by Evan Halper (Los Angeles Times) ... Now that fuel, corn-based ethanol, finds itself threatened with a defection that was once unthinkable: Iowa voters. The electorate here in the early voting state often defined by its vast expanses of corn has
by John McCormick (Bloomberg Politics) The poll also shows the parochial nature—and potential for hypocrisy—surrounding federal assistance programs -- Ted Cruz's position on a requirement that's key to corn-based ethanol runs counter to the views of a solid majority of
(National Renewable Energy Laboratory) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Senior Scientist Min Zhang has a special relationship with Zymomonas mobilis, a rod-shaped bacterium that has bioethanol-producing capabilities. Of her 80 peer-reviewed papers and 21 U.S. patents in the field of biochemistry
(Chemcicals-Technology.com) India-based TSS Group's subsidiary New Heaven Chemicals is set to start production at its chemical plant at the Manly Terminal in Manly, Iowa, US, in January next year. The construction of the plant started 17 months ago and around 40
by James Q. Lynch (The Gazette/AgriView) Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is defending his energy plan that would terminate federal support for ethanol production, claiming that ending subsidies for all forms of energy would expand the market — and demand —
by Jeannine Otto (AgriNews) “What is it that can do better than corn? We only know one plant right now, and that’s manioc — you know it as tapioca,” said Elwynn Taylor, ag meteorologist and professor of ag meteorology at Iowa
by Loni Kemp (NRDC/Governors' Biofuels Coalition) The next ethanol boom is most likely to come from cellulose feedstocks, yet US policy is unprepared to ensure that harvest of annual crop residues is sustainable. That’s the conclusion of a new report recently published by
by Mike Peterson (KMALand) The Environmental Protection Agency faces congressional and legal action following its recent decision on the Renewable Fuel Standard for 2016. That's according to Iowa Senator Charles Grassley, who is among those not happy with the EPA's
by Douglas Burns (Des Moines CityView) Governor’s son rips leading GOP presidential candidate over renewable energy -- Eric Branstad, leader of a fierce grassroots organization backing renewable-energy sources like ethanol, said last Thursday that Ted Cruz is far and away
by Douglas Burns (Daily Times Herald) Republican presidential candidate tours Coon Rapids POET plant --- ... America’s Renewable Future, a highly visible advocate at presidential campaign events in Iowa, scored Fiorina, a Republican, as “needs work” on the Renewable Fuel Standard,
by Scott Canon (Kansas City Star) ... The discussion of ethanol policy puts conservatives in an awkward spot --- ...Yet even in Iowa this year, Grain Belt concerns now draw less attention than in the past. That could mean that expansion
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has been awarded $5 million to install an estimated 187 blender pumps, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership, Iowa fuel retailers
by Peter Zampa (KFYR TV) ... The RFS program comes up billions of gallons short of the ethanol consumption requirements laid out under the original RFS plan. "With corn prices being down as they are, with the ag economy in Iowa being in
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) An Iowa-based ethanol group is running advertisements against Sen. Ted Cruz, just as the GOP presidential hopeful's campaign is gaining steam in the Hawkeye State. The ads from America’s Renewable Future criticize Cruz’s position against the
by Amanda Bilek (Biomass Magazine) As cellulosic ethanol production facilities have come online, anaerobic digesters have been colocated at the plants to recover biogas from soluble residues inherent in the ethanol production process. These soluble residues contain a source of energy
by Todd Neeley (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) Five years ago when Nevada, Iowa, farmer Brian Sampson first heard about harvesting corn stover for ethanol, he thought it sounded akin to putting a man on Mars. As production of ethanol from corn residue increases,
by Joe Hrdlicka (Biofuels Digest/Iowa Biotechnology Association) Iowa’s investment in biofuels, driven by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), has brought the state new business and job opportunities. Iowa is home to three of the first-in-the-nation cellulosic biofuel refineries that
by Mackenzie Ryan (Des Moines Register) ... After Republican rival Ted Cruz took aim at sugar subsidies during last week's GOP debate, Iowa agriculture and biofuel leaders began questioning how Rubio’s support for that industry compares with his stance on renewable fuels made from corn
