Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has opened a public comment period on proposed changes to its ethanol policy that would allow for the import of U.S. corn ethanol for use in the production of bio-ETBE.
Syngenta has announced an agreement with CHS Inc. to use Enogen corn enzyme technology at its 130-million-gallon ethanol plant in Rochelle, Illinois. Enogen corn enzyme technology is an in-seed innovation that enhances ethanol production.
The USDA has released the January edition of its Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report, announcing approximately 476 million bushels of corn was consumed for fuel alcohol production in November, up 1 percent from October.
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded a grant to improve biorefinery technologies through the Integrated Biorefinery Optimization program. The award was made to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Gevo Inc. recently issued a corporate update, reaffirming the company's focus on the commercial development of renewable jet fuel, isooctane, isobutanol and related products. The company also announced plans to reduce staff at its Colorado offices.
On Jan. 2, Noble Group Ltd. announced it completed the sale of its interest in Noble Americas South Bend Ethanol LLC to Mercuria Investments US Inc. on Dec. 12 for a final consideration of $18.1 million.
N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative announces grant recipients
By North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
January 04, 2018
The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative recently awarded $1 million in grants for 11 research projects to boost bioenergy opportunities and production in the state. The projects address a wide range of feedstocks and technologies.
The American Coalition for Ethanol has released the third video in a series of fuel marketer-focused videos on flexfuelforward.com, part of a campaign featuring retailers sharing their experiences with adding and marketing E15 and flex fuels.
The U.S. EPA approved an efficient producer petition by Advanced BioEnergy LLC for a fuel pathway at its facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The pathway allows facility to generate RINs under the RFS for non-grandfathered volumes of ethanol.
BBI International recently announced the agenda for the technical sessions of the 11th annual International Biomass Conference & Expo, North America's largest and fastest growing biomass conference, taking place April 16-18 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Agriculture industry advocate Jessica Bennett has joined the Renewable Fuels Association as vice president of external affairs. Bennett, who joined RFA Jan. 2, will primarily focus on building stakeholder support through policy and messaging.
Indonesia instituted a national ethanol policy in 2006, but has been having trouble meeting its goals. The country's plans to develop bioethanol are facing many setbacks, including costly inputs, capacity limitations and trade restrictions.
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has released data for the first half of December, reporting mills in the south-central region continued to produce and sell large quantities of ethanol during the two-week period.
To accelerate innovation and adoption of new practices and technologies to determine the root cause of biomass handling failures and designing solutions, the Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium is overseeing a directed funding opportunity call.
Minnesota again led the region in the growth and use of cleaner alternatives to traditional petroleum fuels last year, according to the American Lung Association in Minnesota. In 2017, 40 new E85 stations opened throughout the state.
Brazilian President Michel Temer has approved legislation creating RenovaBio, a new national biofuels policy. The law was published in the official federal gazette of Brazil on Dec. 26. The Brazilian Senate approved the bill on Dec. 12.
The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center has been awarded $345,000 of North Dakota Renewable Energy Program funding to continue work with Red trail Energy LLC to investigate the use of CCUS technology at ethanol plants.
Bolivia announced a plan this week to implement an ethanol blend mandate for gasoline in 2018. The mandate would begin at a 10 percent blend and increase as the industry increases production capacity in Bolivia.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for November, reporting that nearly 1.64 billion RIN were generated during the month, including more than 21.9 million cellulosic RINs.
The European renewable ethanol association, ePURE, issued a statement decrying the recent agreement by EU energy ministers to roll back plans to use renewable energy in transportation, calling it a step in the wrong direction.
The U.S. Grain Council released its latest corn quality report Dec. 21. The seventh annual survey showed a record corn yield and overall great crop quality due to an outstanding growing season.
On Dec. 28, USDA Commodity Credit Corp. announced it does not expect to purchase sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The CCC is expected to release its next quarterly estimate for the FPP by April 1.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association recently launched the Monarch Fueling Station Project to help ethanol and biodiesel producers across the state establish monarch butterfly habitats on green spaces surrounding biofuels plants.
Representatives from the U.S. Grains Council recently traveled to Indonesia and Thailand to visit with ministry and industry officials and gain a better understanding of the opportunities for and challenges to expanded ethanol use in both markets.
The U.S. EPA has released a notice of proposed rulemaking related to fuel pathways using distiller sorghum oil as feedstock for biofuel production. A 30-day comment period on the proposal is set to close Jan. 26.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced its intent to modernize the agency's organizational structure to advance its policy goals consistent with its statutory requirements.
Hy-Vee Inc., a chain of supermarkets throughout the Midwest, now offers E15 at five locations across its eight-state region. The Hy-Vee store located at 3120 Agency Street in Burlington, Iowa, is the latest to offer the fuel option.
The Ontario Centres of Excellence have announced 20 semi-finalists for Ontario's Solutions 2030 Challenge, which calls on innovators to propose solutions to help the province's industry reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution.
A University of Washington team is trying to make poplar a viable biofuel feedstock by testing the production of younger poplar trees that could be harvested more frequently—after only two or three years—instead of the usual 10- to 20-year cycle.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is encouraging Iowa fuel retailers and gas stations to submit nominations for the Secretary's Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards. The winners will be announced in January.
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