Ethanol Convert

Cindy Zimmerman

ADM ADM CEO Here’s an article on ADM CEO Pat Woertz, who will be one of the many speakers at this week’s Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis.

The story talks about Woertz’s former life as a Chevron executive and her opposition to ethanol at the time, which she said was “tied to federal clean-air standards for vehicle emissions and the debate over how to meet them.” Now she says, “Things have evolved,” she said, and the oil industry and ethanol producers “have come to work much more closely on the fuel supplies for this country.”

Ethanol

Pacific Ethanol Plant Complete

Cindy Zimmerman

Pacific Ethanol Construction of Pacific Ethanol’s first plant in Madera, California is now finished and the ribbon will be cut on October 16. The 35 million gallon plant will then begin construction and should reach capacity by next month.

This is the plant with Microsoft money behind it (see previous post) – Bill Gates personally invested about $84 million dollars in Pacific Ethanol back in April.

Ethanol, Facilities

Ultimate Ethanol for Alexandria

Cindy Zimmerman

Broin Companies The Broin Companies last week announced plans for the development and construction of Ultimate Ethanol, LLC near Alexandria, Ind.

The plant will initially produce 60 million gallons of ethanol a year, but is designed to expand to 100 million in the future.

Ultimate Ethanol will be the 29th ethanol plant built by the Broin Companies, who will provide turnkey development, design, engineering, construction, management and marketing services for the project. Broin Companies is also constructing Premier Ethanol near Portland, Ind., which is scheduled for completion next fall.

Ethanol, Facilities

Biotech for Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Monsanto Dr. Robert Fraley, Monsanto’s Chief Technology Officer, will be one of the presenters at the Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance conference on Wednesday, October 11 in St. Louis. Dr. Fraley will be a panel speaker at the “Liquid Fuels and Bioproducts: Supply and Demand” breakout session on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Fraley will share his scientific vision of agriculture’s role in helping to fuel our future energy demands.

St. Louis is the home of Monsanto, so the company is also offering tours for conference participants of its Crop Analytics Lab samples are analyzed daily to understand seed components and the potential energy, protein, and oil they provide for use as feed, fuel and food.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Research

Ram Stuff

Cindy Zimmerman

Dodge RamSTL Ram DaimlerChrysler and the National Biodiesel Board are promising a “new breed of St. Louis Ram.”

Look for a big announcement on Tuesday when representatives will discuss new programs to promote modern, clean diesel vehicles and the benefits of renewable biodiesel fuel.

The diesel Dodge Ram is produced in St. Louis.

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Over 1000 Registrations for Renewable Renaissance

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA-DOE conference Over 1,000 people are now registered to attend the big USDA/DOE event next week in St. Louis, Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance. There are rumors that President Bush himself will be attending the conference, although he is still listed as “invited.” Chances are pretty good the boss will show up, considering the magnitude of this event and the fact that his “America’s addition to oil” state of the union address has become a rallying call for renewables nationwide this year.

Even if Bush doesn’t show, there will still be plenty of others on hand to talk about the future of domestic energy sources – from ethanol and biodiesel to wind and solar. Wednesday, October 11 is the main day of the conference, featuring some 34 speakers and panelists. Ten more are on deck for Thursday, with the President of the United States penciled in as the grand finale.

Domestic Fuel will be providing coverage of the entire event.

Ethanol, Government

1000 Stations and Counting

Cindy Zimmerman

NEVC There are now over 1,000 E85 fueling locations in the United States, according to the National Ethanol Vehicle Association.

NEVC identifies a Cenex station in Bemidji, Minnesota as the nation’s 1,000 facility.

According to a news release from NEVC, the number of stations in the country has more than doubled since October of last year when there were just 438.

The organization notes that in January of 2003 there were just 100 E85 pumps in the country. That number increased to 600 in January of this year – and now 1000 just 10 months later.

Ethanol

Cellulose Ethanol Market Report

Cindy Zimmerman

RandM “The World’s Largest Market Research Resource” is now offering a Cellulose Ethanol Market Report. According to Dublin, Ireland-based Research and Markets, “given its environmental and economic benefits, together with the vast availability of feedstock, ethanol has taken on prominence as one of the most favored alternatives to fossil fuel.”

The Market for Cellulose Ethanol report is an in-depth analysis of the prospects for the use of cellulose ethanol as a fuel. The report includes a comprehensive analysis of how cellulose ethanol is produced, its cost-effectiveness, the growth drivers promoting the use of ethanol over other fuels, the barriers to market, and much more. The report also focuses on the steps the U.S. government is taking to promote ethanol use, including tax incentives, funding for research and development, funding for technology, and other measures. The report also covers the basics of ethanol production; how ethanol differs from other fuels and the benefits to consumers from using ethanol.

Cellulosic, Ethanol

Cellulosic Partnership

Cindy Zimmerman

DuPontBroin Companies Two technology leaders in the growing biofuels industry, DuPont and Broin, have announced a partnership in the United States to take the next steps needed to bring cost-effective ethanol derived from corn stover to market.

According to a press release, “We are pleased to partner with Broin, a company that is regarded as a technology expert in biorefining,” said DuPont Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Tom Connelly. “We have worked over the last three years to develop a technology package that can efficiently break down the complex sugar matrix found in corn stover into ethanol from cellulose at a high yield. We are excited about the progress we have made and, while we still have to complete more research, we are ready to take the next steps to bring cellulosic ethanol to market. This is a further demonstration of DuPont’s commitment to bring to market renewably sourced materials that reduce global reliance on petroleum.”

“The partnership between Broin and DuPont brings together much of the needed technology that is important to the future development of cellulose to ethanol,” said Mike Muston, executive vice president of corporate development, Broin. “The ability to combine the global science of DuPont with Broin’s ethanol production technology puts us in position to make the commercialization of cellulose to ethanol a reality much sooner.”

Cellulosic, Ethanol

Are You Ready For Some Ethanol?

Cindy Zimmerman

EThe ethanol industry has kicked off a new promotion with tailgate parties and pump promotions centered around pro football games this fall.

According to Reece Nanfito, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council’s senior director of marketing, promotions for the fuel are planned to take place prior to professional football match-ups around the country.

“At the tailgating parties, we have tents and banners and in many cases we’ll have the IndyCar Series simulator car there. And as people walk into the stadium and celebrate before they go to the big game we will be promoting the benefits of ethanol and handing out brochures and information.”

The first tailgate parties were held on Sunday October 1 in Houston and Washington DC, and October 2 in Philadelphia. Nanfito says the pump promotions are taking place at various retailers in some of the cities prior to the games as well.

Ethanol tailgate parties are scheduled for football games in New York, Indianapolis and Philadelphia on Sunday, October 8; Dallas, Pittsburgh, New York, Washington DC and Baltimore on Sunday, October 15; Houston, Kansas City and Buffalo on Sunday, October 22; Dallas on Monday, October 23; Buffalo and Philadelphia on Sunday, October 29; and Washington DC, Baltimore and Pittsburgh on Sunday, November 5.

Pump promotions are scheduled to be held on Friday, October 6 in Philadelphia; October 13 and 14 in Dallas; October 20 and 21 in Houston; and November 4 in Washington DC.

EPIC, Ethanol, Promotion