by WIlliam Tucker (Fuel Freedom Foundation) ... Cellulosic ethanol, capable of recycling crop wastes into fuel, may be here. On the day before Halloween, the DuPont Chemical Company opened what it claimed to be the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s building what, where, now. 29 projects in construction or in commissioning in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and the Americas Despite low oil prices, first-gen biofuels and advanced biofuels continue to develop, and
(Breitbart) Billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump met with leaders of POET, an ethanol company here in Iowa, and some of the co-chairs of the American Renewable Fuels group to talk about the importance of ethanol. The event was closed to the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Florida, the Dupont Cellulosic Ethanol project in Nevada, Iowa is the debut subject of The Digest’s online short-subject documentary series, The New Places, which is available for streaming as of today, here. ... DuPont executives William Feehery
(America's Renewable Future) Today, America’s Renewable Future (ARF) released a midterm report card placing 2016 presidential candidates into three categories—good, needs work, and bad—based on their support of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The midterm report card will serve
by Ryan Fitzpatrick (Third Way) Although relatively obscure by Washington standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) carries a unique level of importance and visibility in many rural states. The fact that the RFS invariably becomes a priority campaign issue for
(The Storm Lake Times) ... Presidential candidate Rick Santorum, R-Pa., endorsed stronger ethanol investment during visit Friday to the Quad County Corn Processors in Galva. ... “One of the things that’s helped rural small towns and farmers, particularly in
(DEINOVE/BusinessWire) DEINOVE (Paris:ALDEI), a biotech company developing innovative processes for producing biofuels and bio-based chemicals by using Deinococcus bacteria as host strains, today announces an agreement with Flint Hills Resources to develop a process for producing ingredients for animal nutrition. Flint
by Shannon Yokley (Brownfield Ag News) The Biofuels Mobile Education Center (BMEC) is traveling from coast to coast to spread awareness about the benefits of ethanol. One of their recent stops was at the Kansas City Speedway to grab the
by Monte Shaw (Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Des Moines Register) Letter to Editor: I was embarrassed for the University of Northern Iowa to read the recent letter to the editor by professor Kamyar Enshayan regarding ethanol ['Renewable fuel' a term thrown around loosely, Oct.
(DuPont/PR Web) DuPont celebrated the opening of its cellulosic biofuel facility in Nevada, Iowa, with a ceremony including Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad and many other dignitaries. This biorefinery is the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, with the capacity to produce
by Donnelle Eller (Des Moines Register) ... "This is one of the core technologies that we need to cut oil use and reduce emissions from transportation," said Jeremy Martin, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "It would be great if we
by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) (Ames Tribune) ... Iowa’s new cellulosic facility also will help dry up the crocodile tears spilled by Big Food that tries to assign blame to corn-based ethanol for rising food prices. Don’t forget, the facility in
by Grayson Schmidt (Ames Tribune) ... According to Plant Operations Manager Terraun Jones, the new facility will not only impact the biofuel industry, but will also boost the local economy by bringing in 90 permanent jobs at the site, and 150
by Jon Scharingson (Renewable Energy Group, Inc./Convenience Store Decisions) Whether or not to sell biodiesel can be a significant decision for a convenience store owner. Convenience store owners need to determine what will work best for their operation and how they
by Alison Goss Eng and Daniel Adams (U.S. Department of Energy) ... Earlier this year, we highlighted five cost-saving harvesting technologies that private companies and universities developed through $21 million in 2009 funding from the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). At the
(U.S. Department of Energy) How is funding from BETO a part of the emerging bioeconomy in some states? Find out with our new state fact sheets. For select states, these fact sheets give information about efforts to develop the advanced
by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today) Mahdi Al-Kaisi is not against using corn stover to make cellulosic ethanol products, and he isn’t against baling stubble for use in a livestock operation. But he wants to make it clear that the single
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Plains is a vertically-integrated ethanol producer based in Omaha, Nebraska. They currently have an ethanol production capacity of approximately 1.0 billion gallons per year with 12 plants located in Atkinson, Nebraska; Bluffton, Indiana; Central
