by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) This past October Growth Energy partnered with several retailers who sell E15 for a Pink Out campaign to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. When a consumer purchased E15 during the month, each retailer donated
Illinois
Back TO HOMEUS Corn Ethanol Market: Understanding the Past to Assess the Future
by Carl Zulauf (FarmDoc Daily) Ethanol was a factor in both the price run-up that began in 2006 and the price run-down that began in 2013. Tepid growth replaced explosive growth. The question for the future is, "What is ethanol's
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Court Accepts $48.5M Bid for Abengoa Hugoton from Synata Bio
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Kansas district bankruptcy court approved the top bid for Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas in an order signed Nov. 29 by Judge Robert Nugent. Synata Bio Inc. placed the top bid of
December 02, 2016 Read Full Article
New Study Finds Clean Cookstoves May Improve Women’s Heart Health
(Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves) Shifting from a cookstove that burns traditional woodfuel to a stove that uses a cleaner-burning fuel such as ethanol may mitigate cardiovascular health risks in pregnant women, according to a new study led by a
November 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Yeast Evolution Offers Hope for Cellulosic Biofuel
by Kari Lydersen (Midwest Energy News) ... The prospects for cellulosic ethanol becoming a commercially available clean transportation fuel could also hinge on yeast’s ability to ferment corn stalks, switchgrass, wood chips or other fibrous feed stock. The same strain of
November 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Pacific Ethanol and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway Begin Unit Train Service
(EIN/GlobeNewswire) Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEIX) and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway (TPW), a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) (NYSE:GWR), announced they have commenced unit train service from Pacific Ethanol’s plant in Pekin, Illinois. “This unit-train solution enables us to
November 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol’s Prime Spot in the E&C Chairman’s Race
by Mark Drajem & Ari Natter and James Rowley (Bloomberg) ... Similar to Hillary Clinton’s dilemma on pipelines, a Trump administration could be caught between competing interests on approval for renewable projects or transmission lines on public lands. Trump has called
November 07, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Schedules Public Hearing on Proposed Rule to Update RFS
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has announced plans to hold a public hearing on Dec. 6 in Chicago for its proposed Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support Rule. Those who wish to testify must contact the EPA by
November 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Argonne LCA Finds Renewable Diesel from Algae Fractionation Has 63-68% lower GHG than Petroleum Diesel
(Green Car Congress) A new analysis from Argonne National Laboratory, funded by the US Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), shows the potential of an algae fractionation process to produce renewable diesel fuel with 63%–68% lower greenhouse gas (GHG)
October 24, 2016 Read Full Article
USGC Study: U.S. Corn Ethanol Can Assist Japan In Reaching Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
(U.S. Grains Council) A recently released U.S. Grains Council (USGC) study finds that a significant portion of U.S.-produced corn ethanol will likely meet Japan's 50 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction threshold over gasoline, supporting the case for that fuel's competitiveness
October 21, 2016 Read Full Article
With Hometown's Cornfields in Mind, Shimkus Supports Renewable Fuel Standard Reform
by Ruth de Jauregui (Metro East Sun) Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) recently expressed his readiness to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which he is the senior member, in pushing for Renewable Fuel Standard reform. Shimkus said Illinois' 15th District
October 18, 2016 Read Full Article
Higher US Ethanol Production from Sorghum, Corn Yield: Professor
by Josh Pedrick (Platts) The higher ethanol production seen so far in 2016 has come from greater sorghum use and boosted yields from corn, said a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Department of Agriculture's monthly World Agriculture
October 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Fed Approval Paves Way for Low-Cost Cellulosic Ethanol Production
by George Lurie (The Business Journal) In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Pacific Ethanol’s registration of its Stockton ethanol plant to generate valuable credits by producing cellulosic ethanol with the same equipment the company
October 12, 2016 Read Full Article
What's Up with RINs Prices?
by Scott Irwin (Farm Doc Daily/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) RINs prices have been making headlines in recent months, with prices at times crossing the psychologically important $1 per gallon mark. Echoing earlier complaints (farmdoc daily, July 19, 2013; December
October 07, 2016 Read Full Article
Power Mart Flexes Its Brand
by David Bennett (Convenience Store Decisions) A unique retail service provider is expanding its vision for the future. -- ... “It’s basically just like a co-op,” (Sam) Odeh (founder and CEO of Power Buying Dealers USA Inc. (PBD USA)) said.
October 06, 2016 Read Full Article
SciTech Now: Renewable Cellulosic Ethanol
(Detroit Public TV) Innovative efforts to develop renewable cellulosic ethanol processes. High school student Tavis Reed and DuPont's innovative efforts to develop renewable cellulosic ethanol processes. WATCH VIDEO
October 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Letter: Energy Relies on Free Market
by Kerry Smith (The Telegraph) ... With the EPA set to exercise complete control over the RFS program in 2023, traditional corn ethanol may be at risk. Congressman John Shimkus is among those questioning whether the program has run its course.
