The International Food and Agricultural Policy Trade Council has conducted the first comprehensive assessment of how World Trade Organization disciplines may apply to the rapidly expanding biofuels sector. The study sets out key WTO issues that need to be clarified, such as the classification of biofuels and their feedstocks and whether they are to be considered industrial, agricultural or environmental …
Domestic Fuel on I-65
From the Birmingham (AL) News – The installation of the first ethanol-and-biodiesel-blended-fuel pumps along Interstate 65 in Alabama should begin in early 2007, state officials said Thursday. State officials are talking with interested gasoline-selling convenience store operators and working quickly to make alternative-fuel purchase an option for drivers, said Kathy Hornsby of the Alabama Department of Economic and Development Affairs. …
Less Corn at Higher Prices Means Farmers Will Likely Plant More
The US Department of Agriculture lowered its corn production forecast Thursday by one percent from last month to 10.7 billion bushels, but that’s still the second largest crop on record. Meanwhile, the corn price forecast rose 40 cents to $2.80 to $3.20 a bushel as demand remains brisk. Expected corn use for ethanol this year was left unchanged at 2.15 …
Domestic Fuels Power Transportation Expansion
Increased demand for E85, biodiesel products brings need for more trains, trucks and storage. Story by David Pitt of the Associated Press. With new ethanol and biodiesel plants going online, transportation companies are scurrying to provide the needed trains, trucks and storage tanks to keep up. The fuel-additive industry is growing from regional to national distribution, driven by a federal …
Renova to Supply Ethanol for IRL
Ethanol for the 2007 IndyCar Series will be supplied by Renova Energy of Wyoming. Ethanol Promotion and Information Council executive director Tom Slunecka made that announcement during a press conference Thursday announcing the new team for Rahal-Letterman Racing. “Of course all of our member plants are producing the same high quality product,” said Slunecka. “But Renova Energy will actually be …
Rahal Letterman Powered by Alcohol
Alcohol will be powering the 2007 Rahal-Letterman Racing team in more ways than one. The number 17 Team Ethanol car will be driven once again by Jeff Simmons and sponsored, of course, by the ethanol industry. The second car in the RLR stable will be Number 8, piloted by veteran IndyCar Series driver Scott Sharp and sponsored by Patrón Spirits …
Ethanol Business Stoked Up With Democrat Win
Shares of Archer Daniels Midland Co. and VeraSun Energy Corp., the two biggest U.S. ethanol producers, soared on speculation that Democratic control of the U.S. House of Representatives will boost demand. “A Democrat-led House is likely to amount to a political net plus for the ethanol industry,” Stanford Group Co. analyst Mark McMinimy wrote today in a report to clients. …
ADM Expects Growth in Low Percentage Ethanol Blends
The Chicago Tribune reports on comments from Archer Daniels Midland executives that they foresee “rapid growth in the market for gasoline blended with 10, 15 or even 20 percent concentrations of ethanol, but slower acceptance of so-called “E-85.” Read full story.
ADM Plans Global Lead in Biofuels
Archer Daniels Midland Company made presentations to financial analysts in Chicago Wednesday outlining plans to be the global leader in ethanol and biodiesel production, while expanding its top position in the agricultural processing value chain. “ADM is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the world’s increasing demands for both food and fuel,” said Patricia Woertz, ADM CEO and President. “As …
ISU Researching Potential Cellulose Breakdown Compound
A 40-year-old discovery is showing promise as a chemical pre-treatment that breaks down plant fiber. That could release the simple sugars in corn stalks or switchgrass so they can be fermented into ethanol. And that could add value to Iowa’s crops or the fibrous co-products of ethanol production. John Verkade, left, a University Professor of chemistry at Iowa State, and …