The U.S. Department of Energy has announced just over $23 million in federal funding for five projects focused on developing highly efficient fermentative organisms to convert biomass material to ethanol. According to a DOE press release, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner said the projects will study ways to produce cellulosic ethanol cost-effectively. “Ultimately, success in …
History Made at Homestead
The IndyCar Series made history in Homestead under the lights on March 24, filling up and feeling good on 100 percent fuel grade ethanol for the first time. This edition of “Fill up, Feel Good” includes comments from Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen, Indiana Senator Dick Lugar, IndyCar drivers Jeff Simmons, Scott Sharp and Dan Wheldon, RLR owner Bobby …
E Energy Adams Webcam Live
If you’ve ever wanted to watch an ethanol plant being built, well now you can. E Energy Adams is letting you get a very up front and personal view of their plant construction. They’ve got a very cool live webcam set up which allows you to control it (pan, tilt, zoom, etc.). This is a still photo from earlier today. …
New Team Ethanol Sponsors
The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has announced additional sponsors for the No. 17 Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol 2007 IndyCar® Series season. Companies who have joined forces with the founding partners Fagen Inc., ICM Inc., and Broin Companies as major sponsors include: Endress+Hauser Inc. A&B Process System E & I Specialists, Inc. Victory Energy Novozymes Flottweg Separation Technology …
Broin Adds Another Plant in Ohio
The Broin Companies has announced a third ethanol production facility in the state of Ohio and their 31st construction project overall. Marion Ethanol, a 65 million gallon per year facility, will be located near the northern Ohio community of Marion in Marion County. Mike Wagner, executive director of the Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association and past executive director of the Ohio …
Smells Like Popcorn
ABC News has a nice feature on ethanol in the IndyCar Series that features comments from drivers, ethanol industry representatives, race car engineers and President Bush. If you go to an IndyCar racing track this season, you might notice there’s something different in the air: Instead of fuel, it smells a little like popcorn. “It’s a bit sweet, I think …
Fueling Station Interview With Khosla
Our friends at “The Fueling Station” in St. Petersburg, Florida alerted us to an in-depth interview they did with biofuels venture capitalist Vinod Khosla. I did a post about this blog when they first got started in August of last year. Still love the name and the logo. The authors, St. Petersburg Times reporters David Adams and Craig Pittman, do …
Remembering Paul Dana
It was one year ago today that one of ethanol’s strongest advocates died tragically doing what he loved best – racing. It is a significant tribute to Paul Dana that he accomplished a major goal in his life, getting the IndyCar Series to switch to ethanol, before he passed away. This past weekend’s inaugural race on 100 percent fuel grade …
E is Indy
The Indy Car Series is very proud of its new alliance with the ethanol industry. If you check out the official IndyCar website, you’ll find some great information about how the IndyCar Series is “going green” with ethanol. There’s great video from last week’s press conference on Capitol Hill honoring the IndyCar Series switch from methanol to ethanol, as well …
Crops for Fuel
During a renewable energy roundtable discussion at Purdue University last week, the question was posed, why are we using food for fuel? USDA Chief Economist Dr. Keith Collins had the chance to respond to the questioner with an important point. “I first would say that I don’t think about using food for fuel. I think about using crops for fuel. …