September 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Ozinga Installs CarbonCure CO2 Recycling Technology
(Carbon Cure) Chicago family business known for quality and service reinforces its commitment to sustainability -- Known for its iconic red and white striped concrete mixers, the Ozinga name is synonymous with providing the highest quality and best service to
September 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Review of John DeCicco et al. Article Titled “Carbon Balance Effects of U.S. Biofuel Production and Use”
by Steffen Mueller (University of Illinois at Chicago Energy Resources Center) ... The authors essentially challenge the accuracy of traditional life cycle analysis with their new model. ... The authors argue that “for a biofuel to provide a net reduction in CO2 emissions, the production
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
How to Sell E15 by Any Other Name
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
September 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Think Ethanol Doesn't Work in Boats? Think Again
by Sara Wyant (Agri-Pulse) Ask most boaters about ethanol and boats and you'll likely hear that the two don't go together. In fact, many gas stations surrounding some of the largest U.S. lakes will advertise “no ethanol in our fuel” as
September 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Using Genetics to Domesticate Pennycress as New Cover Crop
(Illinois State University) Illinois State Associate Professor of Genetics John Sedbrook is collaborating on a $1 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop genetic resources that can be used to rapidly domesticate field pennycress as
September 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Chicago Park District Touts Its Biodiesel-Powered Vehicle Program
by Lauren Tyler (Next Gen Transportation News) The Chicago Park District says its environmentally friendly biodiesel program has continued to pay off, and consequently, will showcase the program at a Fleet Education Seminar hosted by the Chicago Area Clean Cities
September 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Does Minnesota Have What It Takes to Seize Biofuel Opportunities?
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
August 31, 2016 Read Full Article
Switching to Switchgrass? Study Models Soil Impact of Biofuel Crops
by Kari Lydersen (Midwest Energy News) ... The Argonne modeling shows that when grassland, cropland and pasture in the Midwest are converted to corn for biofuels, the level of carbon sequestration in the soil stays roughly the same, with variation by
August 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Offer Significant Benefits to the US
by Jodi Delapaz (Agri-Pulse) High octane fuels (HOF), specifically mid-level ethanol blends (E25-E40), could offer significant benefits for the U.S., according to a new study by the Energy Department's Oak Ridge, Argonne National laboratory (ANL) and the National Renewable Energy
August 26, 2016 Read Full Article
Abengoa Plants Go to Green Plains: Ethanol’s Jolly Giant Gets Bigger
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Nebraska, word has arrived from Green Plains that it will purchase the Madison, Ill., Mount Vernon, Ind. and York, Neb. ethanol facilities from Abengoa Bioenergy with combined annual production capacity of 236 million gallons
August 24, 2016 Read Full Article
How Loyola Converts Used Cooking Oil Into Biodiesel That Fuels Their Buses
by Mark Schipper (DNA info) Loyola University has the only college-level chemical manufacturing business in the country that is federally licensed to produce and sell biodiesel on the open market. ... Loyola’s warehouse-like refining facility, accessed through a loading ramp off an alley
August 24, 2016 Read Full Article
SIUE, Madison County to Partner on Energy Sector Study
by Kelsey Landis (The Telegraph) A grant from a national non-profit organization will fund a study examining how to develop Madison County’s energy industry, officials announced last week. Representatives from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville applied for the grant along with Madison County
August 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Opportunities and Challenges: A State-by-State Look at Higher Blends
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
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Letter: Writer Doesn't Understand Biodiesel
by Jeff Lynn (State Journal-Register) A recent letter to the editor from Don Breiner got biodiesel all wrong. The letter is full of inaccuracies but the main point regarding how much biodiesel can be used in our vehicles simply isn't true.
