by Jerry Demmer (Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council/Filmore County Journal) ... Yes, corn is used for more than just feeding livestock. It touches our lives in many ways, whether we’re brushing our teeth (corn is an ingredient in tooth paste),
by Dave Orrick (Twin Cities Pioneer Press) Female pheasants have surprised researchers by running into corn and soybean fields — but not just for the crops. Female pheasants, Minnesota researchers have found, often abandon natural grasslands — presumably prime habitat —
by Krista Willis Willmar (Hutchinson Leader) ... And some consumer choices do significantly impact our exposure to cancer-causing toxins. Vehicle fuel is an excellent example. That’s why several major chains of gas stations across six states — including Minnoco in
by John Upton (Climate Central) It may have seemed apparent to members of Congress a decade ago that if a motorist pumped a gallon of fuel made from corn into their gas tank, a gallon of fossil fuel would be
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Thirty-five students from NRHEG (New Richland, Hartland, Ellendale, Geneva) High School visited Guardian Energy yesterday to gain a better understanding of clean Minnesota-produced renewable energy. The students, from the seventh and eight grade, toured the various processes of
(Gevo/Globe Newswire) Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ:GEVO), announced today that it has completed production of the world’s first cellulosic renewable jet fuel that is specified for commercial flights. Gevo successfully adapted its patented technologies to convert cellulosic sugars derived from wood waste
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-one high school students from Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (KMS) High School visited the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company plant today to get a better understanding of how clean homegrown renewable energy is produced. The students, which included three exchange students from an
by Matt M. Johnson (Finance & Commerce) Rosemount officials are looking with both caution and optimism at a Canadian company’s proposal to build a $200 million garbage-to-fuel refinery near the city’s northeast edge. Montreal-based Enerkem is partnering with St. Paul-based garbage
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Minnesota has been and continues to be a leader in the support of biofuels and was the first state to pass a biodiesel mandate requiring B20 (20 percent biodiesel, 80 percent diesel), to be used in
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) and KS95 FM today teamed up to reward drivers who chose E15 (Unleaded Plus) at St Paul Minnoco during an hour-long promotion. From 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, MBA and KS95 rewarded 18
(Eaton) Power management company Eaton today announced the launch of the GH100 and GH101 hoses for high-percentage biodiesel blend and high-temperature oil applications. Unlike standard fuel hoses that only last 1-2 years, Eaton’s GH100 and GH101 solutions are engineered for
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Long-time ethanol lab manager, Jennifer Roepke, wears many hats while striving for overall plant success. -- Jennifer Roepke recognizes her work is just part of the process. The lab manager at Heartland Corn Products
(Minnesota Corn Growers Association Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council and the Illinois Corn Growers Association) Early this year, the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council approved a research grant to Defour Group LLC (D4) and Air Improvement Resource INC
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Biotechnology Innovation Organization recently released a report documenting substantial, ongoing growth in the renewable chemical industry and outlining federal and state policies that support the industry. The report, titled “Advancing the Biobased Economy: Renewable
(GreenAir Online) European airlines KLM and Lufthansa have each signed agreements with US biofuel companies for supplies of locally-produced sustainable fuels. KLM has agreed to purchase through a three-year offtake agreement an undisclosed quantity of used cooking oil based fuel produced by
by Erik Posz (Redwood Falls Gazette) Thoroughly impressed. That was the feeling United States Senator Amy Klobuchar left with after a visit Friday morning to the Redwood Electric Cooperative (REC) Community Solar Array located adjacent to Highwater Ethanol near Lamberton. “It’s
by Melissae Fellet (C&EN) Aviation industry hopes to cut emissions with renewable fuels -- This year, renewable jet fuel took off, graduating from demonstration and test flights to some regular commercial use. In January, some flights left the airport in
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Consumers will have the choice to purchase E15 at the pump again tomorrow, September 15, 2016. For drivers owning a 2001 or newer vehicle, E15 sales are restricted during summer months due to an arcane U.S.