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Virginia, Green Plains Inc. announced this week that it had acquired an ethanol production facility in Hopewell, Virginia, located approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, from Future Fuels LLP. It’s a sign of continuing
by Clay Masters (National Public Radio) ... But this election cycle, ethanol is not the campaign force it once was. ... "I think, ultimately, we need to get to a point where there aren't winners or losers based on subsidies or mandates
(U.S. Department of Energy) The DuPont cellulosic ethanol facility, opening in Nevada, Iowa, on October 30, will be the largest cellulosic ethanol plant in the world. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Director, Jonathan Male, alongside
by Ray Defenbaugh (Ethanol Producer Magazine/Prime the Pump/Growth Energy) Prime the pump, an effort to grow the ethanol market to accelerate the build-out of higher blend retail infrastructure, has had tremendous success, writes Ray Defenbaugh. -- The ethanol industry is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Virginia, Green Plains Inc. announced that it has acquired an ethanol production facility in Hopewell, Virginia, located approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, from Future Fuels LLP. Operating at full capacity, the facility’s dry
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) DuPont has developed a three-part strategy to deliver these new technologies to the growing biofuels market to help biofuels become more competitive with petroleum. The strategy includes: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agriculture seed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Who’s for it? Who wants to phase it out? Who wants to end it, not mend it? When it comes to the 18 US presidential candidates in this cycle, the Iowa Caucuses are coming up
by David Hest (Corn+Soybean Digest) Farmers find stover removal for cellulosic ethanol boosts yields, reduces costs and saves soil. Like a lot of farmers, Curt Ferris has wrestled with large amounts of crop residue in corn-on-corn fields. He invested in a
by Monica Trauzzi (E&E TV) As the renewable fuel standard faces continued regulatory and legislative uncertainty, DuPont Biofuels is set to open the world's largest cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Iowa at the end of the month. How will the uncertainty impact
(PR Web/America's Renewable Future/DuPont) Today America’s Renewable Future (ARF) and DuPont (NYSE: DD) jointly released new poll findings showing that, once informed about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and biofuels, a solid majority of caucus-goers from both political parties would
by Tom Harkin (Des Moines Register) ... The evidence is clear and the scientific community is near unanimous in understanding our dependence on fossil fuels has damaged man’s only home — planet Earth — and we must take urgent action to fix it. ... Transitioning
(DuPont) Deal Enables Unique Corn Fiber Process to Maximize Profitability and Sustainability -- DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and Quad County Corn Processors (QCCP) announced a new multi-year contract to supply the enzymes that enable QCCP’s Cellerate™ process in the production of
by William Garbe (TH Online) GOP presidential hopeful listens to Western Dubuque Biodiesel general manager explain regulatory issues facing his business. Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum received an informal primer in renewable fuels Monday in Farley. Santorum, a former U.S. senator
by T.J. Page (Des Moines Register/Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) Letter to the Editor-- It’s disappointing, but not surprising to read a recent letter from a non-Iowan repeating discredited Environmental Working Group statistics to bash corn farmers and ethanol production [“Ethanol plays role
by Devin Henry (The Hill) A group of senators is pushing the White House to issue a strong mandate for ethanol fuel. Fourteen senators — a mix of Republicans and Democrats, many from ethanol-producing Midwestern states — met with White House
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley) Note: This week, the Senate Banking Committee voted to lift the ban on U.S. oil exports. The committee defeated an amendment that would have eliminated the corn ethanol blending requirements under the federal Renewable Fuel
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ... Sen. Santorum reaffirmed his support at a forum hosted by Heritage Action in South Carolina on Friday, at Iowa’s Faith and Freedom Presidential Forum on Saturday, and at the taping of Rural Town Hall on RFD-TV
