Genencor International, a division of Danisco A/S, announced today the availability of a new acid fungal protease enzyme product for use in the ethanol industry. According to a company release, the new product, called FERMGEN™ will be introduced this week at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Thanks to Erick Erickson in Nebraska for forwarding the release to me.
Sweetening the Ethanol Pot
Brazil makes almost all of its ethanol from sugar, and some US lawmakers in sugar-producing states would like to see more of that here. The question is whether it would be economically viable to do so.
AP reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to issue a long-awaited study around July 1 on the viability of converting sugar into ethanol. Lawmakers from Minnesota, which produces sugar beets, and sugarcane leader Florida hope for a positive answer. 
“It would be absurd in 10 years if we’re doing 60 billion gallons of ethanol, and the only crop in America that’s not participating is sugar,” said Sen. Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican and one of Congress’ leading champions of sugar-based ethanol. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, tried unsuccessfully last year to get the Senate to require refineries across the country to use 100 million gallons of sugar-based ethanol a year.
“It’s not going to happen unless there is a push from Congress with the incentives,” Nelson said, short of a major disruption in the oil supply to the U.S.
Coleman and Nelson are backing legislation sponsored by Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., that would encourage the use of renewable fuels, including the 100 million-gallon mandate for sugar-based ethanol.
Famine to Feast?
Just a few weeks ago, the media was focused on there not being enough ethanol to meet the demand with the phase out of MTBE. Now we’re seeing articles questioning if we might be heading toward producing too much ethanol.
Forbes’ Dirk Lammers writes “some analysts say the burgeoning industry faces risks of oversupply, volatile commodity prices and a dependence on government subsidies.”
A Bloomberg News piece by Joe Carroll says “Within two years, planned expansion by ethanol producers will push U.S. supplies past demand, according to Standard & Poor’s.”
The dire predictions come on the heels of VeraSun’s shining initial public stock offering last week raised $419.8 million. The stock skyrocketed to $30 by market close on Wednesday. The company‘s shares fell in the days afterward to close at $25.25 Friday. Shares of Bill Gates’ investment Pacific Ethanol have fallen 43 percent in the past month. Meanwhile, two other ethanol companies, Hawkeye Holdings Inc. and Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc., are planning their own initial share sales later this year.
“Investors poured $14.3 billion into U.S. ethanol stocks in the past 12 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.”
Like anything else, the key is moderation – too much expansion too fast could ultimately wind up hurting the inudstry. But, also like anything else, there’s a rush to cash in while it’s hot.
Onward To Wyoming Tomorrow
We had a beautiful view at our dinner location here Sunday evening in Salt Lake City.
Tomorrow it’s back on the road and on to Wyoming. It’s going to be another long day of driving so I don’t know when my next posting time will be. I’ll try to ferret out some items for you that are more related to fuel. I’ve been collecting “frequently asked questions” for example.
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Operation Interdependence Dinner
On our last evening here in Salt Lake City a group of us from the convoy were hosted at a private home up on a mountainside overlooking the city for a very relaxing dinner. We started out though putting mailing labels on boxes that are being sent overseas to our troops via Operation Interdependence.
Thank you Albert Renteria for inviting us. We were very happy to see our military participants there since they’re what OI is all about!
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Convoy Truck Driver
Travelling along with our convoy is Ralph Garcia, Highway Safety Truck. Ralph was my ride back to the hotel last night.
It was my first time ever in an 18 wheeler and I have to say it was smooth. I interviewed Ralph about his part of the convoy and the program he’s representing out here. All of us who are driving in the convoy became certified in Highway Watch before we left San Francisco.
Ralph is a career trucker who says the Highway Watch program impressed him and he felt that supporting it was a way he could help make a difference in safety on the highway.
Listen to Ralph here: 
Ralph Garcia Interview (3 min MP3)
You can also see the inside of Ralph’s truck in a short video clip here: 
Riding In The Highway Watch Truck (1 min WMV)
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Sen. Bob Bennett On Stage
During our dinner last night here in Salt Lake City, we saw Utah Senator Bob Bennett, receive a special citation for the work his father did years ago in the senate in helping create the interstate system. Here’s current Sen. Bob Bennett with the plaque.
Sen. Bennett then proceeded to provide some interesting anecdotes on the highway system. I recorded one of them for you here as he explains a family trip prior to having an Interstate 80 to travel on.
Listn to Sen. Bennett here: Senator Bob Bennett Remarks (6 min MP3)
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Salt Lake City Welcome
When we got into Salt Lake City late yesterday we went straight to This is the Place Heritage Park.
The great folks of Utah welcomed us with open arms and a fine dinner. Here you can see Bob Lee, Country Coach, Inc., getting a steak just the way he likes it. I hope to find time to interview Bob since he claims to make the finest motor homes in the world.
I’m sure the opportunity will come up. And thanks to all the people who made us feel welcome last night and for the very good food and fellowship.
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Operation Interdependence Volunteers
I made a little stop off the highway with Albert Renteria, President of Operation Interdependence yesterday in Elko, NV.
Here’s some of the volunteers who help make this great program possible. One of them is Ann Nisbit. She explains why she’s involved in the program to efficiently provide packages to our deployed troops.
Listn to Ann here: Ann Nisbit Interview (2 min MP3)
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.
Mountains Along The Way
We drove through some pretty territory getting here to Salt Lake City. At our midday fuel stop you could see some snow on the mountain tops around us.
I know I’m promoting ethanol on this trip but I hope these big diesel rigs can find some biodiesel somewhere along the way too!
Domestic Fuel coverage and participation in the AASHTO Interstate 50th Convoy is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.