(Northwest Indiana Times) A group of contractors planning to build a proposed trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider announced Monday it has reached an agreement to purchase assets from developer Powers Energy of America. The group, SMC LLC, signed an agreement with Powers
Indiana
Back TO HOMEAgrivida Launches Field Trials to Test Modified Corn Stover
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Massachusetts-based Agrivida Inc. is conducting the first year of USDA-permitted field trials to grow corn that has been engineered to include enzymes in the corn stalk. The addition should lower the cost of cellulosic
July 25, 2012 Read Full Article
Powers Given Another Month in Quest for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant Financing
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) Powers Energy of America remained in breach of contract with Lake County's solid waste board but was given another month to try to prove it can finance its long proposed trash-to-ethanol plant. The extension until
July 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Lake Station Approves Trash-to-Ethanol Agreement
by Deborah Laverty (Northwest Indiana Times) After a lengthy discussion, City Council members agreed Thursday to sign an interlocal cooperation agreement with the Lake County Solid Waste Management District. The agreement allows the city to take part in the proposed $450
July 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Waste Official: Clock Ticking on Trash-to-Ethanol Deal
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) If a would-be trash-to-ethanol developer doesn't have the money in hand to complete its project by July 19, it doesn't have a deal with the county, a top solid waste district official says. "If you
July 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Powers Energy Meets Goal for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant
by Carrie Napoleon (Post-Tribune/SunTimes) Powers Energy has met the requirements of the 60-day milestone set out by the Lake County Solid Waste Management District board regarding land acquisition for the proposed $360 million trash-to-ethanol plant. Thursday the LCSWMD board accepted 21-1 the
June 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Hobart Supports Garbage-to-Ethanol Plant
by Karen Caffarini (Post Tribune) The City Council has unanimously approved an interlocal agreement to send Hobart-generated garbage to the Powers Energy ethanol plant in Schneider, if and when it is constructed, becoming the seventh community to commit to the project. The
June 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Sorghum Should Be in the Biofuel Crop Mix, Experts Say
(Science Daily/Purdue University) Sweet and biomass sorghum would meet the need for next-generation biofuels to be environmentally sustainable, easily adopted by producers and take advantage of existing agricultural infrastructure, a group of researchers led by Purdue University scientists believes. The scientists
June 25, 2012 Read Full Article
The Future for Corn Stover in Biofuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The future of using corn stover for advanced biofuels was one of the discussion topics at last week’s Corn Utilization Technology Conference in Indianapolis. ...(Nathan) Mosier (with the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University) says he’s been working
June 13, 2012 Read Full Article
Mill, Baby, Mill
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In-field bioprocessing? Dramatically higher plant oil production? R&D breakthroughs offer new paths to victory for Millers vs Drillers. If you haven’t been getting most of your information on the Renewable Fuel Standard from the Grocers Manufacturing
June 06, 2012 Read Full Article
Energy-Dense Biofuel from Cellulose Close to Being Economical
(Purdue University) A new Purdue University-developed process for creating biofuels has shown potential to be cost-effective for production scale, opening the door for moving beyond the laboratory setting. A Purdue economic analysis shows that the cost of the thermo-chemical H2Bioil method
June 05, 2012 Read Full Article
Munster Council Sets Hearings on Trash-to-Ethanol Agreement
by Lu Ann Franklin (Northwest Indiana Times) The Town Council will hear public comments about signing the interlocal agreement with Lake County Solid Waste District for the proposed trash-to-ethanol facility in Schneider on June 4 and June 18. ...As proposed, the trash-to-ethanol
May 30, 2012 Read Full Article
Cenusa Bioenergy Receives $25 Million Grant from USDA
by Kelly Madsen (IowaStateDaily.com) The Iowa State University-led Cenusa Bioenergy project works to develop a biofuel with both a Midwestern and environmental focus. Through a five-year, $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
March 26, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Offers Alternative to Rising Gas Prices
by Richard Essex (WTHR.com) For almost three weeks, the price of gas is going up. On the far west side of Indianapolis, regular unleaded gas is just a tick under $4 a gallon. Staci and Doug Stover of Avon
February 28, 2012 Read Full Article
Lake County Dodging a Legal Bullet on Trash Disposal?