by Gillian Klucas (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) ... The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will lead a $13.5 million, multi-institutional research effort to improve sorghum as a sustainable source for biofuel production. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this five-year grant takes a comprehensive
by Sebastien Pouliot and Bruce A. Babcock (Iowa Farmer Today) ... Estimation of the demand for E85 requires data matching various E85 price levels with the corresponding amount of E85 sales. A rich source of data was provided to us that we
by Keith Loria (Biomass Magazine) California’s Calgren Renewable Fuels uses renewable energy generated onsite to power its renewable fuel production process. When the Calgren Ethanol Biodigester officially opened in Tulare County, California, early this year, it represented a major commitment by the
by Dar Danielson (RadioIowa) Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is in Seattle today (September 22, 2015) attending the U.S. China Governors Forum. “We will be attending a conference with five either governors or party leaders from provinces in China and five
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Commercial-scale production and harvest of several annual and perennial biomass feedstocks is under way, paving the way for biofuels, biopower and biobased products. -- ... There are, however, a handful of other feedstocks that are
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Farmers Cooperative Co., in conjunction with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, announced a grand opening event will be held for a newly operational fueling station, located at 403
by Linh Ta (Des Moines Register) Former New York Gov. George Pataki said Saturday that he would keep the government's promise of the Renewable Fuel Standard, changing his stance on the issue since discussing it in Iowa in March. "It's quite
by Kim Norvell (Des Moines Register) ... U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former senators Jim Webb and Rick Santorum were invited by the agricultural network to a taping of its Rural Town Hall, a one-hour TV show where presidential candidates discuss their
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, consumers showed their enthusiasm toward E15 in a recent poll conducted by the Tarrance Group, where respondents overwhelmingly supported the use of E15. When participants were asked if they would consider using E15
by Alan Bjerja (Bloomberg) Will the Vermont senator's thumbs-up for ethanol spell problems for Hillary Clinton in the heartland? ... The statement praising Sanders came after a Sunday interview on Iowa TV in which the Vermont senator embraced corn-based ethanol and the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) USDA announces state finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership. Will it move the needle? The Digest investigates. In Washington, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 21 states will receive grants through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) to add infrastructure needed to supply more renewable fuel to America's drivers. Since announcing the program in May
by Will Buss (Belleville News-Democrat) Ethanol producers’ profit margins have been squeezed while gasoline prices have fluctuated and oil prices have dropped. However, the biofuels industry is holding to its firm belief in the clean and renewable resource. Crude oil prices
(Iowa State University) The National Science Foundation (NSF) has added three years and $8.48 million to the grant supporting the NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals based at Iowa State University. That brings NSF’s total funding of the center (known
by Governor Terry Branstad (The Gazette) ... The good news is that America has a blueprint for becoming energy independent through renewable energy sources, and that blueprint is right here in Iowa. I support an all-of-the-above energy approach, including traditional resources, but
by Maya Kliger (Des Moines Register) ... When asked about supporting the Renewable Fuel Standard, Huckabee said he stands by it because the government has an obligation to fulfill its promise. "It was the government who encouraged people to get into renewable fuels
by Robert Mills (Iowa State University) Researchers from Iowa State University and the Bioeconomy Institute have been awarded nearly $2 million to study production of biochar for use as a soil amendment that stores carbon underground instead of allowing carbon
By Anne Gearan (The Washington Post) ... The Democratic front-runner’s rural aid package contains an endorsement for ethanol, the corn-based fuel additive. Iowa is the world’s largest producer of ethanol, which is at the center of an environmental and resources debate
by Tiffany Lane (KTIV) Governor Branstad stopped by one of Iowa's 43 ethanol plants Tuesday morning. ... Branstad commended Andersons' focus on E85 which is used for state vehicles. "It's renewable," said Branstad. "It's produced from corn that we graze in Iowa.