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
There Is an E15 Consumer Disconnect
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
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Japanese Reporters Travel to the U.S. to Learn About Biotech, Biofuels
(Hoosier Ag Today/NAFB News Service) The U.S. Grains Council says key members of Japan’s media traveled across the United States last week to learn about corn production, ethanol, and biotechnology. The members of Japan’s media came to learn how those
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
August Is the Time to Reach Out and Meet Your Member of Congress
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) Members of Congress just returned to their home states and districts for the August recess to meet with constituents and campaign for the upcoming elections. You can be sure the oil producers will
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Working the Calculator: The Digest’s 2016 Multi-Slide Guide to Choosing a Feedstock
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) “What color is your parachute?” went the title of a best-selling book from the 80s on job hunting. The concept applies equally to biomass feedstock in the 2010s. There’s one out there for you that
August 08, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Labs Report Shows Significant Benefits of Mid-Level Ethanol Blends
(Growth Energy) Recently, the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge, Argonne, and National Renewable Energy Laboratories released their “Summary of High Octane, Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Study.” This scientific analysis showed the numerous benefits of using high octane mid-level ethanol blends in
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Summary of High-Octane Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Study
(U.S. Department of Energy) Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of light-duty vehicles are pursuing a broad portfolio of technologies to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy. Central to this effort is higher efficiency spark ignition (SI) engines, including technologies reliant
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
US Researchers Get Go Ahead to Genetically Engineer Bacteria to Boost Bioethanol Production
(Biofuels International) lllinois Institute of Technology researchers have received a patent for a method to genetically engineer bacteria and yeast to increase bioethanol production, especially from cellulosic material in biomass like twigs, branches, plant stalks and husks, and woodchips. According to
August 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Energy Department Announces $11.3 Million for MEGA-BIO: Bioproducts To Enable Biofuels
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today up to $11.3 million for three projects that support the development of biomass-to-hydrocarbon biofuels conversion pathways that can produce variable amounts of fuels and/or products based on external
August 02, 2016 Read Full Article
Illinois Tech Scientists Receive Patent for Method to Genetically Engineer Bacteria and Yeast to Increase Bioethanol Production
(IIT Today) Scientists from Illinois Institute of Technology received a patent for a method to genetically engineer bacteria and yeast to increase bioethanol production, especially from cellulosic material in biomass like twigs, branches, plant stalks and husks, and woodchips. Ben Stark,
July 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Bioenergy Crop Modeling Predicts Soil Carbon Increases
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Argonne National Laboratory are using computational modeling to predict which counties in Illinois could see increases in soil organic carbon from crops such as switchgrass for biofuels. Increasing carbon
July 22, 2016 Read Full Article
RFA: HWRT to Offer Pre-Blended E15 at Wholesale Terminals
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is pleased to announce that HWRT Oil Co. will become the first company in the United States to offer pre-blended E15 at the terminal level. The development is a game changer
July 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Modeling Predicts which Counties Could Store More Carbon in Soil by Growing Bioenergy Crops
by Katie Elyce Jones (Phys.Org) To help stakeholders in government and business make smart decisions about the best types of land and local climates for planting bioenergy crops, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory are
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Retailer to Expand Availability of Ethanol Blends at 20 Stations
(Renewable Fuels Association/Ethanol Producer Magazine) The Renewable Fuels Association is proud to announce that the Power Energy Corp. has been awarded a $1.44 million grant from Illinois to offer higher ethanol blends at 20 retail stations in the state. The grant,
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE Announces $16 Million for 54 Projects to Help Commercialize Promising Energy Technologies
(U.S. Department of Energy) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced nearly $16 million in funding to help businesses move promising energy technologies from DOE’s National Laboratories to the marketplace. This first Department-wide round of funding through the Technology
June 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Thorntons Gas Stations Introducing New Ethanol Fuel
by Mike Nolan (Chicago Tribune) ... Thorntons has begun equipping some of its Chicago-area stations to dispense E15, which contains 15 percent ethanol, and is converting other local stations to carry the product. One knock against E85 is that the higher ethanol
June 29, 2016 Read Full Article
BBI Announces Kathy Bryan Memorial Scholarship Recipients
by Ann Bailey (Ethanol Producer Magazine) BBI International has awarded the 2016 Kathy Bryan Memorial Scholarship to Donald Jackson and Patrick Thimes. The two $2,000 memorial scholarships are awarded annually to students pursuing degrees that may lead to a career in
June 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Re-Think, Re-Use, Retro-Fit: 15 4G Techs Transforming Gen-1 Biobased Plants
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
June 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Oh Magoo! The Digest Looks at Mainstream Media’s Coverage of Renewables
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Blundermeisters of Media Misinformation are at it again. The world’s favorite advanced biofuel, biodiesel, gets another hit job from mainstream media. The Digest investigates. -- AFP, the major international news service, reported last week that
June 10, 2016 Read Full Article
Summer Brings Ethanol Quirk to Iowa Gas Stations
by Charlie Good (Des Moines Register/Good and Quick) ... Today, due to a combination of a quirk in federal regulation and the heavy-handed tactics of the oil industry, I walk out to my fuel pumps and change a sticker so that
June 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Argonne Launches First Tech Incubator
(Argonne National Laboratory) Developing transformative energy technologies and cleaner manufacturing processes and new materials requires more than a great idea and some committed people. It takes an innovation ecosystem. To meet this challenge, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy
June 01, 2016 Read Full Article
The SynBio Foundry: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Ames National Lab, Argonne National Lab, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, the National Renewable Energy Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Sandia National Lab seek
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
