It looks like a 50-million-gallon-a-year ethanol plant is in the works at a site near Nevada, Missouri… just up the road from $90 million plant that will make soy-based biodiesel. Officials with Ozark Ethanol LLC recently met with the Vernon County Commission and citizens to discuss the plant. According to this AP story in the Springfield News-Leader, not much officially …
Plant Materials Key to Bioenergy
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is on the forefront of developing plants that could be used as future energy sources through the NRCS Plant Materials Program. National Program leader for Plant Materials Bob Escheman says that is part of their mission to solve resource concerns. “The Plant Material program began back in the middle ‘30s when the Soil Conservation Service …
Ethanol Expansion and Education
One former and two current Democratic presidential candidates are sponsors or co-sponsors of a bill introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) intended to expand consumer access to 85 percent ethanol fuel, or E-85. Primary sponsors of the bill with Klobuchar include Barack Obama, (D-IL), Kit Bond (R-MO), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL). Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Debbie Stabenow …
No New Records
Apparently no new records to report, but ethanol production still remains strong, according to the latest figures. The Renewable Fuels Association reports that production of domestically produced ethanol in March averaged 384,000 barrels per day while demand was 414,000 barrels a day, which is an increase over last year by 83,000 b/d in production and 34,000 in demand.
US BioEnergy Makes New Move Into Millennium
US BioEnergy Corporation, one of the largest producers of ethanol in the United States, just got bigger. The company has agreed to acquire Millennium Ethanol, which is constructing a 100 million gallon ethanol plant near Marion, South Dakota, expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2008. With this acquisition, US BioEnergy will have 8 plants in 6 states …
Energy Crop Incentive Bill
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has introduced legislation aimed at helping farmers near biorefineries begin growing dedicated energy crops. According to Thune, the Biofuels Innovation Program Act would offer farmers incentives to grow crops, such as switchgrass and fast-growing trees, for use as cellulosic ethanol feedstocks. “Cellulosic ethanol, produced from homegrown sources like corn stover, wheat straw, switchgrass and wood chips, …
2007 Farm to Fuel Summit
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson has scheduled the second annual “Farm to Fuel” summit July 18-20 at the Marriott Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg. Hoping to build on recent developments in Florida’s efforts to establish a renewable energy industry, Bronson said the meeting will cover current initiatives relating to ethanol and bio-diesel, as well as other …
Letter from Ethanol Crusader
I received this letter yesterday from a self-proclaimed “ethanol crusader” in Florida. It was pretty long, but here is an edited version with her key points: Hi Cindy, keep up the good work. I’ve recently join the Movement “Florida Needs Ethanol”.com. Today (Memorial Day) I drove around to distribute fliers to several gas stations. Mostly the small ones like Race …
New MO Ethanol Plant Plans
The Missouri Corn Growers Association reports that a new ethanol plant is in the works for northeast Missouri. Mississippi Valley BioEnergy, LLC (MVBE) announced that it plans to build a 100 million gallon per year dry mill production facility near West Quincy. MVBE recently signed a letter of intent with ICM, Inc. to provide services related to the design, construction …
Dario Franchitti & Ethanol Win Indy 500
Here’s today’s winner of the Indy 500, Dario Franchitti at the post-race press conference. He seemed like the most amazed guy in the world for having run and we certainly congratulate him. During the press conference I asked him how he felt about winning by burning a renewable fuel in his car and how it performed. He has no problem …