USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists in California have come up with a device that is purported to increase the efficiency of ethanol refineries. This story from the ARS web site says chemical engineers Richard D. Offeman and George H. Robertson at the ARS Western Regional Research Center in Albany, Calif., believe their device using special permeable plastic membranes will reduce …
TN, WI, & CA to Share $375 mill in Fed Research Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded three grants of $125 million each to set up Bioenergy Research Centers in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Madison, Wisconsin; and near Berkeley, California. According to this release from the DOE, they are intended to accelerate basic research in the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels: “These Centers will provide the transformational science needed …
Report: Ethanol Production Nears 6 Billion Gallons/year
The latest report from the Renewable Fuels Association shows that a strong production trend continues in the U.S. ethanol industry, producing 391,000 barrels per day in April. That’s and increase of more than 100,000 barrels per day from the same time a year ago and brings the annual output at nearly six billion gallons. Ethanol demand remained constant at 410,000 …
Another POET Groundbreaking
South Dakota-based ethanol producer POET is adding another plant to its list of 20 active ethanol refineries and seven more under construction. According to this release on the company’s web site, the latest one will be near North Manchester, Indiana… about 40 miles west of Fort Wayne. POET will hold a groundbreaking on July 13th at 1:30 PM in the …
IndyCar Practice
The IndyCars are really exciting to watch. At the Iowa Corn Indy 250 they were a little more exciting than normal due to all the bang-ups. I’ve been very thrilled to have the opportunity to shoot pictures at a number of races now thanks to our sponsor, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and the Indy Racing League. This was …
Dario Franchitti Wins Iowa Corn Indy 250
The winner of the first ever Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Ethanol is Dario Franchitti. He was a survivor out there because it was a brutal race of attrition after multiple accidents. Dario is here in Victory Lane with members of the Iowa Corn Growers. He needed a little help getting that big trophy up in the air. Once …
Ron Fagen Enjoying The Race
One of the founders of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council and Team Ethanol is Ron Fagen, Fagen, Inc. Ron’s here (lower left) in the EPIC hospitality tent watching today’s race. I spoke to Ron when we were in one of our caution periods and things kind of quieted down. He really likes how the relationship with the Indy Racing …
Ethanol Car Knocked Out of Race
I’m saddened to say that Jeff Simmons in the Team Ethanol car wasn’t able to finish today’s race. And he was running very well. Unfortunately on lap 86 Tony Kanaan spun out in front of him and he had no where to go and wound up in the wall and was out of the race. This was a very accident …
RFA’s Dinneen on Stage in Iowa
Just prior to the Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Ethanol I ran into Bob Dinneen, the CEO/President of the Renewable Fuels Association. He was one of the industry dignitaries on the stage just before driver introductions. I interviewed Bob and he says this whole ethanol showcase event has been wonderfully done. Here’s my interview with Bob: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/epic/iowa-corn-07-dinneen.mp3] Iowa Corn …
Orange County Choppers Unveil First E85 Chopper
They’re billing it as America’s first renewable energy chopper that runs on E85. It was unveiled today at the Iowa Speedway by Iowa Farm Bureau. The bike was built in partnership between IFB and Orange County Choppers. I’ve got the press conference recorded and will update this post later with it. Right now I’ve got to get out on the …