This comes from the Aberdeen (SD) News and the columnist is Alan Guebert of Ag Comm in Delavan, Ill. His conclusion on the food vs fuel issue is this: America will never run out of corn regardless of future domestic or foreign market demand. That bold prediction is not bold at all because price will ration supply. For proof, look …
Ethanex Hitches To Star
Ethanex Energy Inc., has entered into a joint venture with Star Ethanol, LLC for the construction and operation of an ethanol facility located in Franklin County, Illinois. According to a press release, the facility will incorporate the fractionation technology developed at Ethanex’s SEMO plant (in Cape Girardeau, MO) and will produce 132 million gallons of fuel grade ethanol per year. …
The Cool Factor
According to a Chicago Tribune personal finance columnist, ethanol has the “cool factor” when it comes to investments. Andrew Lackey’s September 17 column talks about some industries and companies that are currently on the “cool” list – including internet traffic services, TiVo and ethanol. How cool is that?
Hispanic Ag Co-op Considers Ethanol
Minority Agriculture Producers, an organization of Hispanic farmers and ranchers in Texas, is holding workshops this month to consider the possibility of getting together to start an ethanol production facility or two, or three. According to this story from Texas A&M Ag News, cotton farmer Donnie Valdez envisions three large factories in the Rio Grande Valley turning crops into bio-fuels …
OK Ethanol Plant Gets Ok
An ethanol plant for Enid, Okla. (see previous post) will become a reality soon now that officials with Oklahoma Sustainable Energy have received initial investments in excess of $5 million. According to this article in the Enid News, OSE officials will continue their equity drive through Sept. 26 unless the cap of 499 investors or $14 million is reached before …
New Ethanol Plant Planned For WI
Third Coast Biofuels, LLC is proposing a 40 to 60 million gallon ethanol plant for Wisconsin Rapids and Mayor Mary Jo Carson is “thrilled,” according to this article from the Wisconsin Technology Network. Ron Kuehn, a Third Coast representative, explained at an informational city meeting this week that in the best-case scenario, the plant could be built by the spring …
Third Former ADM Exec Joins Alternative Energy
Kansas City-based Alternative Energy Sources Inc. has announced the appointment of John A. Ward as executive vice president and director of operations. According to a press release, Ward will be responsible for site selection, permitting, design and engineering of ethanol plants to be built in Iowa, Illinois and other locations. He will oversee the construction process for each plant and …
Honda Develops “Practical” Biomass Ethanol Process
Honda Motors and a Japanese-based research company says they have developed the world’s first practical process for producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass. According to a news release, Honda and partner Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, or RITE, the new method allows large volumes of ethanol to be produced from widely available waste wood, leaves and other so-called …
Growing OK Biofuels
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry is holding a conference on biofuels next month in Norman, Okla. The Oklahoma Governor’s Conference on Biofuels features an impressive array of experts in the area of domestic fuels including state and federal government officials, oil and renewable industry representatives, university researchers and stakeholders from areas such as the military, transportation, agriculture and marketing. The event …
Flex Wars
Geez, guys, can’t we all just get along? Flex-Tek and Full Flex, competing E85 conversion kits, are having a little war on Domestic Fuel. (see previous post comments) For the sake of transparency, readers should be aware that Full Flex asked their satisfied customers to comment on the post about the interview I did with them. Here’s the way I …