Over one quarter of Pacific Ethanol is now owned by Microsoft mogul Bill Gates. According to Reuters, Gates acquired 5.25 million shares convertible preferred stock on April 13 for $16 per share. Pacific Ethanol is building an ethanol production facility in California and said in late March it hoped the deal with Cascade Investment, Gates’s investment vehicle, would close by …
Another New Plant For Nebraska
The Aurora Cooperative and Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc., plan to develop a new ethanol plant near Aurora, Neb, according to a press release. This 220 million gallon per year plant, with the first phase being 100 million, will be constructed on a 135-acre site adjacent to the property of the Nebraska Energy, LLC ethanol plant. “In addition to the …
Ethanol-to-Hydrogen Pathway Explored
The potential to develop the ethanol-to-hydrogen energy pathway is now being explored through the Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative, a public-private partnership run under the auspices of the Great Plains Institute in Minneapolis, according to an article on the Minnesota Corn Growers Association website. UMHI was formed to bring fuel cell technology into use in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and …
EPIC CityHome Sponsorship Podcast
The latest “Fill Up, Feel Good” podcast from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is about EPIC’s sponsorship of the CityHome™ Program (see previous post). The podcast features comments from both EPIC executive director Tom Slunecka and O2Diesel Corporation CEO Alan Rae about this program aimed at helping cities use an ethanol/diesel blend for municipal transportation. The “Fill up, Feel …
“I can’t believe somebody’s saying that”
Believe it, Mr. Secretary. The headline was Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in Colorado on Earth Day reacting to a reporter’s question about ethanol being responsible for high gas prices. Johanns response was, “The price of a barrel of oil went over $72 this week – and I rest my case.” Listen to the USDA newsline report here.
Phoenix Flex Fuel
E85 can now be sold in the greater Phoenix area. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano recently signed a bill into law that will allow the alternative fuel to be available throughout Maricopa County, according to a release from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. “Our deep appreciation is extended to Representative Boone and his associates, as well as Weights and Measures, and …
Answering the Critics
During the “Truth about Ethanol” conference call last week (see previous post), I got to ask the guys to answer the critics who charge that ethanol and corn production rely too heavily on natural gas and nitrogen fertilizer. Bob Dinneen of Renewable Fuels Association, notes that the ethanol industry continues to evolve, “$11 natural gas is a great motivator to …
Slow Start For New Team Ethanol Driver
A crash during practice and another on lap 40 of the Indy Racing League Twin Ring Motegi gave new Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons an 18th place finish in the 20 car field over the weekend. Simmons was unhurt, but the No. 17 Ethanol car did sustain some damage. Needless to say, Simmons was disappointed with his Rahal Letterman Racing …
Biofuels Hearing
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will be holding a hearing on the “State of the Biofuels Industry” Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 10:00 am. The witness list includes Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen, National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe, CHS Inc. Executive Vice President Jay Debertin and Iowa State University professor Robert C. Brown, Ph.D …
Summit Welcomes “Pro-Ethanol” President
President Bush will be headlining the 2006 Renewable Fuels Summit Tuesday in Washington. “Growing America’s Energy Security” is the theme of the summit, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association, which is understandably “proud to welcome the most pro-ethanol President in history” to the invitation-only event. Other honored guests include Sen. Ken Salazar (R-CO); Reps. Jack Kingston (R-GA), Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), …