ASU Scores Chunk of $10M DOE Funding for Bioenergy R&D
(Algae Industry Magazine) The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $10 million in funding for six projects representing innovative technologies and solutions to advance bioenergy development. These projects, located in Arizona, California, North Carolina, Delaware, and Illinois, will support
May 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Unitel Wins Patent for Direct Conversion of Algae to Fatty Acids
(Algae Industry Magazine) Unitel Technologies, an Illinois-based designer and builder of pilot and mini-plants, announced that it has received a patent for a new technology to make fatty acids from a feedstock “soup” of cultivated algae and water. “The major stumbling
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Senate Opens Door for Increased Ethanol Use
by Tom C. Doran (AgriNews) Legislation that supporters say will enhance consumer choices and increase demand for Illinois corn was unanimously approved in the Illinois Senate. The bill allows the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to receive nearly $11.98 million from
May 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Grant Helps Project Realize “Ultra-Productive” Biofuel Crops, Attract Investors
by Claire Benjamin (University of Illinois) ... The University of Illinois and the University of Florida have been awarded a third round of funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to realize ultra-productive biofuel crops. ... Nearly $300,000 of
May 10, 2016 Read Full Article
REG Expands Logistics, Storage at Danville Biodiesel Plant
(Renewable Energy Group Inc./Biodiesel Magazine) enewable Energy Group Inc. announced May 2 that the company’s Danville, Illinois, operation now has more than 14 million gallons of tank capacity to store both biodiesel and feedstocks. REG Danville LLC recently purchased the tank
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Duel Fuel--Colocating Ethanol, Biodiesel
by Keith Loria (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Biodiesel tanks are popping up in the tank farms at some ethanol plants these days. -- During the past decade, there has been a great deal of innovation and thought put into the synergies between
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Senate Hearing on Ethanol Tax Breaks Stirs Small-Engine Debate
by Tim Landis (State Journal-Register) .... At issue is a proposal to eliminate a 20 percent per-gallon sales tax break on sales of E10 fuels and create a 10 percent break for E15, which currently gets no tax incentives. Agricultural
April 15, 2016 Read Full Article
Letter: Biodiesel Fuel Part of a Great Life Cycle
by Jeff Lynn (The State Journal-Register) I farm in Cass County. I am proud my equipment runs on a biodiesel blend. The fuel is home-grown and better for the environment. I just came in from the field, where the work
April 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Importing to Meet California Demand
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
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
DOE’s ARPA-E TERRA Projects Seek to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Crop Development
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the DOE’s ARPA-E TERRA projects seek to accelerate the development of sustainable energy crops for the production of renewable transportation fuels from biomass. To accomplish this, the projects uniquely integrate agriculture, information technology,
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuel Producers with Poor Soil Should Consider Prairie Cordgrass
by Lauren Quinn (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Salt-affected land is not useful for producing food crops, but biomass producers could take advantage of salt-tolerant perennial grasses to make use of that land. --In a greenhouse study, germination of prairie cordgrass
April 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Sugarcane, Modified to Produce Oil, Promises Better Biodiesel
by Stephen Edelstein (Green Car Reports) ... Altering sugarcane to produce oil could yield much greater amounts of biodiesel than the current most popular crop, soybeans, say researchers from the University of Illinois (via Wards Auto). ... But they claim a genetically-modified sugarcane
March 30, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Bust Adds to U.S. Fuel Glut and Losses Across Corn Belt
by Mario Parker (Bloomberg Business) ... Back in 2007, when crude oil was headed toward a record $147.27 a barrel, ethanol was being touted as a cheap alternative from abundant domestic resources. The U.S. is the world’s biggest corn grower and
March 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel Ranks First Among Fleets for Alt Fuel Use
(National Biodiesel Board/PR Newswire) North America's top fleets have spoken, and their #1 choice for greening their fleet operations is biodiesel. According to a new 2016 Fleet Purchasing Outlook study conducted by the NTEA - The Association for the Work
March 23, 2016 Read Full Article
Study Says Ethanol Harms Corn Counties
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
March 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Thorntons to Begin Selling E15 at Chicago Locations
(Renewable Fuels Association) Fueling retailer Thorntons announced today that it will offer its branded E15 option, Unleaded15, at all 43 Chicago-area locations beginning this month. In response, Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen issued the following statement: “We are
March 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Biodiesel from Sugarcane More Economical than Soybean
by Lauren Quinn (University of Illinois) Today most U.S. biodiesel is produced from soybean. But despite its value as a protein source, soybean only provides the equivalent of about one barrel of oil per acre. -A team led by the
March 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Blog: Who Killed the Only EPA Certified E85 Conversion Kit?
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... To write this, I talked to Chris Disher and Max Kinast. As Disher said, it’s a story full of controversy, intrigue and lies. And, even though that conversion kit was ultimately certified by the U.S.
March 15, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Announces $260 Million Available for Regional Conservation Partnership Program
(US Department of Agriculture) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of up to $260 million for partner proposals to improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. The funding
March 14, 2016 Read Full Article
Alternative Crops for Biofuel Gaining Attention
by Colleen Scherer (Ag Professional) ... A recent University of Illinois study is using genetic markers to identify early developmental traits in Miscanthus that correlate with future yield. ... On a practical level, the researchers saw strong positive correlations between biomass yield and
March 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Gives Rural Communities an Economic Boost
by Rick Edwards (Adams County Farm Bureau/Herald-Whig) Letter to Editor: A commercial airing locally, produced by Smarter Fuel Future, is out to make you believe ethanol is really bad -- bad for you, for your wallet and especially for the
March 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Abengoa Bioenergy Files for Chapter 11 for Parent and 5 Subsidiaries
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Missouri, Abengoa Bioenergy US Holding, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on behalf of itself and 5 of its US bioenergy subsidiaries. The companies
February 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Is the Climate Changing for Fossil Fuel Investments?