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) The last batch of Republican presidential candidates took the Soapbox stage during the last weekend of the Iowa State Fair. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) took a different approach and only answered questions. ... When asked
by Jason W. Brooks (Newton Daily News) ... U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley spoke with the Newton Daily News about RFS issues in a recent conference call. Grassley said there are number of ways Congress can attempt to persuade the EPA to
by James L. Stewart (MSW Management/Biofuels Digest) When it comes to its progress in achieving zero waste to landfills, the United States is on a par with Slovenia and the Czech Republic. -- On average, the top eight countries in Europe
by Rob Nikolewski (Watchdog.org) ... Brooke Coleman, executive director at the Advanced Ethanol Council, counters by saying the industry is at an inherent disadvantage compared to oil companies and is ready for prime time. “Once cellulosic biofuel breaks through on a commercial
by Brian Jennings (Ethanol Producer Magazine/American Coalition for Ethanol) I’d like to introduce you to some of the people who are proof that good things come when the U.S. EPA and other policymakers in Washington have the courage to
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The argument that consumers don’t want E15 because they aren’t asking for it doesn’t ring true with Ron Lamberty, senior vice president for the American Coalition for Ethanol. At the ACE conference, held Aug.
by Erin Murphy (WCF Courier) Multiple protests made for an eventful 20 minutes during Chris Christie’s turn on The Des Moines Register Political Soapbox stage on Saturday at the Iowa State Fair. Christie, a Republican candidate for president and New
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced up to $9 million for the design of sustainable bioenergy systems that maintain or enhance the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of cellulosic bioenergy through the improvement of feedstock production, logistics systems,
by PJ Griekspoor (Agri-View) St. Joseph, Mo., pilot plant completes tests of making cellulosic ethanol that also yields value-added co-products -- The prospects for profitable cellulosic ethanol just got a little brighter with the completion of two successful 1,000-hour performance runs for
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) AGCO is well-equipped to aid the first U.S. cellulosic ethanol plants in devising efficient and effective feedstock supply chain models. Name the crop, and AGCO has baled it. Extensive work with kenaf, hemp, miscanthus, energy
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) What are the infrastructure hold-ups with renewable fuels? What are 7 Blend Wall Busters that can get renewable fuels back into high gear? ... Between 13.5 billion gallons and the 36 billion gallon target envisioned by
by Dar Danielson (RadioIowa) Iowa fuel retailers who want to offer the E-15 blend of ethanol can now get help through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s infrastructure program. Association executive director Monte Shaw says it’s a cost-share program where retailers put
(Iowa Biodiesel Board) Iowa Biodiesel Board releases data showing 76 percent of voters support expanding biodiesel under Renewable Fuel Standard As the parade of presidential hopefuls continues at the Iowa State Fair this week, the Iowa Biodiesel Board reminds them just
(US Department of Energy) “Sustainability in Bioenergy: A Nation Connected” is a short documentary highlighting personal stories and the efforts being made by communities across the United States to develop, produce, and provide bioenergy, while ensuring it is environmentally, economically,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In South Dakota, POET released its first-ever economic impact study, and reported that in 2014 the company generated a total of $13.5 billion in sales for U.S. businesses; added $5.4 billion in national gross domestic
by Philip Basher (AgriPulse) ... Huckabee also defended the Renewable Fuel Standard, arguing that it wasn't hypocritical to be conservative and also support the biofuel usage mandates on refiners. He suggested the government was morally obligated to keep the mandates in
by Philip Brasher (AgriPulse) ... Some of the issues, most notably the Renewable Fuel Standard, also can put candidates on the spot between powerful GOP interests. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad brought up the RFS as he accompanied Bush to the Iowa Pork
(Nebraska Corn Board) Governors of the nation’s top two ethanol-producing states jointly announced the launch of a statewide pump labeling initiative to promote the American Ethanol brand. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad have announced the implementation of new
By Nathanael Johnson (Grist) In an interview conducted in an Iowa Dairy Queen Sunday, Jeb Bush talked about the paleo diet (he’s lost 40 pounds, but was also drinking an Orange Julius), his father (“the greatest man alive”), and, most