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Sept. 13, the governors of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy asking her to remove the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) limit
by Almuth Ernsting (Biofuelwatch/The Biomass Monitor) ... As far as Branson and his airline, Virgin Atlantic, were concerned, the flight was indeed no more than a stunt: The “biofuel test flight” burned 95% ordinary kerosene and just 5% biofuels, made from
by Zach Kayser (Pine and Lakes Echo Journal) A multi-million dollar conversion project in Little Falls aims to bear uncommon, environmentally sustainable fruit when it's completed later this year. Green Biologics, which is based in the city of Abingdon in Oxfordshire,
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., recently met up with the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association to learn more about Minnesota's ethanol industry and show his support for clean homegrown renewable biofuels. "Minnesota and America's heartland are prime locations for
(WNAX) A new study from the National Academy of Sciences says the expansion of corn and soybean acres to supply feed stock for biofuels is hampering habitat for bees. Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen says the study findings don’t make
(Street Insider) Gevo, Inc. (Nasdaq: GEVO) announced that it has entered into a heads of agreement with Deutsche Lufthansa AG (“Lufthansa”) to supply Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) from its first commercial hydrocarbons facility, intended to be built in Luverne, MN.
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Colorado, Gevo has entered into a heads of agreement with Lufthansa to supply Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet fuel from its first commercial hydrocarbon facility, intended to be built in Luverne, MN. The terms of the agreement
by Samantha Oller (CSP Daily News) Have I got a fuel for you! It is higher octane than E10, giving you greater bang for your buck. It features even more environmentally friendly, domestically produced ethanol. And it is actually a
by Scott Goss (The News Journal) ... Now the rather smelly, colorless liquid is poised to become the cornerstone of a Delaware startup that is seeking to revolutionize the biochemical industry and even possibly -- maybe someday -- upend the global fuel market. "That might
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) NIFA 's Bioeconomy-Bioenergy-Bioproduct portfolio facilitates the development of sustainable regional production systems for biofuels and bio-based products through research, product development and demonstration, extension, and education. By creating non-carbon based fuels, power sources, chemicals, and other products,
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) As expected E15 sales in Minnesota fell in June as a result of the EPA-imposed Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) season, which bars the sale of E15 from June 1 to Sept 15. ... ... the key highlight of the
by Timothy J. Rudnick (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Seldom do the puzzle pieces align so perfectly as they now have to give Minnesota motorists greater access to E15 and higher blends of Minnesota grown, renewable ethanol. Some of those puzzle pieces include
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) St. Paul based Diesel Dogs Fuel Service is the first distributor to offer pre-blended E15 in Minnesota. This week the company delivered its first gallons of E15 to its municipal and corporate fleet customers in the
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Rep. Tim Walz visited Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont on Aug 24 to learn more about the plant's upcoming expansion exercise and reiterate his support for clean Minnesota-produced renewable biofuels. Walz was briefed on Al-Corn's $146 million expansion exercise
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 1.5 billion gallons per year with 17 plants located in Nebraska; Indiana; Minnesota; Iowa; Tennessee;
by Rebecca Chillrud (Environmental and Energy Study Institute) ... Gas stations that offer higher blends are currently few and far between, but the ACE’s “Retailer Roadmap” aims to help change the fuels landscape. The Roadmap analyzes the potential demand for higher
by Susanna Retka-Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Sheetz, Thortons executives give careful thought to strategically offering the new fuel. -- Almost weekly, another announcement is made about a retail location offering E15. The rollouts, large and small, are indicators E15 is
by Hillary Borrud (The Oregonian) Supporters of Oregon's controversial low-carbon fuels mandate, newly approved last year, hailed it as a chance to grow a local biofuels industry and reduce drivers' reliance on imported fuel. But six months into the program, a
(Mankato Free Press) Why It Matters: Ethanol as a clean energy has come under criticism but the pollution caused by fossil fuels remains the reality. -- ... First, environmentalists complained we were paying farmers too much in subsidies to plant corn
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gevo says: We’re staking our near-term prospects on marine biofuels. Investors hear: We’re underwater. Gevo says: Timing delay in our isobutanol gallonage, took longer to get the fixes implemented, we’ll make up on the back side.
