Congress’ financial watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, says the U.S. Department of Energy lacks a plan for how to match up increased biofuels production with infrastructure and vehicles to use the green fuels. This highlight report on the GAO web site says that America’s reliance on oil poses significant economic and environmental risks. But ethanol and biodiesel could replace oil …
POET VP Nominated to I-CARES
Vice President for POET’s Research & Development division, Dr. Mark Stowers, has been tapped to the external advisory committee of the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability… also known as I-CARES. According to a POET press release, the Washington University in St. Louis-based I-CARES will encourage and coordinate university-wide and external collaborative research in the areas of renewable …
Team Ethanol Doing Well
Number 17 Team Ethanol car driver Jeff Simmons was a lap leader for five laps at the Texas Motor Speedway this past weekend, a career record for him. He finished sixth in the Bombardier Learjet 550k, behind winner Sam Hornish, Jr., Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti and Vitor Meira. Overall, Jeff is doing pretty well this year, 11th in …
Ethanol Merger in the Works
Farmer-owned Dakota Ethanol of South Dakota is merging with Countryside Renewable Energy of Iowa. Under the proposed merger announced this week, Dakota Ethanol owners Lake Area Corn Processors would exchange 100 percent of its ownership for a combination of cash and equity shares in Countryside. According to a press release, Dakota Ethanol board member Brian Woldt said the company has …
E85 for East Tennessee
Pilot Corporation has opened the first fuel pump in East Tennessee to sell 85 percent ethanol (E85). Helping with the grand opening was Alan Jones, manager of Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Environmental Policy Office, who is pictured fueling up a state vehicle with E85 at the Walker Springs Road Pilot location just off of I-40 in Knoxville. “Pilot is proud …
Blogging POET
POET is composing a “Rhapsody in Green.” That’s the clever title of POET’s new blog site, created and maintained by POET Director of Public Relations Nathan Schock. It’s a very nice looking and well done blog. Nathan says the purpose of the site is to “give you an inside look at the largest dry-mill ethanol producer in the country. An …
POET Expansion Complete
The expansion of POET Biorefining – Big Stone from a nameplate production capacity of 40 to 75 million gallons per year is now complete, according to the company. The $42 million construction project began in April of last year and was completed at the end of May. Located approximately 6.5 miles northeast of Milbank, S.D., POET Biorefining – Big Stone …
$8 Million in Energy Grants
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy have jointly selected 11 biobased fuels research projects to receive $8.3 million in funding grants. According to a USDA release, the projects will include “looking into new ways to develop cordgrass, rice and switchgrass in renewable energy sources.” Grant recipients include: * University of Minnesota, $715,000 * South Dakota State University, $420,000 * …
Alternative Energy for Ogden
Alternative Energy Sources Inc. has received the final go-ahead for its planned 110-million-gallon ethanol plant near Ogden, Iowa. According to a news release, the Kansas City-based energy company said that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approved an operational air permit for the plant so all permitting is now complete. The Iowa Department of Economic Development has granted Alternative Energy …
Green Plains Update
Green Plains Renewable Energy officials say construction on both of their ethanol plants is progressing as planned. GPRE’s 50 million gallons per year ethanol production facility located in Shenandoah, Iowa is scheduled to commence its first grind in less than 60 days. Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, MN is building the plant and construction on the plant is progressing rapidly. …