(Morgan Stanley) As the world embraces a low-carbon economy, should investors change how they view fossil fuel investments? -- ... Most investors interested in establishing a fossil-fuel aware portfolio can follow a four step roadmap to evaluate and apply this framework:
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
A New Recipe for Biofuel: Genetic Diversity Can Lead to More Productive Growth
(Phys.Org) ... Today, scientists are exploring how grasses, and switchgrass in particular, can enrich the nation's biofuel supply, which is currently dominated by corn, a crop relatively easy to convert to biofuel but also in demand for food, livestock feed and
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
Best for Biofuels
by Dave Evensen (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Research finds where bioenergy crops would grow best while minimizing detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems -- ... Researchers at the University of Illinois used detailed models to examine impacts on water quantity and quality
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
EPA Awards Grants to 38 Student Teams for Innovative Sustainable Projects
(US Environmental Protection Agency/ForConstructionPros.com) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 38 People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grants to university student teams for proposed projects to develop new, sustainable products and strategies. Each team will receive up to $15,000
February 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Following-up on RFS Questions
by Jonathan Coppess (Farm Doc Daily) The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has been a hot topic of late given the release of the final rule and its rather prominent feature leading up to the recent Iowa caucuses. The RFS discussions have
February 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Affordable, Drop-In Hydrocarbons from Wood: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to CRI/GTI’s IH2 process
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The IH2 process was developed by Gas Technology Institute (GTI) of Des Plaines, Illinois—a research, development, and training organization serving energy markets. GTI experts invented, tested, and patented IH2 technology and are providing ongoing commercialization support. Twelve
February 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Economists: Ethanol Retains Low-Cost Octane Enhancer Status
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol continues to maintain its status as the low-cost octane enhancer, in spite of low oil prices reducing the cost of competing petroleum-based aromatics. The biggest threat, say University of Illinois economists Scott
February 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Pioneer ADM's Struggle Reflects Deepening Industry Woes
by Chris Prentice, Michael Hirtzer and Karl Plume (Reuters) When Archer Daniels Midland opened two of the country's largest ethanol plants in Nebraska and Iowa six years ago, the biofuels market was on the cusp of a boom with prices
February 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Partner Collaborations Advance Second-Generation Elevance Biorefinery Technology
(Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.) In collaboration with several partners, including the special contribution of Versalis under a strategic partnership started in early 2014, Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc. — a high-growth company that creates novel specialty chemicals from natural oils —
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Export Markets for ‘Liquid Corn’
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Global trade for U.S. ethanol has been trending up in the past decade, becoming an important part of the industry’s growth strategy. -- Looking at the numbers, it doesn’t take long to conclude that
January 22, 2016 Read Full Article
DuPont Industrial Biosciences, ADM Find “Breakthrough Process” for a “Long-Sought Molecule”
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Delaware, DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland announced a new breakthrough process in producing FDME from fructose, with “the potential to expand the materials landscape in the 21st century with exciting and truly
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
New Biofuels Could Cut Emissions and Preserve Land Used to Grow Food
by Nathan Collins (Pacific Standard) Researchers combine ecological and economic models to examine the benefits of growing grass as fuel. --- ... Fortunately, corn isn't the only source of ethanol—in particular, there are perennial grasses like switchgrass and miscanthus. Those options
January 13, 2016 Read Full Article
Economist: Blend Wall Debate Might Help Sluggish Crop Prices
by Nat Williams (The Southern News Services) ...The reasons include the Great Recession and falling gasoline prices, among a few other things. At issue is the federal mandate for ethanol inclusion as a component of motor fuels, according to Scott Irwin.
