Shell and Virent Energy Systems of Wisconsin have announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components instead of ethanol. According to the companies, “the sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switch grass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn …
Corvette Ready to Run on Cellulosic E85
The Corvette Racing team will make its debut race on cellulosic E85 in the upcoming American LeMans Series Acura Sports Car Challenge in St. Petersburg, Florida April 4-5. GM Racing program manager Doug Fehan says they are very excited about it. “GM is the leader in the production of flex fuel vehicles, we produce over 2.5 million and we are …
Ethanex Bankruptcy
A company with ambitious plans to have ethanol plants in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska is now planning to file for bankruptcy after being unable to raise $1.5 million in necessary interim financing. Ethanex Energy at various times announced plans to buy Midwest Renewable Energy in Nebraska and build plants in Waltonville, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri and northeast Kansas. …
Consumer Group Blames Refiners for Higher Gas Prices
A new report from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) blames higher gas prices on major U.S. oil refiners creating tighter markets. The report looks at why gas prices continue to rise despite declining gasoline consumption, high inventory levels and increased production of ethanol. “For half a decade the major oil companies have exercised their market power,” said Dr. Mark …
Orion Ethanol Diversifies
Orion Ethanol of Kansas has acquired a corn fructose wet milling facility located in Texas from Dimmitt Ethanol. Orion plans to convert the facility into a fully integrated renewable fuels campus in three phases over 3 years. The first phase will convert the corn fructose wet milling facility into a 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant and 10 million …
GO Ethanol Creates Jobs
On Monday, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland toured the nearly complete Greater Ohio Ethanol plant in Lima to promote his jobs creation program. According to LimaOhio.com, the governor’s “Building Ohio Jobs” proposal includes more than $250 million for investment in advanced energy projects including solar manufacturing, advanced coal technology and biofuels. “I think this community should feel really good about the …
Ethanol Maker Eyes Biodiesel Biz
Ethanol producer Golden Grain Energy of Mason City, Iowa is looking at getting into the biodiesel business by the end of the year. This story in the Mason City Globe Gazette says company president Walt Wendland announced his company, which has been producing ethanol in the northern Iowa community since December of 2004, will work with BEST BioDiesel Inc. of …
Ethanol Reducing Gas Prices
The availability of ethanol is currently reducing the cost of gasoline by between 6 and 9 cents per gallon, according to data collected by the American Coalition for Ethanol. “The growing availability of ethanol across the United States is reducing the cost of gasoline by up to nine cents a gallon,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “While …
Georgia Innovations Focus on Bioenergy
Georgia’s Agriculture Innovation Center (AgIC) recently received nearly $200,000 for matching research grants to help support six agricultural-based businesses. Five of those six are focused on bioenergy. Bill Boone, director of the AgIC, says the focus on bioenergy is not surprising. “Georgia is among the leaders in the bioenergy revolution. In order to stay in the forefront, we must continue …
POET Plant Increases Capacity
POET Biorefining – Chancellor started producing ethanol last week at its expanded capacity of 100 million gallons per year. The company reports that it took the South Dakota-based plant less than 24 hours to achieve its new nameplate capacity. The $100 million construction project started 12 months ago and doubled the plant’s production capacity. With the expansion completed, the annual …