Here is the latest map of where the ethanol biorefineries are located and being built across the country, courtesy of the Renewable Fuels Association. To see a larger view, click here.
More Nebraska Ethanol Plants Going Up
Another Nebraska ethanol plant officially started construction with groundbreaking on Friday in Carleton.
California-based developer Altra broke ground on the 360 acre, $200 million project which will have a capacity of 110 million gallons per year.
Altra also owns and operates California’s only large scale operating ethanol plant, located in Goshen, CA and is currently constructing a 60 MMGY ethanol facility located in Coshocton, Ohio, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2007, and an 88 MMGY ethanol facility in Cloverdale, Indiana, that is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Nebraska currently has nine ethanol plants under construction, more than any other state except Iowa which also has nine. Nebraska also has ten biorefineries currently operating.
Another Cellulosic Partner for Broin
In its quest to make cellulosic ethanol an affordable reality in the near future, Broin Companies has formed a partnership with biotech industry leader Novazymes.
According to a press release, the partnership will “take the next steps needed to bring cost-effective ethanol derived from corn stover to market.”
The collaboration is an extension of the close partnership between the two companies and is a great opportunity for Novozymes to put its unique biotechnology platform at work and for Broin to aim at a fast commercialization.
Earlier this month, Broin announced a partnership with DuPont for the same purpose.
Ethanol Injection Engine Could Help Boost Fuel Efficiency
MIT researchers are working on a smaller gasoline engine that could get better fuel economy by injecting ethanol when a performance boost is needed.
According to MIT, these small engines could be on the market within five years, and consumers should find them appealing: By spending about an extra $1,000 and adding a couple of gallons of ethanol every few months, they will have an engine that can go as much as 30 percent farther on a gallon of fuel than an ordinary engine. Moreover, the little engine provides high performance without the use of high-octane gasoline.
Basically, the researchers say this technology would be similar to a hybrid, but less expensive, and would help reduce the amount of gasoline used. The ethanol injection system with the turbocharger would give a driver more power than a conventional engine of the same size.
Reuters did a good story on this development, so did CNET news.
Alternative Fuel Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy is providing $8.6 million for 16 projects to expand the use of alternative transportation fuels.
According to a DOE release, combined with funding from the participants, more than $25 million will be invested in the nation’s alternative fuel infrastructure. The grants are part of the Clean Cities program and were selected under three topic areas including Refueling Infrastructure for E85 and Alternative Fuels; Incremental Cost for Alternative Fuel Vehicles; and Idle Reduction Training and Awareness for School Districts.
The funding includes projects all over the country, and includes both ethanol and biodiesel. Under the Refueling Infrastructure topic area alone, the 13 projects selected include the installation of alternative fuel blending and refueling infrastructure at over 180 locations in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
Read full press release.
Secretaries Stump for Cellulosic
The US Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture each talked about the need for cellulosic ethanol in two different venues this week.
Energy Secretary Sam Bodman speaking at the Chicagoland Innovation Summit on Tuesday said ethanol is America’s best alternative energy source for the future, but researchers must develop a material other than corn to make it from. According to a Dow Jones report, “Eventually, we’re going to run out of the ability to make ethanol from corn,” Bodman told Dow Jones Newswires after the speech.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns was in Minnesota meeting “with state and local leaders Tuesday to talk up the emerging technology of cellulosic ethanol production – making ethanol from wood chips, corn stalks, alfalfa and other biomass types,” according to this Associated Press report. Johanns also said corn-based ethanol can’t meet the nation’s demand.
HyVee Gas Pump in Iowa
Hello from Iowa. I’m not up here for anything related to renewable fuels but when you’re a blogger you see things of interest everywhere.
I gassed up at a HyVee gas station and their higher octane gas containing ethanol was a lower price than regular. All the pumps have ethanol labels that promote the fuel additives benefits for cleaner air.
AgriTalking about Ethanol
Ethanol is pretty much a daily topic of discussion on the “AgriTalk” radio show that airs on about 70 mostly Corn-belt area radio stations, as well it should be considering major sponsors of the program include ADM, Monsanto, VeraSun, and National Corn Growers. Here are a couple of recent programs:
Ethanol design company Fagen Inc. was a major sponsor of this year’s national cornhusking contest in Columbus, Neb. where Agri-Talk did a live broadcast on October 20, 2006.
Robert White, Director of Operations for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council was a guest on Agri-Talk October 23 to discuss the new E85 equipment rulings.
McCooking With Ethanol
The state of Nebraska is receiving $38 million from the USDA Rural Development agency for renewable energy and conservation, with most of the money to be used for an ethanol plant in McCook.
According to the McCook Daily Gazatte, the funding incudes a “$10 million Renewable Energy Systems Guaranteed loan and a $25 million Business and Industry Guaranteed loan to S.W. Energy, LLC.”
Additionally, $2.4 million in 9006 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Improvements grants and a $300,000 Value-Added Producer grant were awarded to153 rural small businesses and agricultural producers to assist in areas of renewable energy resource development and energy efficiency improvements of existing systems.
Mid-Am Dream Becomes Reality
Exactly one year from the day they broke ground, Mid-America Biofuels held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of their 30 million gallon a year plant in Mexico, Missouri. Lots of good friends, like Senator Kit Bond pictured, were there to congratulate the nearly 400 agricultural producers who purchased shares in Biofuels, LLC and then formed a joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland Company; Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Inc.; MFA Oil Company; and Growmark, Inc.
Representatives of the Missouri Soybean Association were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the plant that will use soybean oil to make diesel fuel.
“A year ago today, we came together to break ground for this facility. With the dedication and support of U.S. Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent, Governor Matt Blunt and U.S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof, we’ve brought biodiesel in Missouri to the forefront of the nation’s industry,” said Dale R. Ludwig, executive director/CEO of MSA. “Missouri has a wonderful group of legislators who recognize the importance of renewable fuels. They’ve helped make the Mid-Am dream become reality.”
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