(Mankato Free Press) Why It Matters: Ethanol as a clean energy has come under criticism but the pollution caused by fossil fuels remains the reality. -- The politics of green energy have evolved over the last two decades in a
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) A U.S. Senator from Minnesota says bipartisan efforts continue to restore the Renewable Fuel Standard to its original statute. Al Franken tells Brownfield he and other lawmakers have met frequently with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy following
by Aravindan Rajendran and Bo HuEmail (Biotechnology for Biofuels) Microalgae is considered a promising source for biofuel and bioenergy production, bio-remediation and production of high-value bioactive compounds, but harvesting microalgae is a major bottleneck in the algae based processes. The objective
by Frank Jossi (Midwest Energy News) ... The concept of a circular economy has been around since the late 1970s, but it has gained steam with support from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the growing number of companies that see operating sustainably
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) E15 sales in Minnesota in the first four months of the year totaled 2.01 million gallons, more than half the totaled sold in the whole of 2015 (3.09 million gallons). The Minnesota Department of Commerce said in a
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) On June 16, Representative Tom Reed (R-NY) and Ron Kind (D-WI) along with 12 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors introduced the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act (H.R. 5489), which would expand the eligibility of biogas systems under the
by Carleton English (The Street) The Colorado biofuels company announced a partnership with Musket Corp. a week after a similar collaboration with Alaska Air. -- ... The Colorado-based biofuels company announced that it partnered with Musket Corp., which is owned by
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Here, we profile 15 techs that offer incremental to profound shifts in the economics of the Gen-1 ethanol fleet, and have implications for everything from passenger cars to jets. #15 Vertimass and Byogy #14 Croda #13 Hummingbird #12 Alliance BioEnergy #11 GeoSynFuels #10
(U.S. House Committee on Agriculture) ... (T)he House Agriculture Committee debuted a new blog, Homegrown, to chronicle daily life of American farmers and ranchers from the perspective of producers. The gap between urban and rural Americans is growing, and many
(VoteWojcik) Renewable-Based Fuel is Cleaner, Costs Less Than Traditional Diesel -- On June 1st, Rochester Public Transit (RPT) switched from the 10 percent biodiesel blend required statewide to a 20 percent blend, a move that will reduce emissions from 49 transit
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Over the past 8 months our Ethanol Plant Tour Grant program has met resounding success. This program has seen over 260 students tour the inside of their local ethanol plant to learn more about this vital Minnesota-grown
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Ethanol is often talked about as a high-octane fuel. But not everyone has a clear understanding of octane and how it affects the performance of their cars. So let's start right at the beginning : what is
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Green Biologics is focused on the production of renewable n-butanol and other C4 chemicals from various renewable feedstocks, including sugar (cane, molasses, beets), starch (corn) and cellulosic biomass (corn residues, sugar cane bagasse, forest materials
by Janna Farley (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Passion, leadership and vision are more important than gender in the work of three top managers. -- In fact, there are only a handful of women in top management in the industry. Ethanol Producer
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In February, GFBiochemicals announced at ABLC 2016 that it has acquired the assets and intellectual property of Segetis, a US-based, venture-backed levulinic acid derivatives producer Segetis has more than 50 patents and over 200 pending patent
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Some teams are sellers. They reduce costs, go lean, and hunker down in a case of “wait’ll next year”. In industrial biotechnology, the calendar tells us it’s May but it might as well be July, because
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twenty-five students from Tracy Area High School toured Highwater Ethanol today to get a better understanding of clean Minnesota-produced renewable energy. During the two-hour-long tour, the students toured the various processes of ethanol production at Highwater Ethanol, which
(Fuels America/The Auto Channel) Certified mechanics, engine performance experts, and professional fishermen are briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill today about the importance of ethanol in protecting the environment, preserving America’s energy security, and providing a high-octane boost to marine engines.
