At today’s Ethanol 2008: Emerging Issues Forum one of the speakers was Dave Vander Griend, President/CEO ICM, Inc. Dave spoke about financing new technologies and the move toward a market based incentive system. I spoke with him afterward. He says that he continues to believe that the ethanol industry is solid and that there are opportunities. Right now he says …
Ethanol Industry Counters Attacks
The Renewable Fuels Association countered attacks from the food processing and petroleum industries this week with fact checks. Referencing news stories about statements made by officials with Valero Energy and Pilgrim’s Pride, RFA President Bob Dinneen said, “To put the blame for rising commodity, food and energy prices solely at the feet of the American ethanol industry is misleading and …
Helio in Iowa
Two-time Indy 500 winner and “Dancing with the Stars” champion Helio Castroneves was in Iowa Wednesday to promote the Iowa Corn Indy 250 on June 22. Castroneves drives for Team Penske in the IndyCar Series. This will be the second year for the ethanol-fueled race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton. The premier Iowa Corn Indy 250 last year was …
Ethanol is Helping Cut US Petroleum Demand
The latest report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) concludes that ethanol will reduce U.S. petroleum demand by 130,000 barrels per day this year. According to the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook, “The slowing economy combined with high petroleum prices is expected to constrain growth in U.S. consumption of liquid fuels and other petroleum products to just 40,000 barrels per day …
Snowmobiles Running on Green Fuels
This year has been an exceptionally snowy one for much of the U.S., and some students in Michigan are making use of all the snow… while learning about the benefits of biofuels. The SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge is going on now through Saturday at Michigan Technological University’s Keweenaw Research Center at Houghton County Memorial Airport. The Daily Mining Gazette reports …
Missouri Corn Growers Honor Governor
In honor of his commitment to renewable fuels, the Missouri Corn Growers Association has presented Missouri Governor Matt Blunt with this year’s President’s Award. This is the second year in a row that Governor Blunt received that award from the MCGA and the first time anyone has been a two-time recipient of the organization’s highest honor. “With our support for …
Karsner Promotes Domestic Fuel
I finally had the chance today to sit down and listen to the entire speech Assistant Energy Secretary Andy Karsner made at the National Ethanol Conference last month. He is quite the orator and he definitely got the crowd all fired up. If you can find 40 minutes to listen to it all, it is well worth the time. But, …
Production Begins at US Bio Marion
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 …