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 …
UL Reports Progress on E85 Pumps
Underwriters Laboratories reports progress toward developing safety requirements for E85 ethanol dispensers after a two-day forum at headquarters in Chicago last week. Concern over the safety of pumps for 85 percent ethanol was brought into question after a notice Oct. 23 that UL had suspended authorization of E85 dispenser components and that it would be updating its requirements. The technical …
Ford Goes Back to Ethanol Roots
AgriNews of Minnesota reports that Ford is “returning to its origins with its interest in ethanol.” In 1907, ethanol was the primary fuel for Ford vehicles because it was the most widely available fuel, said Ron Westby, director of public policy for Ford Motor Company, speaking at last week’s Agri-Growth Council annual meeting. Ford switched to gasoline after the Volstad …
Ethanol Fever Fires Up Farmers
Scripps News has a feature on ethanol fever in the Heartland, focusing on Heron Lake, Minn. Ethanol mania is sweeping through Heron Lake and many towns like it across the Corn Belt. Investors are spending billions in rural communities, sparking a wild rush to secure land, an industry movement to alter environmental standards and a rash of fierce bidding by …
Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit
The third annual Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit is coming up December 10 – 12 in Banff Springs, Alberta, Canada. The summit is hosted by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association and features a number of important speakers including: The Hon. Lorne Calvert, Premier of Saskatchewan Lorne Hepworth, President, CropLife Canada Barb Isman, President, Canola Council of Canada Lionel LaBelle, Saskatchewan Ethanol …
CBOT to Launch OTC Ethanol Contracts
The Chicago Board of Trade has announced plans for two new over-the-counter (OTC) Ethanol Calendar Swap contracts. The new products, which will include contracts for both forward and previous month calendar swaps, will be based on the price of CBOT Ethanol futures contracts. Scheduled to be introduced on December 4, 2006, CBOT Ethanol Swap contracts are the first exchange-cleared OTC …
“Buy the Bus” to Promote E85
Two Boulder, Colorado residents are on a mission to promote E-85 by bus. Self-described dedicated environmentalists Jason and Tracey Keeley have “organized Buy the Bus to fund an eight-month tour of key locations in the United States, during which they will spread the word about E85.” Tracey and Jason’s combined passion for the great outdoors has culminated in Buy the …
GA Farm Bureau Supports Biofuels Tax Cut
A Georgia Farm Bureau committee adopted a proposal to cut the sales tax on the sale and production of ethanol and biodiesel (see previous post) to present to the membership in its December meeting. Seventeen states have reduction or elimination of sales and use motor fuel taxes for ethanol and/or biodiesel, according to information from the U.S. Department of Energy’s …
Current MN Lt. Gov. Knows E85
The job of lieutenant governor is rarely noticed, but when the running mate of the challenger in the Minnesota governor’s race appeared to show ignorance of ethanol this week, the current holder of the position did get some attention. And no one can say that Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau is ignorant when it comes to ethanol. As a corn farmer …
Ethanol Boosts Corn Prices
The Wall Street Journal reports on the rising price of corn due to ethanol production. The price for corn — the nation’s No. 1 crop and one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in the American food supply — has jumped nearly 55% since mid-September, when U.S. corn farmers began harvesting their third-biggest crop ever. Grain prices usually slump to their …