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) On April 28, the Guardian Energy ethanol plant in Janesville hosted 24 children at its inaugural Take Your Child To Work Day. Coinciding with the national Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work day which is celebrated every year on
by Timothy J. Rudnicki, Esq (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) ... Consider, for example, that approximately a third of annual GHG emissions emanate from the transportation sector which still relies heavily on carbon-intensive petroleum. Last year, some 17.5 million new vehicles were sold
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Close to 70 high school students from Pipestone Area High School visited Highwater Ethanol today to get a better understanding of how clean Minnesota-grown renewable energy is produced. During the tour, the students were briefed on the various processes of
(American Chemical Society/EurekAlert!) Polyurethanes in products from cushy sofas to stretchy spandex have made sitting, sleeping and walking more comfortable. But once they have served their purpose, most of the non-degradable materials pile up in landfills. Now scientists report in the
(Diesel Technology Forum) Minnesota can breathe a little easier with its fleet of clean diesel vehicles powered on blends of biodiesel fuel. -- In case you missed it, the Minnesota chapter of the American Lung Association (ALA) estimates that the air is
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Nebraska’s Laurel Biocomposite produces biomaterials for thermoset applications. -- Laurel Biocomposite LLC is using distillers grains to create biomaterials that will be used in lawn and gardening products across the United States this spring. The
by Holly Jessen and Kassidi Andres (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two companies gain traction in the quest to produce high-protein feed products from ethanol coproducts. -- Novita Nutrition and Nutrinsic Corp. approach producing high-value feed products from ethanol coproducts differently—Novita removes unsaturated
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) How do low-oil, low-fiber, high-protein coproducts successfully find their best markets? -- An array of distillers grains coproducts are entering the market—low oil, low fiber, high protein—with great potential. But animal nutritionists caution
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Fourteen students from Butterfield-Odin visited the Heron Lake Bioenergy ethanol plant on April 8 to get a better understanding of clean Minnesota-grown renewable energy. During the 90 minute tour, the students were briefed on the various processes of
(Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) An important milestone for higher ethanol fuel blends was reached recently. Major gasoline retailers working with Growth Energy have reported that over the past 12 months, using the U.S. average gas mileage of 20 miles-per-gallon, consumers
(The American Lung Association in Minnesota/Biodiesel Magazine) Minnesota’s commitment to biodiesel use has paid off with an important impact on air quality, according to an analysis of the cleaner-burning fuel by the American Lung Association in Minnesota. “I think the amount
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) The U.S. imported a record volume of biomass-based diesel in 2015. ... This increase in imports is particularly interesting because 2015 was a year with no forward-looking $1-per-gallon blender’s tax credit, and, for 11 months
by Lisa Young (AgriNews) Cover crop and row crop biofuels systems can work together. They may have to as the Renewable Fuel Standard spurs increased demand for biofuels while many are calling for more controls on agricultural nutrient runoff. Researchers
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) ... A proposal introduced last week by Representative Pat Garofalo would provide rebates of up to $2,500 dollars for those who buy or lease a new electric or plug-in hybrid car. Minnesota Biofuels Association executive director
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... It’s been a couple of years since we visited REG and the difference is palpable. The company has become a little ADM, rather than a big Amyris or TerraVia. You see the trading desks at
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) First commercial test flight with Alaska Airlines comes closer In Colorado, ASTM International Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and Subcommittee D02.J on Aviation Fuel passed a concurrent ballot this week approving the
(Gevo) Gevo, Inc.(NASDAQ:GEVO) today announced financial results for the three months endedDecember 31, 2015. Key highlights for Gevo included: Gevo restarted the production of isobutanol at its production facility in Luverne, Minnesota following the completion of capital projects designed to decrease
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Nineteen high school students from Norwood Young America visited Heartland Corn Products in Winthrop today (March 24, 2016) to get a closer look at how clean, homegrown renewable fuels are produced. The students, from Central High School, toured
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA) and KS95 FM today (March 30, 2016) rewarded drivers who chose to fuel up with E15 at St Paul Minnoc during an hour-long promotion. From 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm, MBA and KS95
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Today’s Star Tribune reported of a proposal in the Minnesota legislature that calls for a financial incentive to boost electric or plug-in hybrid sales in the state to reduce emissions. According to the report, consumers would receive rebates
