A diverse coalition of 34 business, agriculture and environmental groups is asking Congressional leaders to support an economic recovery package that provides strong funding for agriculture-based, clean energy development programs. The National 25x’25 Steering Committee and other renewable energy advocacy groups outlined a three part recommendation in a letter to Congressional leaders this week. The letter recommends including at least …
Obama Economic Speech Highlights Alt Energy Plans
This week’s major economic speech from President-elect Barack Obama pointed out how ethanol and biodiesel, as well as other alternatives to conventional energy sources, will be key to the nation’s economic recovery. This article from the New York Times says the plan also pushes energy efficiency: “To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the …
Colorado Hands Out $620K in Ethanol, Biodiesel, Wind & Biomass Grants
The State of Colorado has handed out $620,000 in grants for research and development into a variety of renewable energy sources, including ethanol, biodiesel, biomass and wind energy. This press release from the state Department of Agriculture says the 14 grants have been hand out through the “Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy” (ACRE) program: “ACRE is a statewide effort to promote …
NY Looks to Build $50 Mil Alt Fuels Lab
The State of New York wants to put up a $50 million alternative fuels testing facility in Malta in Upstate New York. This story from the Albany (NY) Business Review says Gov. David Paterson made the announcement about the lab in a letter to president-elect Barack Obama, asking for $38 million in federal dollars to build it: In his letter …
Missouri Ethanol Plant Expansion
A Missouri ethanol plant is undergoing a $2 million expansion that will increase the plant’s capacity and provide a larger market for locally produced corn. POET Biorefining – Laddonia was built in September 2006 with a capacity of 45 million gallons per year (MGPY), but it actually is producing almost 52 MGPY, according to General Manager Robin Venn. The expansion …
Military Inks $35 Mil in Algae-Biodiesel Contracts
The U.S. military has inked a pair of deals worth about $35 million to develop biodiesel made from algae. Cleantech.com reports two San Diego companies will work on the fuel to be used by the U.S. Army and Air Force: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) signed a $14.9 million deal with Science Applications International to work on making …
Ethanol Report with RFA President
In this edition of the “Ethanol Report” podcast, Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen talks about President-elect Obama’s cabinet choices, input from the ethanol industry on “green jobs”, and why he believes the industry will meet future goals for cellulosic production under the Renewable Fuels Standard. You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/ethanol-report-23.mp3] Or you can subscribe …
Obama Seen as Good for Solar Power
President-elect Barack Obama’s promise to make alternative energy a priority could end up being a big boost for the solar power industry. This story from Mlive.com says Michigan could become the hub for that solar power growth: Thomas Township-headquartered Hemlock Semiconductor’s Corp. announced Monday it will add up to a $1 billion expansion to manufacture polycrystalline silicon, or polysilicon, at …
Anniversary of Expanded RFS
The Energy Security and Independence Act (EISA) which expanded the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is officially a year old today. The ethanol industry is looking forward to the future for the RFS, which requires the use of ethanol and other renewable fuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil, after it survived a major challenge this year by the governor of …
$3 Million+ to Go to CT Biodiesel Producers, Schools
Three universites in Connecticut will share more than $900,000 in state grants to test biofuel quality as well as to study different production methods and feedstocks, and another $2.2 million in grants will go to four biodiesel production facilities to help leverage at least $6 million in private investment. This press release from Gov. M. Jodi Rell has details: “My …