January 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Study: Second-Generation Biofuels Can Reduce Emissions
(EurekAlert!/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Second-generation biofuel crops like the perennial grasses Miscanthus and switchgrass can efficiently meet emission reduction goals without significantly displacing cropland used for food production, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Illinois
January 11, 2016 Read Full Article
Dirt Work Begins on Ringneck Energy as Project Details Finalized
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
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
IFES 2015: The Outlook for Conventional Biofuels Is Brighter than You Think
by Scott Irwin (FarmDocDaily) This is a presentation summary from the 2015 Illinois Farm Economics Summit (IFES) which occurred December 14-18, 2015. A complete collection of presentations including PowerPoint Slides (PPT) and printable summaries (PDF) are available here. The EPA released
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
The Untold Upside of Low Oil Prices
by Ron Kotrba (Biomass Magazine) Alternative energy companies typically prosper when oil prices are high, but it’s not all doom and gloom when the cost of crude nosedives. ... So what does all this mean for the wood pellet and other bioenergy
January 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Striving for Clean, Infection-Free Ethanol Production
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Two producers share stories of how they keep bacteria in check. -- In the ethanol industry, having a reputation as a clean plant goes far beyond clean floors and all-around tidiness. Clean means
December 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Re-Thinking the Carbon Reduction Value of Corn Ethanol Fuel
by Ron Alverson (Ethanol Across America) It has been seven years since Argonne National Labs (ANL), as part of the Energy Security and Independence Act requirements, first determined the Life Cycle Carbon Intensity of mid-west corn ethanol fuel. ANL, using
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
The 7 Flying Reindeer: Renewable Fuel Myths that Continue to Defy Gravity
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Food vs Fuel, biofuels causing corn planting to skyrocket, low oil prices killing off renewable fuels, the subsidy myth, the emissions myth, the “people won’t buy the fuels” myth, and the Insanity myth. ... In the world
December 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Are We There Yet? A Biofuel Refinery Update
by Tom Ewing (Renewable Energy World) As oil prices plummet, are drop-in aviation biofuel refineries ever going to be built? --- In September 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE), along with the Departments of the Navy and Agriculture, announced a
December 22, 2015 Read Full Article
University of Illinois Awarded Grant to Support Sorghum Research
(University of Illinois/Biomass Magazine) The University of Illinois has been awarded a 3-year, $5 million grant from the DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy as part of its OPEN 2015 funding initiative (ARPA-E OPEN). Under Principal Investigator Andrew Leakey, Associate Professor of
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
RINs Behavior after EPA Rule Shows Ethanol-Biodiesel Relationship
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The release of the U.S. EPA’s final rulemaking for the renewable fuel standard (RFS) was a shock to the RINs market—the renewable identification numbers used by obligated parties to demonstrate compliance. Biodiesel, D4
December 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Abengoa Contagion Spreads to U.S. Biofuel Plants, Causing Layoffs and Shutdowns
by Rob Nikolewski (Kansas Watchdog.org) ... “I think we have to see how this thing plays out. In the short run, of course, it’s a devastating blow,” said Neal Gillespie, Stevens County Economic Developmentdirector. “In the long run, I think there’s a
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
RINs Gone Wild? (round 2)
by Scott Irwin and Darrel Good (FarmDocDaily) The EPA released the final rulemaking for 2014-2016 RFS standards on Monday, November 30. This release follows preliminary rulemaking released on May 29 of this year. Figures 1 and 2 are based on
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
GREET Model Expanded to Better Address Biofuel Life-Cycle Analysis Research Questions
(U.S. Department of Energy) The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model allows researchers and analysts to fully evaluate the energy and emission impacts of advanced vehicle technologies and new transportation fuels. Argonne National Laboratory recently
December 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Innovations in Transportation, Energy Storage and Alternative Energy Sources: The Digest’s 2015 8-Slide Guide to Argonne National Laboratory
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers at Argonne are advancing the basic energy sciences, focusing their research and development on a broad portfolio of sustainable and clean energy technologies. Innovations in transportation, energy storage and
December 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Report Concludes US Pellet Exports No Threat to Southern Forests
by Katie Fletcher (Biomass Magazine) A report commissioned by the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, National Alliance of Forest Owners and U.S. Industrial Pellet Association, finds the U.S. export of industrial wood pellets to meet renewable energy goals in
November 27, 2015 Read Full Article
It’s In the Plan: EPA Offers Clues on Woody Biomass Utilization
(Environmental and Energy Study Institute) Over the past several months, biomass stakeholders have expressed frustration at the administration’s failure to label the use of biomass feedstocks as carbon neutral. The pellet industry and biomass advocates argue, that so long as
November 27, 2015 Read Full Article
‘Spill’: A Devastating Account of the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
by Kevin Nance (The Washington Post) ... What we don’t remember, if we ever knew it in the first place, is that the environmental disaster in the gulf also was a human tragedy that claimed 11 lives. The April 20 explosion
November 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Corn Has Competition as Ethanol's Leading Grain
by Anna McConnell (Agriculture.com) In terms of ethanol production, corn has some competition this winter— grain sorghum. The grain, also known as milo, produces the same amount of ethanol per bushel, but uses one third less water in the process
November 20, 2015 Read Full Article
University OF Illinois Research: Study Shows How Crop Prices and Climate Variables Affect Yield and Acreage
(University of Illinois/AgriMarketing) When corn prices increase farmers reap higher yields by making changes. According to a recent University of Illinois study, about one-third of the yield increase derives from more intensive management practices and two-thirds from cropping additional acreage.