by Jacquelyn Prestegaard (Algae Industry Magazine) Livestock scientists see microalgae’s potential as a sustainable, high-energy feedstuff as well as a protein supplement. Among those scientists are Dr. Megan Van Emon, Assistant Professor at Montana State University, Dr. Daniel Loy, Professor of
To make it easier to find opinions about the Renewable Fuel Standard articulated by candidates for the US House of Represenatives and Senate, Advanced Biofuels USA will be listing articles and links on this page, by state, as they come
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) NextGen Climate has released the results of a survey that finds voters in key presidential swing states support transitioning to at least 50 percent clean energy by 2030. Hart Research conducted the poll in eight battleground
by James Q. Lynch (Iowa Farmer Today) It’s been a big week for renewable fuels, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley after the Senate Finance Committee voted 23-3 to approve extending tax credits for wind energy, biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol. He called
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association highlighted, via its E85 Wholesale Price Listing Program, that wholesale E85 ethanol is available for up to a $1.18 per gallon, or up to 54% discount per gallon
(UPS/Globe Newswire) UPS® (NYSE:UPS) today announced agreements for up to 46 million gallons of renewable fuels over the next three years, constituting a 15-fold increase over prior contracts and making UPS one of the largest users of renewable diesel in
by John Fritze (Baltimore Sun) ... Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, is winning praise from corn farmers in Iowa for his support of a federal mandate to blend biofuels into gasoline. But the
by O. Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa) Governor Terry Branstad wants Iowa to become the first state to offer a tax credit for transforming the “biochemicals” that are a byproduct of ethanol production. Branstad discussed the issue with former Iowa Governor and
by Russell Hubbard (Omaha World-Herald) In a seldom-seen cross-border stand in support of ethanol, the governors of Nebraska and Iowa on Friday urged an embrace of the corn-derived motor fuel as a crucial local industry with vast economic development prospects
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Already, biogas as a renewable fuel is accounting for 90% of all cellulosic RIN production under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Food and paper manufacturers, ethanol & biodiesel plants, cities, landfill operators, and animal feeding operations
by Tim Tierneyn (Syngenta) Plymouth Energy collaborates with corn growers to increase plant efficiency and make ethanol more sustainable. ... Sourcing alpha amylase enzyme directly from area corn growers and working with them to enhance grain quality is not only helping Plymouth
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) You may have heard the old joke, “you can make anything out of lignin, except money.” Well, I hope to still be writing about ethanol the day that's been proven wrong. ... Earlier this year, I
by Bret Hayworth (The Globe Gazette) Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Monday again asserted a position that could give him trouble with some Iowa voters, as he supports an end to a federal rule that helps the ethanol industry. Asked
by Pat Curtis (Radio Iowa) ... Bluegrass act Hot Buttered Rum typically tours the country in a van and band member Nat Keefe says they’ve always tried to do so in an environmentally friendly manner. Their previous tour vehicle, an old school
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s E85 Wholesale Price Listing Program detailed that E85 is priced at up to a $1.14 discount to petroleum-based gasoline, a 50% overall discount per gallon and representing a savings,
by William Petroski (Des Moines Register) ... (Rand) Paul said the federal government is needed to provide national defense, build some roads, and do some other things. But many other matters can be handled at the state and local government level, the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Oil price predictions are all over the map. So, how are biobased businesses coping when no one quite knows what’s up with the incumbent? Amyris, Cellerate and Propel Fuels are three ventures showing the way(s) forward. If
by Grant Rodgers (Des Moines Register) Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O'Malley strongly backed renewable fuel producers on Thursday, calling on the Obama administration to rethink its controversial proposal to lower standards for the amount of ethanol that will be mixed
by Julie Harker (Brownfield Ag News) Missouri Governor Jay Nixon tells Brownfield everyone needs to step back and look at 2003 when gas prices were going up and foreign countries were dictating to the U.S. how much people were paying
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Seen a number of high-profile cellulosic projects open in recent years, and not much ethanol being produced? Wondered why? Here are answers to your questions. As Jack Webb used to say on Dragnet, just the facts,
