second term, saying he has accomplished all the goals he had when he took office in 2005. Among those goals was a ten percent ethanol mandate for gasoline, which took effect this month. Blunt recently announced proposals for $2 million in tax incentives for retailers who install E-85 ethanol pumps …
ND Biomass Research Work
North Dakota State University and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are working on ways to convert cropland to biomass production for energy use. According to a university news release, the research is working to determine what crops would maximize biofuels production and to develop economically feasible management systems for transitioning in and out of bioenergy crop production. “This project will strengthen …
First Texas Ethanol Plant Opens
The first large-scale ethanol plant in Texas opened this week in Hereford. White Energy president Kevin Kuykendall, says the plant will provide significant economic benefits to the panhandle economy and will support both the farmers and the cattle ranchers in the area. The 100 million gallon capacity plant will use 36 million bushels of corn and milo annually. A majority …
Show Me Conflict
Too many political bedfellows are spoiling the chances of a Missouri ethanol plant getting some government financing incentives. Show Me Ethanol of Richmond, Missouri is scheduled to open this spring, backed by over 700 investors including a congressman’s wife, the governor’s brother and a state legislator. The plant was approved to receive a low-interest loan rate backed by the state, …
Florida Awards Biofuels Grants
Twelve grants totaling $25 million were awarded today by Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson as part of the state’s “Farm to Fuel” initiative. “We believe that awards such as these are critical in triggering the development of a renewable energy industry in Florida,” Bronson said. “With the backing of and an investment from the state, we’re …
Biofuels Dominating Renewable Energy Patents
Patents for biofuels dominated renewable energy patents in 2007… outdistancing patents for solar and wind combined. According to this article on cleantech.com, since 2001, nearly 2,800 biofuel patents were published in the U.S. with 1,045 of those coming in 2007 alone. That compares to 555 for solar and 282 for wind power last year. Overall, the number of patents for …