(Office of Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)) Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and 17 other senators today urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set high blending targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2017,
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) Poet Inc. is shipping fuel from Iowa facility, which could hit full output by year's end. -- Poet Inc., the nation’s first commercial-scale producer of cellulosic ethanol, is shipping the fuel from its plant in
by Ann Purvis (Heartland Institute) ... (A) new study from researchers at Strata Policy (SP) and the Institute of Political Economy (IPE) at Utah State University suggests RFS also harms the very farmers the ethanol mandate was designed to help. ... According to
by Mike Jerke (Dickinson Press/Guardian Energy LLC) American-made ethanol is a clean-burning, environmentally friendly biofuel that represents an exciting step forward from dirty, foreign-sourced oil, yet an op-ed (“Renewable Fuel Standard continues to devastate”, March 10) being circulated in papers
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed $2.13 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2015, according to a new study by ABF Economics. The study, commissioned by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association, said the industry generated $7.37 billion in gross
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) A new study by ABF Economics found that the ethanol industry in Minnesota contributed $2.13 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2015. The report also found the industry generated $7.37 billion in gross sales
by Chris Clayton (DTN/Progressive Farmer/KTIC Radio) ... Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a farmer from Primghar, Iowa, said his take on the election is that “it’s mindboggling who is in the lead in the presidential campaign.” Nieuwenhuis supported Marco Rubio in the Iowa
by Jenna Ray (Biodiesel Magazine/University of Minnesota, Morris) The possibility of biodiesel production at the University of Minnesota, Morris, is driving Hannah Goemann, a junior biochemistry major from Wells, Minnesota. Goemann is partnering with the university’s office of sustainability as
By Andrea Johnson (Minnesota Farm Guide) ... “We’re very proud of what biodiesel has become in Minnesota, and the importance that it is having across the nation to provide safe and clean fuels for millions of customers,” said Tom Slunecka, CEO
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Gulf Racing Fuels becomes the Official Fuel of MSR Houston Race Track. MSR Houston is a private membership country club race track. Gevo, is supplying Gulf the bio-isobutanol produced at Gevo’s fermentation plant in Luverne, MN. MSR
by Vicki Ikeogu (SC Times) Construction has started at a Little Falls ethanol plant to convert it to a renewable chemical manufacturing plant. U.K.-based Green Biologics Ltd. owns Central Minnesota Renewables, formerly known as Central Minnesota Ethanol Cooperative. It's in the process
(Defour Group/Transportation Fuels Consulting) Dean Drake of the Defour Group LLC (D4) and Gary Herwick of Transportation Fuels Consulting (TFC) have submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Energy's Request for Information about co-optimization of fuels and engines. Their response reflects their
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... “Most investors are from South Dakota by far,” he reported, but the project did attract investors from Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. “Generally, from areas where they understand the ethanol investment,” he
by Robert Moffitt (American Lung Association in Minnesota/Post Bulletin) A Dec. 14 letter to the editor described Rochester's "community responsibility to become energy sustainable." A key component to achieving this goal is increasing the use of clean-burning transportation fuels in the
by Claire Vath (DTN/The Progressive Farmer) ... "We had something like 200 trespass cows from a nearby land lease," Willow says. So, they constructed a fence. And while it kept animals out, the damage had already been wrought. "Those cows destroyed
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As ASTM technical balloting is underway and as experts sift through and request revised submissions of technical data, insiders are pointing to an early 2016 approval for Gevo’s renewable alcohol-to-jet fuel. In Washington, CAAFI Executive Director
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Twin Cities radio station, KS95 FM, and the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MBA), today rewarded customers who fueled up with E15 at Highland Service Minnoco. From 11 am to 12 pm, customers who fueled up with E15 at Highland
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Minnesota, construction is now underway at the Green Biologics bio-based n-butanol and acetone manufacturing facility in Little Falls, MN. The existing manufacturing site, formerly known as The Central MN Ethanol Cooperative (CMEC), was
by Chris Prentice (Reuters) U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and three other lawmakers are pressing President Barack Obama not to back-peddle on the country's biofuels program just days ahead of global climate change talks in Paris. The Democratic Representatives -
(Bloomberg/McClatchy-Tribune/Star Tribune) Low prices at the gas pump have put a persistent squeeze on Midwest ethanol producers, but most are staying profitable. Of eight Minnesota-affiliated ethanol producers tracked by the Star Tribune, all but one made money in the third quarter,
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Despite a signature partnership with Praj, Gevo’s short-term future looks strongest at the marina, where blockbuster economics apply. ... So, a pretty good deal for both. Gevo potentially gets some new customers and Praj lands EPC work
