The Road Ahead
By Craig A. Johnson
November 11, 2009
Since August 2008, no new corn-fed ethanol plants have begun construction. Does this signal the end of an era?
IRS May Lengthen Depreciation Schedule for Ethanol Plants—But Relief is Possible
By Adam Thimmesch and Lisa Pugh
November 11, 2009
The Internal Revenue Service may rule that taxpayers lengthen the term of depreciation on first-and second-generation ethanol plants, and understanding the proposal will be key for the industry.
A Flood of Funding
November 11, 2009
Although it seems that the American economy may be on the road to recovery, lending markets are still tight. In the absence of traditional forms of financing, a variety of federal funding options may assist ethanol producers in moving their projects forward.
Countdown to E15?
November 09, 2009
The clock is ticking until the U.S. EPA's decision on the E15 waiver request. The agency is scheduled to make its decision by Dec. 1. No matter what the decision, the industry implications will most likely be instant and enormous. Mum's been the word from EPA officials so far, but the ethanol industry continues to speak out on the issue.
Biomass Trading on the Web
By Rona Johnson
November 06, 2009
Need 14 tons of fine wood sanding dust every two weeks, or how about 6,000 gallons of used frying oil every week? If so, the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance has a Web site just for you. The agency has launched North Carolina Biomass Trader, which can be viewed at <a href="http://www.ncbiomasstrader.org">http://www.ncbiomasstrader.org</a>, to connect biomass buyers and sellers.
Got five minutes?
November 02, 2009
If you haven't already received an invitation from me, I'd like to personally invite you to participate in our 2010 U.S. ethanol plant salary survey. We launched the survey about a week ago and I've already been surprised by the preliminary data we've received. The results of the survey will be the focus of our Jan. 2010 issue and, as an added bonus, plant managers who participate and encourage their employees to do the same will receive the raw data after the January issue is released.
Biomass Field Day in my Backyard
By Rona Johnson
October 30, 2009
I was excited last week when I saw an item on the Internet about a Prairie Biomass Harvest Field Day being held right in my backyard. The event was in a field southeast of Crookston, Minn., which is only about 30 miles from my office in Grand Forks, N.D.
Here we go again
October 26, 2009
It seems Tim Searchinger has a real problem with biofuels, particularly corn-based ethanol. Judging from his most recent attack on biofuels, which was disguised as an article in Science Magazine, Searchinger is still not convinced that biofuels are better for the environment than petroleum. This is ludicrous, of course, but the ethanol industry's representative groups must once again retaliate with truths about the environmental impact of ethanol production. Following are excerpts from some of the responses.
Massachusetts Residents Take Biomass Power Plant Opposition to the Next Level
By Rona Johnson
October 23, 2009
Frustrated because they have been unable to stop proposals to build biomass power plants in Massachusetts, a group of residents are gathering signatures to get a referendum on the state ballot in 2010 that would deprive biomass of its renewable label.
Rules of the playground
October 19, 2009
The ethanol industry needs to remain a united force to promote its message - we can produce clean, renewable fuel in our own country which will lessen our dependence on foreign oil and create jobs for thousands of our citizens. In-fighting and power matches will do nothing to help the industry; it will only hurt it. There are many opposing industries who watch the ethanol industry like hawks, just waiting to swoop in and expose its weaknesses in order to destroy it. A divided industry opens the door to attacks and lessens the effectiveness of its messengers.
Shedding Some Biomass
By Rona Johnson
October 16, 2009
As usually I tried to write something prolific about biomass this week but our freakish weather is just too much to pass up.
Kansas on fire
October 09, 2009
Oct. 4-10 was fire prevention week, as named by the National Fire Protection Association. Perhaps not coincidentally, Kansas Ethanol LLC hosted what could be the largest-ever live ethanol burn in U.S. history on Oct. 9. The event, which has been planned since early this summer, drew over 300 attendees from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, Ohio and Virginia. Designed for training purposes for first responders, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, highway patrol officers and other law enforcement personnel, the highlight of the event was the chance to witness and respond to a live ethanol fire. Jennifer Dellar, Kansas Ethanol's safety manager, told me she knows of several pan burn events that have been held in the past, but believes there has never been a planned ethanol burn of the scale that was planned for this event. The all-day event included safety equipment displays and seminars and was sponsored, in part, by Poet Ethanol Products, TransCAER and Emergency Fire Equipment Inc. I congratulate Kansas Ethanol for taking on such an important public service duty. I believe this event will be remembered as a community service project rather than an ethanol industry event because, as we all know, the potential hazards of ethanol production impact more than just the workers at each facility. I had the opportunity to attend a fire safety training course for local HazMat members a few months ago and every firefighter I spoke with said the most beneficial training they could receive would be the opportunity to experience an ethanol fire before having to respond to an actual incident. Ethanol fires are rare, thankfully, but that means that first responders are not that knowledgeable about how to put them out. Kansas Ethanol took a proactive approach to this issue and I hope that other facilities learn from their example.
Biomass Conference Planned for California
By Rona Johnson
October 09, 2009
In case you haven't already heard, BBI International is planning the Pacific West Biomass Conference & Expo, which will be held Jan. 11-13 in Sacramento, Calif.
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