Ethanol is still the king of biofuels in the U.S., but biodiesel is making, and will continue to make, big gains… that’s according to a USDA long-term projection reported on CattleNetwork.com: Biodiesel production capacity and output have increased rapidly in the past 2 years and are projected to rise rapidly again in 2007/08. Slower growth is then projected for several …
How Soon Cellulosic?
When cellulosic ethanol will become commercially viable is a big question that has many answers. There are those, for instance, who believe the challenges to making cellulosic commerically viable are too great to be overcome in less than a decade, maybe even two decades. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says, “You get some difference of opinion, but I really do think …
EPIC Names New Board Members
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has elected several new industry leaders to its Board of Directors. They are James Redding of Nebraska Energy, LLC; Melissa Ullerich of VeraSun Energy, Aurora; Gary Pestorious, EXOL; Alan Jentz, Amaizing Energy; Revis Stephenson, Advanced BioEnergy; and Kristi Lee, U.S. BioEnergy, Platte Valley. All newly elected board members will serve three-year terms. Tom …
Op-Ed: America Safer With Alternative Fuels
Here is a great editorial by Mark Bennett of the Terre Haute (Ind) Tribune-Star. Basically, he summarizes all of the criticisms being thrown at ethanol and says that, as a matter of national security, he’d still rather pay for a home-grown fuel than subsidize Middle Eastern countries. If self-serving interests in farm states such as Iowa, Nebraska and Indiana drive …
Cellulosic Ethanol Production Comes to Louisiana
A cellulosic ethanol demonstration plant broke ground Friday in Jennings, Louisiana – the first of its kind in the United States. Massachusettes-based Celunol Corporation also celebrated the grand opening of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol pilot facility. Celunol officials were joined in the celebrations by dignitaries from federal, state and local government, including Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. “These two …
Ethanol Conference Blog Announced
It’s official – the 12th Annual National Ethanol Conference has a new blog. The Renewable Fuels Association made the announcement in a press release: The RFA is pleased to bring you complete coverage of the NEC in real time at the National Ethanol Conference Blog (www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/conference/blog/). The NEC Blog will feature recaps, photos and text of speakers’ remarks, as well …
Ethanol Drives Ten Year Ag Forecast
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest projections, ethanol will dominate the farm economy for the next decade. USDA’s Interagency Agricultural Projections Committee, headed by the World Agricultural Outlook Board, this week released “USDA Agricultural Projections to 2016.” According to the report, “strong expansion of corn-based ethanol production in the projections affects virtually every aspect of the field crops …
Saab Gives 100 Percent a Go
Saab plans to unveil a 100 percent bioethanol-powered engine in Geneva next month. According to a news release: GM Powertrain CEO Kjell ac Bergstrom said: ‘Bioethanol is a potent, high-quality fuel which opens up exciting possibilities in helping to meet the environmental challenges that face us. As the need to reduce energy consumption increases, we are exploring ways to run …
Louis Dreyfus Buys More Brazilian Ethanol Plants
International commodity trading company Louis Dreyfus is buying an addition four sugar ethanol mills in Brazil to become the second-biggest sugarcane processor in the country. According to a Bloomberg.com report, Paris-based Louis Dreyfus, which already owns four sugar and ethanol mills in Brazil, expects the acquisition to boost sugarcane processing to 18.5 million metric tons by 2009, from 11.8 million …
More E85 Pumps for Colorado
Colorado motorists will soon have 40 more pumps to fill up with 85 percent ethanol. According to a press release from Colorado Governor Bill Ritter’s office, 40 new E85 fuel pumps will open at 22 gas stations around this state this year, thanks to an effort by General Motors to expand the availability of the ethanol blend. In addition to …