US BioEnergy‘s Marion, South Dakota ethanol plant has officially started production. According to the company, US Bio Marion began production in February. The company acquired the 110 million gallon per year plant while under construction in August 2007. This is the fifth ethanol plant for US BioEnergy. The others are located in Albert City, Iowa, Ord and Platte Valley, Neb., …
“Sugar Eater” Holds Biofuel Promise
Two University of Maryland scientists believe a strain of bacteria that decomposes everything from algae to newspapers to crab shells could help produce cheaper fuel. Found on marsh grass in the Chesapeake Bay, this organism could soon be used to generate ethanol from cellulosic sources such as waste paper, brewing byproducts, leftover agriculture products, including straw, corncobs and husks, and …
Win $10,000 for Ethanol Video
If you have a video camera and/or a computer, plus a little creativity and some time, you could win $10,000 and the chance to have your creativity seen by millions. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council’s “Fuel the Change” sweepstakes has a casting call out for a 30 second video about how ethanol is a part of your life and …
USDA Energy Grant Announcements
At last week’s Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC) 2008, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that USDA will accept almost $221 million in loan and grant applications within USDA’s Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. “As demand for energy rises, these renewable energy loans and grants help farms and rural small businesses increase their investment in renewable energy …
25 x ’25 Energy Summit This Week
Coming up this week in Omaha is the National 25x’25 Renewable Energy Summit. The conference will feature leading renewable energy experts from across the nation. More than two dozen pre-eminent authorities on biofuels, biomass, wind, solar and other land-based renewable energy sources will address the summit. Presenters will include Dr. Steven Chu, Nobel laureate and director of the Lawrence Berkeley …
Texas Ethanol Plant Grand Opening
The first large-scale ethanol plant in Texas will hold its grand opening this weekend near Hereford. Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen says the opening of plants like White Energy outside of the traditional ethanol producing area of the country is critical to the continued growth of this industry. “No longer are Midwesterners the only Americans to realize the benefits …
Volvo Debuts Biofuel-friendly Trucks
Automaker Volvo has unveiled seven trucks that the company sees as the future for long-haul transportation in the country. This story in Land Line Magazine says Volvo officials debuted the trucks at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference in Washington, DC: The trucks, powered by everything from biodiesel and ethanol to biogas and hydrogen, are touted by the company as …
WIREC 2008 Wraps Up
The Washington International Energy Conference wrapped up Thursday after three days of discussions, presentations and networking between more than 7,000 representatives from over 100 countries. The United States pledged to continue its leadership in renewable energy through efforts coordinated by multiple agencies. For example, USDA will work on the development and cultivation of switchgrass for the production of cellulosic ethanol, …
Recycling Beverage Waste into Fuel
A Minnesota company has developed a process to convert waste beverages into fuel. Diversified Ethanol, a subsidiary of Greenbelt Resources Corporation, is focused on producing valuable renewable energy from waste substances that are produced by breweries and soft drink manufacturers. According to a company release, Diversified Ethanol designs and builds small scale, modular ethanol plants that utilize existing waste as …
Bush Urges US to “Get Off Oil”
As crude oil jumped to new record highs on the New York mercantile exchange due to falling oil inventories, trading over $104 a barrel, President Bush renewed his support for ethanol as a means toward energy independence. Speaking at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC) Wednesday, Bush said, “America has got to change its habits. We’ve got to …