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The chairman of the Prime the Pump fund says getting more fuel infrastructure in the marketplace is vital to getting higher level ethanol blends to consumers. “It’s kind of like the chicken and the egg,” says Ray
(Vinton Newspapers) Truckers, motorists and biodiesel producers alike will soon benefit from a tax savings in Iowa on one of the state’s most beneficial products. As of July 1, diesel blended with at least 11 percent biodiesel (B11) will enjoy
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Distillation Technologies Inc. and Easy Energy Systems Inc. announced an agreement to build and test DTI’s technology at pilot scale. DTI’s patented and trademarked Bubble Spray Distillation system reduces the energy needed for
by Dr. Valerie Sarisky-Reed (US Department of Energy) For the past seven years, All-American football player and Iowa farmer Bruce Nelson has been using corn stover—the non-edible corn stalks, husks, and leaves of a corn plant—to generate extra income at his
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Renewable fuels could be an issue in the race for the White House as indecisive voters in Iowa look for a way to whittle down a crowded field of Republican candidates, trade groups and polling
(Syngenta) -FFA members to engage race-goers at the American Ethanol 200 presented by Enogen - Fundraising initiative will benefit flex fuel infrastructure and local FFA chapters -Funds to be matched by Syngenta Syngenta and lowa FFA members will team up again this
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) Iowa's congressional delegation asked the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday to hold a hearing in the state about the agency's recent proposal lowering how much ethanol must be blended into the gasoline supply through
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... The end goal is to double the amount of fuel pumps offering blends like E15 and E85. At the end of last week, June 12, the USDA announced that the grant period will soon
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has publicly released a diverse coalition of partners that includes Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Iowa Corn Growers, Growth Energy, and POET among many others. ARF released the following statement: “We
(Iowa Biodiesel Board/Biodiesel Magazine) A federal grant has helped expand a program to educate diesel technicians about biodiesel throughout the Midwest. Working in conjunction with the Iowa Biodiesel Board, the regional Clean Cities initiative makes the “Biodiesel for Diesel Technicians” program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Iowa, the state legislature passed legislation that allows E15 infrastructure investments to become eligible for Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure grants. Previously, the infrastructure program funds were only available for blender pumps and dispensers offering E85.
by Chuck Grassley (The Iowa Republican) ... Consumers like biofuels. The idea of a homegrown product that reduces emissions harmful to the environment and brings the United States freedom from volatile oil-producing countries is appealing. The EPA should know this. Instead, the
by Michael Hirtzer (Reuters) Expansion in the U.S. ethanol industry, stuck in neutral for more than a year as the government debated biofuel blending requirements, is now likely to come to a screeching halt. With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest up to $100 million in a Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership to support the infrastructure needed to make more renewable fuel options available
by Mark Drajem (Bloomberg Business) Companies that make fuel from corn stalks or landfill gas say a federal program designed to help them has a loophole that is discouraging buyers. ... In addition, producers have been pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to close
(Office of Congressman Collin Peterson) House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson today said the Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS) released today by the EPA will set back production of domestic renewable fuels and hurts the rural economy. Peterson’s statement is
by Hilary Clinton (The Gazette) ... Domestic renewable fuel production has expanded by more than 350 percent over the past decade with enough supply in the market today to fuel more than 30 million cars. And today U.S. biofuels companies not
by Linh Ta (Des Moines Register) ... One of the things that's helped rural small towns and farmers, particularly in Iowa, is the Renewable Fuel Standard, (former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick) Santorum said. By using ethanol to create independent energy and stable prices,
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) ... Over the past few months, privately held retailers Kum & Go and Sheetz have become the first significant chains to announce plans to start selling E15, a gasoline with 15 percent of ethanol, 50 percent more
by Dave Dreeszen (Sioux City Journal) Durham (Debi Durham, the state's economic development director), a former Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president, is championing legislation that would set aside up to $15 million in tax credits per year to encourage ethanol and biodiesel
