Michigan’s BIG Program Installing Biofuels Pumps

John Davis

That’s the Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program that gets federal money to help gas station owners/operators install E-85 and B20 (or higher percentage) pumps to encourage the Earth-friendly fuels. The latest was a station the Quick Sav Food Store in Swartz Creek. That station got about $8,400 to put in the new pumps… one of six stations in Michigan that received …

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Ethanol Merger in the Works

Cindy Zimmerman

Farmer-owned Dakota Ethanol of South Dakota is merging with Countryside Renewable Energy of Iowa. Under the proposed merger announced this week, Dakota Ethanol owners Lake Area Corn Processors would exchange 100 percent of its ownership for a combination of cash and equity shares in Countryside. According to a press release, Dakota Ethanol board member Brian Woldt said the company has …

Ethanol, Facilities, News

E85 for East Tennessee

Cindy Zimmerman

Pilot Corporation has opened the first fuel pump in East Tennessee to sell 85 percent ethanol (E85). Helping with the grand opening was Alan Jones, manager of Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Environmental Policy Office, who is pictured fueling up a state vehicle with E85 at the Walker Springs Road Pilot location just off of I-40 in Knoxville. “Pilot is proud …

E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

Blogging POET

Cindy Zimmerman

POET is composing a “Rhapsody in Green.” That’s the clever title of POET’s new blog site, created and maintained by POET Director of Public Relations Nathan Schock. It’s a very nice looking and well done blog. Nathan says the purpose of the site is to “give you an inside look at the largest dry-mill ethanol producer in the country. An …

Ethanol, News

Hot Rod on Ethanol

John Davis

A race car running on ethanol is winning races and setting some records on the drag racing circuit. Stephanie Eggums, the lady behind the wheel of Eggums Racing’s NHRA SC car posted news of her wins on the news section of her MySpace page: Next was the NDRA MIR event May 19 – 20th, where we had to finish the …

Ethanol

POET Expansion Complete

Cindy Zimmerman

The expansion of POET Biorefining – Big Stone from a nameplate production capacity of 40 to 75 million gallons per year is now complete, according to the company. The $42 million construction project began in April of last year and was completed at the end of May. Located approximately 6.5 miles northeast of Milbank, S.D., POET Biorefining – Big Stone …

EPIC, Ethanol, Facilities, News

$8 Million in Energy Grants

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy have jointly selected 11 biobased fuels research projects to receive $8.3 million in funding grants. According to a USDA release, the projects will include “looking into new ways to develop cordgrass, rice and switchgrass in renewable energy sources.” Grant recipients include: * University of Minnesota, $715,000 * South Dakota State University, $420,000 * …

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Energy, Ethanol, Government, News, Research

Americans Get EU Perspective on Biofuels

John Davis

Several American journalists are touring Europe, courtesy of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a program that promotes cooperation between the United States and Europe on domestic and international trade policies. From this post on FarmPolicy.com, Missy Shelton Belote of KSMU-FM, Springfield, Missouri’s public radio station; Todd Gleason, from the University of Illinois and WILL AM-580 public radio; …

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Alternative Energy for Ogden

Cindy Zimmerman

Alternative Energy Sources Inc. has received the final go-ahead for its planned 110-million-gallon ethanol plant near Ogden, Iowa. According to a news release, the Kansas City-based energy company said that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approved an operational air permit for the plant so all permitting is now complete. The Iowa Department of Economic Development has granted Alternative Energy …

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Green Plains Update

Cindy Zimmerman

Green Plains Renewable Energy officials say construction on both of their ethanol plants is progressing as planned. GPRE’s 50 million gallons per year ethanol production facility located in Shenandoah, Iowa is scheduled to commence its first grind in less than 60 days. Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, MN is building the plant and construction on the plant is progressing rapidly. …

Ethanol, Facilities, News