USDA designates additional counties as natural disaster areas
By USDA
August 01, 2012
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced two new pieces of disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers impacted by the nation's worsening drought, including the designation of 218 additional counties as primary natural disaster areas.
Gevo awarded new patent, sues Butamax, DuPont, BP
By Gevo Inc.
August 01, 2012
Gevo Inc. has been awarded an additional patent covering further improvements in the efficiency of bio-based production of isobutanol.The company also filed lawsuits against DuPont, BP and Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Sweetwater Energy Inc., a cellulosic sugar manufacturer has oversubscribed and closed its Series A funding round. The company sought $5 million in initial funding, but investor response was greater than expected.
The bio-based materials and chemicals industry needs to tap newer, non-food sources of biomass and cellulosic material and raise volumes of feedstock before it can emerge as an economically viable alternative to petroleum-based products.
Although a final decision has not yet been made, the unofficial word is that the European Commission informed EU member states that it would not be issuing an order imposing preliminary duties against the U.S. ethanol industry.
Banked RINS could offset more than 900 million bushels of corn
August 01, 2012
University of Illinois economists estimate 2.45 billion gallons worth of renewable identification numbers (RINs) are currently banked and available to apply to the mandated volumes in the renewable fuels standard (RFS).
Eco-Energy Holdings Inc. continues to expand its facilities in the East, announcing a partnership with NuStar Terminals Operations Partnership LP to jointing develop and ethanol unit train and storage facility, including outbound truck loading.
Rochester, N.Y.-based Sweetwater Energy Inc., a cellulosic sugar manufacturer has oversubscribed and closed its Series A funding round. The company sought $5 million in initial funding, but investor response was greater than expected.
Ethanol safety seminars to be held in Idaho in August
By Renewable Fuels Association
July 31, 2012
The Renewable Fuels Association, TRANSCAER, the Federal Railroad Association, and Eastern Idaho Railroad are co-sponsoring two Ethanol Safety Seminars in Idaho on August 7 and August 9. A similar seminar is scheduled for August 22 in Decatur, Ill.
EurObserv'ER has released its annual Biofuels Barometer report, showing that growth in biofuel consumption in the 27 EU member states decreased in 2011. However, consumption of second-generation biofuels is expected to increase in the future.
In an effort to reduce overall heating costs for its larger Alaskan facilities, the U.S. Coast Guard is making efforts to convert from heating oil to wood pellets and is collaborating with the USDA's Forest Service to further progress.
Power utility Xcel Energy's Southwest Public Service Company is seeking to add more biomass power to its renewable portfolio, and has released a solicitation for 88,705 megawatt-hours, preferably located in New Mexico.
Loretta Daniel, the director for regional business and the innovation center at Murray State University in Kentucky, recently provided an update on the West Kentucky AgBioworks Initaitve to local and federal authorities.
EurObserv'ER has released its annual Biofuels Barometer report, showing that growth in biofuel consumption in the 27 EU member states decreased in 2011. However, consumption of second-generation biofuels is expected to increase in the future.
The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate recently released a letter signed by 350 veterans urging support for biofuels, while the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has debunked biofuel misconceptions via his Facebook page.
Cereplast Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary biobased, sustainable bioplastics, recently announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent protection for high heat resistant polymer compositions having polylactic acid.
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate July 25 seeks to tie the volume mandate for renewable fuel under the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to U.S. corn supplies. The bill is titled the "Renewable Fuel Standard Flexibility Act," or S. 3428.
A recent decision by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service means Roundup Ready sugar beets and energy beets can now be sold commercially. That's exciting news for potential biofuel producers hoping to use beets as feedstock.
Maryland-based Enviva LP broke ground on a new 500,000 ton-per-year pellet production facility in Southampton County, Va. The plant represents the biggest economic development opportunity in the county over the past 20 years.
The USDA announced payments to 125 advanced biofuel producers, including 10 ethanol plants. The awards were made under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, which provides payments to eligible producers using non-corn starch feedstocks.
The 6th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, taking place in Denver, Colo. September 24-27 will showcase more than 30 presentations in its Biology Track from researchers and scientists at leading companies, universities and national labs.
The USDA announced payments to 125 biofuel producers on July 27, including several biogas and pellet companies. The awards were made under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill.
Natural gas opportunities
July 30, 2012
The boom in natural gas production has some interesting ethanol industry angles, besides record low prices for the major energy source for ethanol producers.
A coalition of meat and poultry producer organizations filed a 16-page petition with the U.S. EPA for a waiver or partial waiver of the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The ethanol industry is confident the waiver will be denied.
With ethanol prices rising to follow the drought-driven rise in corn prices, there is still room for ethanol producers to bid those prices higher, according to a recent analysis by ag economists at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Metabolix Inc. has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Antibioticos S.A. for production of Mirel biopolymer resin in Leon, Spain. Under the terms of the LOI, the companies will conduct a series of validation production runs.
Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. posted a $7.6 million loss during the second quarter of 2012. Information presented during a call to discuss the quarterly financial results reveals that GPRE expects to be profitable by the end of the year.
PHG Energy, a Tennessee-based alternative energy company, announced today an agreement with the city of Covington, Tenn., to convert waste to energy using PHG's downdraft biomass gasification equipment and technology.
Growth Energy, pump equipment manufactures to increase E15 access
By Growth Energy
July 26, 2012
following the U.S. EPA approval of E15 for commercial sale, several fuel dispensing equipment manufacturers have introduced new products for retailers to modify existing fuel dispensers to accommodate higher ethanol blends.
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