November 18, 2015 Read Full Article
RFS Crucial to Clean Energy Future
by Tom Buis (Growth Energy/Ethanol Producer Magazine) With rapidly growing energy demands, our nation and others must invest in homegrown biofuels that are cleaner, cheaper and offer a more reliable supply than fossil fuels, writes Tom Buis. When EPA Administrator Gina
November 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Pigs Can Regulate Sulfur in Distiller Grains
(AgriNews) Distillers dried grains with solubles, a co-product of the ethanol industry, is becoming a more common ingredient in swine diets. However, DDGS can be high in sulfur, and data is limited on the amount of sulfur that pigs can
November 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Strong RFS Support Offers Low-Risk Opportunity for Democrats to Connect with Voters They Need to Retake Majority
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
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Will the Renewable Fuel Standard Impact the 2016 Elections?
by Jonathan H Harsch (Agri-Pulse) The escalating battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) added another front Thursday. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson warned President Obama that lowering the RFS volume requirements could result in Democrats losing otherwise winnable congressional
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
Supercritical Biodiesel Plant at Ethanol Refinery Now Operational
by Ron Kotrba (Biodiesel Magazine) Nearly two years after the project was announced, a 5 MMgy supercritical biodiesel plant in Annawan, Illinois, is now operational. Designed and built by Jatrodiesel Inc., the innovative facility is co-located with the 125 MMgy
November 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Neutrons Help Decipher Enzyme Function for Cellulosic Conversion
(Technical University of Munich/Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... Using neutrons, researchers have now investigated the reaction mechanism of an important class of enzymes: the glycosidases. The measurements were made at the neutron sources in Los Alamos and Oak Ridge (USA), as
November 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Moderate GOP Senators Form Green Coalition
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) Four centrist Senate Republicans are banding together to call for policies to protect the environment. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) describe the group as a loose coalition
November 02, 2015 Read Full Article
What to Consider Before Making the Decision to Offer Biodiesel
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
October 29, 2015 Read Full Article
New BETO Fact Sheets Profile the Emerging Bioeconomy by State
(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
October 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Analysis Shows Greenhouse Gas Emissions Similar for Shale, Crude Oil
by Tona Kunz (Argonne National Laboratory) The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory this week released a pair of studies on the efficiency of shale oil production excavation. The reports show that shale oil production generates greenhouse gas emissions
October 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Supply Chain Sustainability Analyses Completed
(U.S. Department of Energy) This fiscal year, three Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis (SCSA) reports were published through Argonne National Laboratory. The SCSAs use a life-cycle analysis approach to identify energy consumption or environmental issues that may be associated with biofuel
October 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Multifunctional Landscapes: Site Characterization and Field-Scale Design to Incorporate Biomass Production into an Agricultural System
by Herbert Ssegane, M. Cristina Negri, John Quinn, Meltem Urgun-Demirtas (Biomass and Bioenergy) Design of a multifunctional landscape by integrating cellulosic biofuel production into an existing agricultural system. The design does not adversely offset current grain production for bioenergy crops. Maps of
October 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Three Sustainability Tools Are Enhancing Environmental Benefits of Biofuels
by Kristen Johnson and Alicia Moulton (U.S. Department of Energy) At the Energy Department’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, we’re actively working to develop the advanced biofuels industry in a way that leads to positive impacts and that demonstrates responsible stewardship of
October 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Priming the Pump for Higher Blends
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
October 27, 2015 Read Full Article
RFA Statement on Big Oil Anti-RFS Campaign
(Renewable Fuels Association) The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released the following statement regarding an ad campaign that is being launched by Smarter Fuel Future to call on Congress and the administration to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “The oil industry
October 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Senators Push White House on Ethanol Mandate
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
October 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Oswego Teen Scientist Wins Medal Creating 'Next-Generation' Biofuel
by Elena Ferrarin (Daily Herald) Seventeen-year-old Tavis Reed is determined to make a difference in the world by helping mitigate or even repair environmental damage -- and he's already on his way, having applied those principles to develop an environmentally friendly
October 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Irwin, Good Analyze Ethanol, Biodiesel RINs Relationships
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Ethanol D6 RIN prices have stayed relatively stable over the summer while D4 biodiesel RINs prices plummeted, Illinois economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good point out in a recent FarmDocDaily post, “Why Isn’t the
September 28, 2015 Read Full Article
Trade Mission Tour to Stop at Two Ethanol Plants
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) An Illinois Department of Agriculture-led tour begins Sept. 21, with stops at a variety of grain-related businesses around the state, including Marquis Energy LLC, a 140 MMgy ethanol plant in Hennepin, Illinois, and Archer
September 22, 2015 Read Full Article
It's Time to Stop Thinking in Terms of Food versus Fuel
by Carl R. Woese (Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/Science Daily) How farmers can sustainably, and affordably, meet humanity's growing demand for food, fuel -- Experts predict farmers can sustainably, and affordably, meet humanity's growing demand for food
September 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Illinois Corn Working to Support #Ethanol, E15
by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) ... One such initiative is working with key players in Chicago to get 150 E15 stations up and running in the city. A piece of legislation is sitting with the Alderman and the mayor and Hartman hopes
September 15, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Invests $100M in Renewable Fuel Pumps: The Deep Dive into Who Got What, and How the Landscape Shifts
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
September 14, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Announces State Finalists for the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership
(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
September 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Is U.S. Commitment to Renewable Fuels Waning?
