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 …
$8 Million in Energy Grants
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 * …
Americans Get EU Perspective on Biofuels
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; …
Alternative Energy for Ogden
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 …
Green Plains Update
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. …
McCain’s Changing Views on Ethanol
Republican presidential contender Sen. John McCain of Arizona seems to be changing his views on ethanol. This United Press International story explains the switch seems to come down to two words: Iowa caucus. During the 2000 presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., skipped the Iowa caucuses, perhaps sensing that, among other things, his opposition to ethanol subsidies would not go …
Soros Warns About Ethanol Tariffs
Billionaire investor George Soros is warning that U.S. and European tariffs on Brazilian ethanol might keep that country from reaching its potential in alternative fuel production. According to this story posted on Bloomberg.com, Soros, who is a major investor in Brazil’s ethanol industry, needs bigger markets to justify the expansion and building of new distilleries there: “Unless the markets in …
Ethanol 2012 Study
What’s ahead on the road for ethanol? That’s what a new report will attempt to predict. Representatives from agriculture, energy, public policy and technology are working on the Ethanol 2012 study, being spearheaded by consulting firm The Hale Group, according to a news release. The Hale Group is working with Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), which is led by global …
Oklahoma to Host Biofuels Conference
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry is hosting a conference on biofuels October 16-17th in Oklahoma City. More information is on the way but this web site www.growok.com is a start. From the governor’s welcome: It is my pleasure to invite you to attend to the Oklahoma Governor’s Conference on Biofuels. For reasons of national security, economic well-being, concern for our environment …
Ethanol Key Topic at OAS Meeting
A showdown over ethanol is brewing at the Organization of American States’ General Assembly meeting this week in Panama. According to this story in the Washington (DC) Times, the U.S. and Brazil are pushing an OAS paper promoting looking for alternative fuel sources in the Western Hemisphere, more specifically, ethanol, which the Americans and Brazilians are producing in the billions …