On March 6, USDA Rural Development announced nearly $60 million in payments to 195 biofuel producers under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established by the 2008 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the recently signed 2014 Farm Bill.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 10 a fire broke out in a dryer system at Green Plain Renewable Energy Inc.'s Otter Tail ethanol plant near Fergus Falls, Minn. The fire is currently contained and no injuries have been reported.
For European ethanol producers, E15 is still a distant dream. In the EU, the struggle is to get from E5 to E10. The legislation to offer E10 has been in place since 2009 but its use, even five years after the legislation came into force, is minimal.
The ability for independent fuel marketers to sell renewable fuels at lower prices while improving profit margins by selling RINs, has given independent fuel marketers something they have never had before: an advantage over Big Oil.
First-generation ethanol reduces our dependence on foreign oil, revitalizes our rural communities, improves our environment and employs nearly 400,000 workers while driving down fuel costs. The next generation will make an even greater impact.
Sweetwater Energy and Proterro, two companies using widely different approaches, aim for low-cost sugar that may give today's corn ethanol plants a glide path into advanced ethanol production. They're in different stages, but share similar promise.
Gevo Inc., the world's only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced March 6 that Porta Hnos S.A., an alcohol company in in Argentina, has signed a letter of intent to become the exclusive licensee of Gevo's isobutanol technology.
The success of cellulosic ethanol is critical to the success of all renewables. We will continue fighting to keep the renewable fuel standard at the levels Congress intended to maintain market stability and increase investment in next-gen biofuels.
We've had a petroleum fuels mandate for 100 years. It's time to get past the RFS debate and accept the fact that ethanol and biodiesel are just logical steps in the energy transition from where we are today to where we need to be tomorrow
Following multiyear feedstock procurement campaigns and vast investments of capital, resources and time, America's first big cellulosic ethanol plants are nearing startup. EPM examines the progress of the Abengoa, Poet-DSM and DuPont facilities.
DONG Energy and Neste Oil have entered into a collaboration to develop a cost-effective technology for producing renewable diesel and aviation fuel from agricultural residues.
The SEC investigated and recently alleged misconduct by Clean Energy Capital LLC, a Tucson, Ariz.-based investment company with multiple investments in ethanol production companies.
Valero Energy Corp. announced March 4 that Bill Klesse, 67, has chosen to step down as CEO effective May 1. Klesse will remain a Valero director and Chairman of the Board.
Call me Pollyanna, but I'd much prefer to write a good news story than to dwell on negativity, any day.
Aventine Renewable Energy is in the midst of a two-year strategic plan to bring its two ethanol plants located in Pekin, Ill., back up to and above original production levels.
Pacific Ethanol Inc. announced that it had achieved record gross profit and operating income in the fourth quarter and twelve month period that ended Dec. 31.
It was five years ago that Growth Energy petitioned for the E15 waiver, attendees at the organization's fourth annual leadership conference were reminded in Phoenix, Feb. 27.
The Advanced Ethanol Council is pleased to welcome Novozymes as a new member. Novozymes is a world leader in bioinnovation and technology that enables everything from the removal of transfats in food to advancements in renewable energy.
U.K.-based China New Energy Ltd. has announced that after completing the due diligence process, it will not proceed with the previously announced acquisition of BAPP Ethanol Holdings Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sino Distillery Group Ltd.
Pacific Ethanol Inc., the leading marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels in the Western United States, announced plans to restart production at its 40 million gallon per year facility in Madera, Calif.
On Feb. 27, Growth Energy, a trade organization representing ethanol producers and supporters, kicked off its fifth annual Executive Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Ariz.
Tests of the Arisdyne Systems Inc. controlled flow cavitation process verified that the proprietary process has increased ethanol yield by over 3 percent. The comprehensive testing was completed by Arisdyne and Illinois Corn Processing LLC.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp, R-Mich., has released draft legislation to reform federal tax code. The draft, titled the "Tax Reform Act of 2014," would alter, and in some cases repeal, tax incentives for biofuels and bioenergy.
The loan of two tractors by New Holland Agriculture to Iowa State University's BioCentury Research Farm has provided new options for its biomass research projects. A model T8.330 and a T5.115 tractor with a loader were loaned to the facility.
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute has announced an expansion of its Look Before You Pump campaign that warns against small engine misfueling. The ethanol industry, however, has criticized the campaign for singling out E15.
The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and Finep, Innovation and Research, recently launched a public call-to-submission for business plans aimed at agricultural-technological innovation in the sugar-based ethanol sector.
On Feb. 20, the USDA released the 2012 Census Preliminary Report. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the preliminary data provides "a snapshot of a strong rural America that has remained stable during difficult economic times."
Findings at the USDA are providing information about the soil carbon dynamics that play a crucial role in lifecycle assessments of bioenergy production. These studies at support the USDA priority of developing new new sources of bioenergy.
American Ethanol is enhancing its partnership with Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon for the 2014 NASCAR season. Dillon will race the No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet SS in select races during the 2014 season.
The U.S. Grains Council recently published its 2013 annual report, highlighting achievements made over the past year. The report notes that U.S. corn production set a new record last year, as did the export of distillers dried grains with solubles.
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