by James P. Lenfestey (Star Tribune) ... Keystone would not, as Obama noted, have any noticeable economic benefit to the U.S., and probably would have a negative impact, since it could actually increase domestic gasoline prices (by opening the
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Based on the clarity provided by the resolution of the lawsuits, and based on the most recent results of the isobutanol fermentation campaigns conducted at the company’s production plant in Luverne, Minn, Gevo announced its
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Minnesota Awards $26 Million to Fund Sweetwater’s Biochemical Facility --- In Minnesota, Sweetwater Energy has received commitment for $26 million in long-term loans from the state of Minnesota to construct a biochemical production facility near
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Minnesota, Xcel Energy’s Renewable Development Fund has granted the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute $1.9 million to develop locally produced biofuels that will later be injected into the national grid. READ MORE
by Bill Hanna (Mesabi Daily News) Mountain Iron intended home for Sweetwater Energy project -- The Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board on Friday will consider authorizing $26 million in public money for a startup biotechnology company in Rochester, N.Y.,
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
(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
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) ... If Big Oil truly believed its product (oil) was better than ethanol, why not launch a campaign on the greatness that is oil. Perhaps Big Oil could tell us how oil doesn't raise food prices. Nevermind that recent
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Thirty-five high schools students today toured the Guardian Energy ethanol plant to gain a better understanding of renewable fuel production. The students, from Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial Secondary School, toured the various processes of ethanol production at the
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) Minnesota has been awarded an $8 million grant from the USDA to install or retrofit 620 flex fuel pumps in 165 stations in the state. In a statement today, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) said the grant
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 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 Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) For two decades, ICM has adapted with the changing times, bringing technology solutions to the ethanol industry. -- In 1995, ICM Inc. got its start with the purchase of the engineering, manufacturing and marketing
by William Morris (Owatonna People's Press) A group of Owatonna High School students got an in-depth look at a possible career in agribusiness Friday when their Agriculture Explorations class visited Al-Corn Clean Fuel in Claremont. The students got a bus tour
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
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Gevo has two proprietary technologies that combine to make it possible to retrofit existing ethanol plants to produce isobutanol, a four carbon alcohol which serves as a hydrocarbon platform molecule. They have developed an industrial
by Bruce Peterson and Jeffrey Jackson (Owatonna People's Press) ... We all want to breathe cleaner air and save a few bucks when we put fuel in our vehicles. I am proud to say that Minnesota’s corn farmers are helping to
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Move over Super, here comes SuperDuper. All the high octane and performance, and the renewability too, at a price you can afford. Biofuels are adding options for drop-in, low-carbon, super-perfornance gasoline via isooctane and isooctene,
by Timothy J. Rudnicki, Esq (Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The recent release of the Clean Power Plan has started to spawn community gatherings and agency presentations. Stakeholders are being called upon to help inform a regulatory process which will produce a custom
by David Shaffer (Star Tribune) ... Across the Twin Cities region, 19 independent gas station owners like Olson have become Minnoco retailers in the past two years, freeing themselves from big oil companies while cutting costs and launching group marketing efforts.
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
(US Department of Energy) The Energy Department today announced two additional projects selected to receive up to $4 million to develop next-generation biofuels that will help reduce the cost of producing gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels from biomass. These projects—in
(Gevo/Butamax/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. and Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC, a joint venture between BP and DuPont, announced that they have entered into worldwide patent cross-license and settlement agreements, ending a patent dispute related to technologies for the production of
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) Representatives of the East Coast home heating fuel market are begging for biodiesel produced in Minnesota. The state Soybean Growers Association and Research and Promotion Council are hosting a group from states including New York, New
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 Phil McKenna (Green Biz) The fate of the world’s oceans may rest inside a stainless steel tank not quite the size of a small beer keg. Inside, genetically modified bacteria turn corn syrup into a churning mass of polymers that
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A small number of ethanol producers sell E85 and other ethanol blends directly to consumers with on-site blender pumps or, in a few cases, own retail gas stations. Mitch Miller, CEO of Carbon Green Bioenergy