by John Sedbrook (Chicago Business) ... The Obama administration has taken laudable strides to reconcile fossil fuel dependence and climate change. In the past few months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new efforts to curb emissions from airlines, heavy-duty trucks
September 10, 2015 Read Full Article
IH2 Technology Licensed for Demonstration Plant
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Norwegian company to convert woody biomass into transportation fuels -- In Texas, SynSel Energi has entered into an IH2 process demonstration license agreement with CRI/Criterion Catalyst Company Ltd, a member of the CRI Catalyst group,
September 09, 2015 Read Full Article
How Viable Is Ethanol? Profit Margins Decrease as Corn Prices Drop from 2014
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
September 08, 2015 Read Full Article
7 Blendwall Busters
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
August 19, 2015 Read Full Article
RFA Asks EPA to Provide Relief to Midwest Consumers in Wake of Refinery Outage
(Renewable Fuels Association) Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen issued the following statement in response to the shutdown of the BP 240,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Whiting, Indiana, which has caused gasoline prices to spike in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio,
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
VIDEO: Sustainability in Bioenergy: A Nation Connected
(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,
August 17, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA’s Plan Puts 1MM Cars-Worth of Emissions Back on the Road: Report
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) A proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to change ethanol blending rules would significantly increase carbon emissions to the equivalent of adding nearly one million more passenger vehicles on the road, according to an
August 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Durbin, Kirk Support Federal Investment In Illinois Biofuels Industry
(Office of Senator Dick Durbin) U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today in support of Illinois’ application for additional federal funding to advance the deployment of biofuel infrastructure
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
50 Grassroots Events Planned in Support of Renewable Fuel Standard
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, more than fifty grassroots events are now scheduled take place at state and county fairs throughout the month of August, starting August 7th. Farmers and consumers will have the chance to inform and
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Hardier Cane Hybrids Could Increase Sugar Production
(Candy & Snack TODAY) Two new hybrid species of sugarcane capable of maintaining productivity in temperatures as low as 50 degree F could potentially allow cultivation beyond the current region and expand sugar yield by as much as 25
August 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Guest Viewpoint: America Pays the Price for Federal Downsizing of Ethanol Rules
by John Caupert (National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center/Belleville News Democrat) ... Beyond economic and environmental impact, one has to wonder about the wisdom of proposed rules from a federal agency that moves to regulate greenhouse gases for airlines with one action, but
August 05, 2015 Read Full Article
Transportation Energy Resources from Renewable Agriculture--ARPA-E Grants
TERRA projects seek to accelerate the development of sustainable energy crops for the production of renewable transportation fuels from biomass. To accomplish this, the projects uniquely integrate agriculture, information technology, and engineering communities to design and apply new tools for
August 05, 2015 Read Full Article
How One Farm Is Growing Food and Biofuels While Helping to Save the Environment
by Padma Nagappan (TakePart) ... Now researchers at the United States Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory think they have a solution that allows farmers to profit from growing both food and advanced biofuels while benefitting the environment. They planted willow on
July 29, 2015 Read Full Article
Biogas! The Big Cellulosic Fuel Breakthrough?
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
July 27, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Honors Winners of the 20th Annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards/Innovative Technologies Tackle Climate Change, Water, and Chemical Issues
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems into business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development. “From academia
July 13, 2015 Read Full Article
Scientists Study Ways to Integrate Biofuels and Food Crops on Farms
by Payal Marathe (Argonne National Laboratory) We ask a lot of the land: feed the world with crops, power the world with bioenergy, retain nutrients so they don’t pollute our water and air. To help landscapes answer these high demands,
July 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Gauging The Carbon Cost Of Fuel From Canadian Oil Sands
By Deirdre Lockwood (Chemical and Engineering News) Environment: New study finds that greenhouse gas emissions associated with fuel from Alberta oil sands are about 20% greater than those for U.S. crude oil The oil sands of Canada’s Alberta province are one
July 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Corn Growers in Cuba
by Cindy Zimmerman (AgWired) ... Cuba has purchased corn from the United States since the early 2000s, with market share varying widely from as high as 100 percent to just 15 percent last marketing year. The country has purchased distiller’s
July 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Unlocking Fermentation Secrets Open the Door to New Biofuels
by Rick Kubetz (Phys.Org) Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have, for the first time, uncovered the complex interdependence and orchestration of metabolic reactions, gene regulation, and environmental cues of clostridial metabolism, providing new insights for advanced biofuel
July 01, 2015 Read Full Article
Blog: Project to Restart Idled Ethanol Plant Has Deep Impact on Student
by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) This week, we'll hear from someone that was part of a project to restart an idled ethanol plant in 2013. It was an ambitious and interesting effort and I'm sorry to hear it wasn't
June 30, 2015 Read Full Article
Zein Plant Set to Start Production in August
by Jeannine Otto (AgriNews) ... Zein is a corn protein, and it’s the subject of the newest building project at Big River Resources. When the new zein extraction facility is completed, expected in August, it will produce the corn protein used in