In a letter, the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) has asked diesel engine and vehicle manufacturers to support the use of B20 (20 percent biodiesel + 80 percent diesel) in all diesel run equipment. The call is joined by the Iowa Biodiesel Board along with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who is the Chair of MGA. “As Governors, we see increasing the …
Big River Resources Becomes Growth Energy Member
Big River Resources, LLC has become the 66th associate member of Growth Energy, the leading coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters. Big River adds its three plants, located in Galva, Ill., Dyersville, Iowa and Boyceville, Wisc., to Growth Energy’s plant membership, making a total of 79. “Being able to add the three Big River Resources plants to our coalition is a …
ISU Professor Explains Ethanol/Gas Price Study
The Iowa State University professor who co-authored a new study on ethanol and gasoline prices released this week says the impact of the growing use of the domestically-produced fuel is significant. The new analysis from the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), an update to a 2009 peer-reviewed paper published in Energy Policy by professors Dermot Hayes of ISU …
Setback in Ethanol Case Against California LCFS
The ethanol industry has been handed a setback in its case against the California Air Resources Board Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that was ruled unconstitutional by a judge in December. From a Growth Energy statement: Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued an order expediting briefing in the California Air Resources Board’s appeal of a …
Algae Technology May Clean Up Dirty Water
OriginOil has announced that a breakthrough chemical-free process developed for algae harvesting may also aid in the clean up of dirty water that is a byproduct of oil well water flooding and hydraulic fracturing. According to the company, using a lab prototype of the technology, its researchers have successfully clarified samples of flowback water from a Texas oil well carrying …
Novozymes CEO Named BIO 2012 George Washington Carver Award Winner
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has named Novozymes President and CEO Steen Riisgaard as the recipient of its 2012 George Washington Carver Award for innovation in industrial biotechnology. A panel selected Riisgaard as this year’s winner “to recognize his significant contributions to the industrial biotechnology field.” Under Riisgaard’s leadership, Novozymes is creating tomorrow’s industrial biotechnology solutions and improving the use …
20 Northeast Dealers Adopt Bioheat
Last week during the New England Bioheat Symposium 20 oilheat dealers made the switch to Bioheat, heating oil common to the Northeastern part of the U.S. that is a blend of oilheat and at a minimun 2 percent biodiesel. The workshop was held at the Boston Red Sox’s home Fenway Park. Competition was a fitting theme as the oilheat industry …
Genome Map May Lead Miscanthus to Biofuels
A genome map for miscanthus could point the way to a source for better biofuels production. According to Science Daily, researchers at the University of Georgia have mapped the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus, a large perennial grass with promise as a source of ethanol and bioenergy. Changsoo Kim, a postdoctoral research associate in the UGA …
Re-Opened Biodiesel Plant is a “Jewel”
The Renewable Energy Group (REG) just hated to see the 30 million gallon capacity biodiesel plant standing idle near Albert Lea, Minnesota for the past three years, so the company decided to do something about it. “It’s a great plant that needed to run,” Brad Albin, REG Vice President of Manufacturing, said at the plant’s re-opening on Monday. “It had …
Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Will Celebrate Re-Opening
The Renewable Energy Group (REG) will be celebrating the grand re-opening Monday of a Minnesota biodiesel plant that was shut down for three years. REG acquired the former SoyMor production facility earlier this year, which is now known as REG Albert Lea, LLC. The company will be celebrating the grand re-opening of the plant with members of the Minnesota Soybean …