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 David Shaffer (Star Tribune) Profits are down even though price of corn for fuel remains low. U.S. ethanol plants are producing more fuel, selling it at lower prices and taking a hit on profits. ... Producers made record or near-record profits in
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The increase in revenue during 2015 is primarily a result of the production and sale of approximately $8.0 million of ethanol, isobutanol and distiller’s grains at the Luverne plant. Hydrocarbon revenues were $0.8 million, primarily
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is developing a marketplace for biodiesel as a home heating fuel. CEO Tom Slunecka says while many homes in the U.S. are heated by natural gas or propane, that’s not
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) First- and second-place winners have been announced for the 2015 Clean Air Choice Biodiesel Essay Scholarship. Brianna Bredeson, a recent graduate of Willmar Senior High School, won first place for her essay. “Biodiesel is diversifying our fuel
by Michael Bastasch (Daily Caller) A University of Minnesota scientist told lawmakers Thursday that mandating ethanol be blended into fuel supplies is leading to more deaths from poor air quality in the Midwest and along the East Coast. “The Renewable Fuel
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 Philip Weyhe (Janesville Argus) First District Congressman Tim Walz, D-Mankato, stopped by Guardian Energy in Janesville Friday morning with his sights set on highlighting ethanol production as an “all-American” and efficient energy solutions service. After the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) The E15 Dispenser bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton, goes into effect July 1 and will help up to 100 fuel retailers in the state make minor modifications to offer E15. The bill, part
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 Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Researchers hope phytate replicates the corn oil extraction success story, but the history of zein shows it can be a slow and difficult road to success. Diversification of coproducts is increasingly important to the
by Greg Hack and Kasia Kovacs (Kansas City Star) When the Environmental Protection Agency proposed lowering the country’s ethanol-use mandates for this year and next, it set up a public hearing to let people tell it what they thought. On
by Senator Amy Kolbuchar (Biofuels Digest/Bioenergy 2015) I want to spend a moment looking at the badness in our energy policy, with a look back in history. Our first bad moment was after 9/11, we were united and the President
by Mark Dorenkamp (Brownfield Ag News) Minnesota Senator Al Franken calls the revised Renewable Fuels Standard an improvement from EPA’s proposal two years ago but still a step backwards for the industry. Franken tells Brownfield he went right to President Obama after
(Gevo/Biomass Magazine) Gevo Inc. has received a key endorsement for the use of its renewable isobutanol by the marine industry, following support and recommendation for the use of isobutanol by the National Marine Manufacturers Association as an effective, less damaging,
(Gevo/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Gevo Inc. has announced a breakthrough to its fermentation technology that will allow it to produce isobutanol from cellulosic feedstocks such as wood waste which can then be converted into Gevo's alcohol-to-jet fuel. Gevo currently makes isobutanol from
(The American Society of Agronomy/Biodiesel Magazine) In the U.S., federal mandates to produce more renewable fuels, especially biofuels, have led to a growing debate: Should fuel or food grow on arable land? Recent research shows farmers can successfully, and sustainably,
(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 Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In the world of gasoline replacement, it is any fuel which has a renewable content higher than the typical E10 ethanol saturation point. It can include drop-in renewable gasoline, or E85 ethanol blends, or
John M. Urbanchuk and Stuart D. Norvell (Agriculture and Biofuels Consulting, LLP/ Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) From the farm to the fuel pump, the ethanol industry is a vital component of Minnesota’s economy. Ethanol plants provide jobs and income not only for
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development(DEED)is the state’s principal economic development agency. ... My role as the industry specialist with DEED is to continue to expand Minnesota’s bioindustrial cluster through strategies that include: 1. Providing
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Alaska Airlines ups the ante in the search for sustainable, affordable jet fuels. In Colorado, Gevo and Alaska Airlines announced a strategic alliance to purchase Gevo’s renewable jet fuel and fly the first-ever commercial flight on
(Minnesota Trucking Association) A coalition of vehicle and fuel industry organizations have stood up for Minnesota consumers and small businesses by filing suit in federal court alleging that Minnesota’s Biodiesel Content Mandate could create significant harm to vehicles that are not
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Moguls of Minneapolis pick up an advantaged route to key renewable chemicals. News has filtered out from Cargill that the agricultural giant has acquired OPX Biotechnologies’ proprietary fermentation-based processes and systems. Bottom line, excepting the
(Newswise/Argonne National Laboratory) With access to supercomputing resources at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility, a research team from the University of Minnesota and Rice University has demonstrated a
.jpg)
