Aventine Renewable Energy officials expressed optimism about the future for ethanol this week as they emerged triumphant from bankruptcy. The Pekin, Illinois-based ethanol producer announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 restructuring on March 15, naming Thomas Manuel as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. “Emerging from bankruptcy with good liquidity, modest debt and lower overhead …
“Baby Girl” Wins Cutest Kid Photo Contest
The winner for the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) E85 Flex-Fuel Challenge Cutest Kid Photo Contest is in – Latisha Martinex of Virgina Beach. Ms. Martinex will receive free ethanol for one year and her photo was selected by the judges based on creativity and quality. More than 1,000 photos were submitted and of those, “Amira and her Snow Love,” submitted …
GWEC Releases “Great Expectations” Wind Report
“It is clear that Congress must pass a strong federal renewable electricity standard so that investors, developers and state policy makers are working together to achieve a common goal,” said Iowa Governor Chet Culver today during a press call to release the findings of a new wind energy report: Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development, the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition’s …
Higher Ethanol Blends Score a Victory
It’s been a long road, but according to a company statement released by Dresser Wayne, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) has approved the use of the company’s Ovation Eco Fuel dispenser for the use ethanol blends up to 25 percent (E25). This is great news as the ethanol industry waits to hear if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will rule in favor …
Fargo to Host Free Biodiesel Workshop
Breathing easier is what the American Lung Association is all about, and that’s why the group’s North Dakota chapter has teamed up with the North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Office of Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency, Red River Valley Clean Cities Coalition, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce to offer a free workshop on clean-burning biodiesel, Friday, March …
Imperium Re-Opens Washington State Biodiesel Plant
They’re back up and running at Imperium Renewables’ Grays Harbor, Washington biodiesel plant. This company press release says Imperium re-opened the facility after a glycerin tank rupture idled operations last December: “We are thrilled to be producing again,” said John Plaza, founder and CEO of Imperium Renewables. “We have replaced the damaged equipment and re-designed the glycerin neutralization system to …
Response to Expanded Biofuels Production Study
The National Research Council (NRC) is currently conducting an ongoing study on the impacts of expanded biofuel production. NRC, which is part of the National Academy of Sciences, hosted a workshop last week to receive feedback from people on both sides of the debate. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) represented the ethanol industry and Geoff Cooper, RFA’s Vice President of …
Vilsack Anticipates Approval of E15
“I’m not troubled by getting it right as long as we get it right. And I think we’re headed in the right direction. I’m anticipating we’ll see some increase in the blend rate,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack during a press conference at Commodity Classic when asked about EPA’s delaying the decision to increase the blend rate to E15. …
Advanced Biofuel Makers Call for Tax Credits
The advanced biofuels industry is putting a bug in Congress’ ear, calling for lawmakers to allow for an investment tax credit that will help advanced biofuels makers get money to get their projects up to commercial scale and become eligible for another operating credit. Biomass Magazine explains that the industry would be eligible for a federal production tax credit of …
New Ideas for Funding Sustainable Biofuels
If you did a survey among the biofuels industry and asked if the funding programs for biofuels research and development were working, most would say no. Actually, many outside of the industry would say no. As the country continues forward on the federal goals set out in the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) things will need to change if we’re going …