by Kathie Obradovich (Des Moines Register) In his first trip to Iowa as an official presidential candidate, Republican Ben Carson waded into the shark-infested ethanol issue up to his neck and then did a leisurely lap around the climate change
by Dawn Neuses (QCOnline.com) ... Moline has 180 vehicles, or units of motorized equipment, that run on alternative fuels — E85, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, biodiesel or all-electric. There are only 30 vehicles that run on unleaded gasoline, and 12 hybrids
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... If they handed out Platinum and Gold certification to scientific papers as we do with recorded music, “Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass” would be a multi-platinum chart-busting monster. This 2004 survey, completed by staff
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Kum & Go has announced it will begin offering E15 as a fuel option. Over the next two years, the company plans to make E15 available at more than 65 stores across Iowa, Nebraska,
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)) The Environmental Protection Agency is working to finalize the proposed rule on biofuels volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard; the latest proposal would create uncertainty for biodiesel producers and undermine job creation. In a
by Rick Smith (The Gazette) No one has claimed that making biofuel out of garbage is as simple as tossing leftovers into the trash. So it is that Craig Stuart-Paul, president and chief executive officer of the Maryland-based Fiberight LLC,
by Todd Neeley (DTN The Progressive Farmer) ... Industry growth is likely to come as higher blends such as E15 and E85 become more widely available and more widely used. A recent analysis by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association this week makes
(Iowa Renewable Fuels Association) If Homegrown E15 Were More Widely Available, Iowa Consumers Could’ve Pocketed Millions In an analysis of a recent Iowa Department of Revenue motor fuel report, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today revealed that if E15 was
by Scott Chabina (Fierce Energy) The transformation of Gen 1.0 to 1.5 and the reality of Gen 2.0. Advanced, commercially viable biofuel facilities no longer "unicorns on the horizon" ... Conventional, or "Gen 1.0", corn ethanol producers have continued to diversify
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) Lawmakers in Iowa got the chance to experience the power of biodiesel for themselves. The Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB)held its its first ever Ride-and-Drive event at the capitol in Des Moines as part of the group’s
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The America’s Renewable Future campaign is challenging the two confirmed Republican presidential candidates to take a stand for renewable fuels. In a letter to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who has been forthcoming about his opposition to the
by Jennifer Jacobs (Des Moines Register) For Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul to make inroads in Iowa, here are the factions he'll need to tend closely, according to Iowa political strategists and activists. 1. LIBERTY MOVEMENT: ... 2. CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES: ... 3. LIBERTARIANS:
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Market conditions in mid-March indicated ethanol producers could pay about 10 percent more than the current cash corn price before reaching the plant “shut-down level,” according to an analysis by retired Iowa State
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though representing just 1.3% of the US GDP, if the farm sector has a major impact on US economic health, it may tie back to what economists call “the wealth effect”. In today’s Digest, we
(Iowa State University/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Farmers who are considering selling corn residue from their fields to produce cellulosic ethanol first should weigh a range of site-specific factors to their operations, according to new research from an Iowa State University agronomist. Mahdi
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) In late March, the U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board Biogenic Carbon Emissions Panel held a public face-to-face meeting to review the agency’s Framework for Assessing Biogenic CO2 Emissions from Stationary Sources. A public teleconference
by Ryan Koopmans (Des Moines Register) ... For the last decade, Big Oil has been running nervously through the halls of the U.S. Capitol and the EPA, screaming — to anyone who will listen — that the Renewable Fuel Standard is
(Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative and Cellulose Sciences International/AgriMarketing.com) Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative (AgVA) of Mason City, Iowa, and Cellulose Sciences International (CSI) of Madison, Wis., completed a financing agreement resulting in the formation of a new joint venture, Stover Ventures,
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