Rains and flooding kept farmers in the Midwest corn and soybean belts out of their fields for a long time this spring. But according to a new report from the USDA, the actual stockpiles of the main feedstocks for ethanol and biodiesel are higher than expected. This story in Forbes says the U.S. has a 30-day stockpile of soybeans… a …
Improvements in Ethanol Efficiency
A recent report clearly illustrates the energy improvements being made at ethanol biorefineries across country. According to the report by John Christianson, CPA of the independent accounting firm Christianson & Associates, the average amount of energy as measured by British Thermal Units (BTUs) required to produce ethanol and a livestock feed co-product across all ethanol production technologies was reduced by …
St. Louis Clean Cities Holds Successful Odyssey Day Event
The AFV Day Odyssey was formed through the U.S. Department of Energy to promote energy independence. Many additional Odyssey Day events will be occurring this week nationwide. For more information on these events, go to www.NationalAFVDayOdyssey.org.
POET to Open Two More Ethanol Plants
The largest ethanol producer in the world just keeps getting bigger. POET is scheduled to open two more ethanol plants in the next four weeks – both in Ohio. That will bring the total number of POET plants to 26 as of October 24, with a total capacity of 1.54 billion gallons per year. The grand opening for POET Biorefining …
Bill Would Promote Biofuels Cooperation With Brazil
While most of Congress was working on a bailout for the financial crisis last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a bill that would strengthen energy cooperation between the United States and Brazil to promote the production and use of sustainable biofuels throughout Latin America. The legislation, authored by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Dick Lugar, would promote …
Debate Thin On Renewable Energy Talk
The first presidential debate between Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama just wrapped up, and I have to say I was a little disappointed in how little renewable energy was part of the conversation. I know that it was a debate on foreign policy, but what could be bigger on our foreign policy than reducing our dependence …
Aviation Giants Look to Sustainable Biofuels
Some heavy hitters in the aviation industry are joining ranks to develop and to make more available sustainable biofuels. This story from Biomass Magazine says the Boeing Co. and UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, are at the heart of this effort: With support and advice from two environmental groups, the World Wildlife Fund and Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sustainable …
Ethanol Gets Mention During Debate
Just about half an hour into the presidential debate and ethanol has received its first mention, as Republican Sen. John McCain has declared that he would end current ethanol subsidies, if he’s elected president. Not exactly what the folks who produce and use the green fuel would like to hear. I was a bit surprised that Democratic Sen. Barack Obama …