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) The Lake County Solid Waste Management District could avoid potential litigation — but invite other legal problems — if the trash-to-ethanol contract dies between now and April 2. A canceled county contract with Powers Energy
February 20, 2012 Read Full Article
Brazilian Demand Gives U.S. Ethanol Producers a Big Boost
by Steve Tarter (The State-Journal Register) More U.S. ethanol was shipped overseas in 2011 than any year in history. The Washington, D.C.-based Renewable Fuels Association reported that 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol — worth about $2.5 billion — were exported to
February 16, 2012 Read Full Article
As Time Passes, So Does Faith in Trash-to-Ethanol Plan, Some Waste Officials
by Marc Chase (NWITimes.com) As time began to run out on Lake County's trash-to-ethanol plan last week, so did the faith and confidence of solid waste district officials — both in the project and themselves. Jeff Langbehn, executive director of
February 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Consumers Have More Options at the Pump
by Meghan Grebner (Brownfield Ag News) Fort Wayne, Ind. residents will have additional options when it comes to filling up their flex-fuel vehicles. The flex-fuel pump – the first of its kind offers drivers the option for E85 or E30. Lassus Handy Dandy president
January 27, 2012 Read Full Article
Iowa State University-Led Group Awarded $25 Million Grant for Land Use, Biofuel Production Study
(Iowa State University) Now, an Iowa State University-based study over the next five years will examine whether a single, coordinated production system can address all of these concerns while making profits for producers. A multi-state, interdisciplinary team led by Ken Moore,
January 19, 2012 Read Full Article
Former Sheriff Seeks Proof of Financing for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana) The former Lake County sheriff is seeking answers regarding the absent financing for a proposed south county trash-to-ethanol plant. And the chief political champion of the plan, Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, said he wants the
January 10, 2012 Read Full Article
Retailers Not Ready For Ethanol
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) Jay Berry, with Central Indiana Ethanol in Marion, says many stations do not have the equipment to handle higher ethanol blends. He told HAT there are no regulations that cover ethanol compliance, “We had
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Ethanol Makers Shrug off Expiration of Key Tax Credit
by Chris O'Malley (Indianapolis Business Journal) ...But it looks like motorists, rather than ethanol makers, stand to feel the pain. The reason is the survival of another federal measure, known as the Renewable Fuels Standard. It requires that an increasing amount
January 09, 2012 Read Full Article
Trash-to-Ethanol Plant Still Planned for Lake County
(Network Indiana) Evansville-based Powers Energy of America is still planning on buying land in south Lake County and building a facility that will convert trash into ethanol in about three years from now. Lake County Solid Waste Management District Executive Director
December 28, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol Racing Fuel Firm Gets Paul Dana Award
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) If not for the vision of Paul Dana that ethanol could fuel Indy Racing cars, Ignite Racing Fuel might never have existed. The Indiana company this week received the 2011 Paul Dana Excellence in Bioenergy Leadership Award from
December 23, 2011 Read Full Article
Hoosier Implement Dealer Develops Corn Stover Harvest Solution
by Andy Eubank (Hoosier Ag Today) Homegrown Indiana innovation for farmers was displayed Tuesday in Fulton County when the New Holland Rochester manager climbed aboard a combine with his patented Cornrower and created a windrow of corn stover while shelling
November 18, 2011 Read Full Article
Powers Officials Claim Money Is on Way for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana) Offering no firm timeline on when money for a proposed trash-to-ethanol plant would be in the bank, a man claiming to be the owner of a Nevada-based hedge fund said he is committed to funding the
November 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Distillers Grains Offer Viable Feed Option for Young Dairy Heifers
by Jennifer Stewart (Purdue Newsroom) Dairy producers looking for a high-quality heifer feed that often costs less than traditional corn and soybean feed grains should consider distillers grains, says a Purdue Extension dairy nutrition specialist. Distillers grains, a co-product of ethanol
November 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol Research Centers on Poplars
(R&D) In May a team of researchers led by Rick Meilan, associate professor of forestry and natural resources, began a five-year study to determine the viability of poplar species as an ethanol feedstock and cash crop for Indiana farmers. The study includes
October 26, 2011 Read Full Article
Dividing Corn Stover Makes Ethanol Conversion More Efficient
(PhysOrg.com/Purdue University) Not all parts of a corn stalk are equal, and they shouldn't be treated that way when creating cellulosic ethanol, say Purdue University researchers. When corn stover is processed to make cellulosic ethanol, everything is ground down and blended together.
October 26, 2011 Read Full Article
Schneider Property Proposed for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant Now up for Sale
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) The land deal for a proposed trash-to-ethanol plant in Schneider is off, according to county solid waste district officials, and the town's top official questions whether it ever will be built. Schneider Town Council President
October 25, 2011 Read Full Article
Proposed Farm Bill Includes Advanced Biofuels
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R, IN-3rd) have introduced a farm bill that they say would save $40 billion and includes provisions that support the development of advanced biofuels. “We offer our bill as a
October 11, 2011 Read Full Article
Ryfa to Powers: Show Evidence of Financing for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant
by Marc Chase (Northwest Indiana Times) A Lake County solid waste management official wants to give Earl Powers 90 days to prove he can finance the trash-to-ethanol plant that he pledged more than 1,000 days ago to build. Griffith Town Councilman
October 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Corn Marketing Council Grants to Help Pay to Install Flex Fuel Pumps
by Megan Banta (Evansville Courier & Press) Hoosiers will soon see new flex fuel pumps at a handful of Indiana convenience stores and gas stations funded by a grant program launched Wednesday by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. The pumps, also
September 29, 2011 Read Full Article
Study Finds More Effective Way to Dry Ethanol, Reduce Costs
by Brian Wallheimer (Purdue University) Purdue University researchers have found an alternative environmentally friendly and energy-efficient way to dry corn ethanol, and their proof is in the pudding. Michael Ladisch, a distinguished professor of agricultural and biological engineering; Youngmi Kim, a Purdue
September 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Pretreatment, Proper Harvest Time Boost Ethanol from Switchgrass
by Brian Wallheimer (Purdue University) Adding a pretreatment step would allow producers to get more ethanol from switchgrass harvested in the fall, according to a Purdue University study. Michael Ladisch, a distinguished professor of agricultural and biological engineering, and Youngmi Kim,
September 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Green Grease Solutions to Supply Feedstock to e-Biofuels
by Erin Voegele (Biodiesel Magazine) ..."We are very excited to strengthen our relationship with our primary feedstock supplier–Green Grease Solutions LLC—and to secure a longer term feedstock supply agreement for our biodiesel operations,” said Jeffrey Wilson, president of Imperial Petroleum.
August 31, 2011 Read Full Article
Water Intensity of Corn-Based Ethanol Needs to Include DDGS Credit
by Gouri Shankar Mishra and Sonia Yeh (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Study recalculates water consumption with expanded system boundaries and coproduct credit Recent studies have estimated the “consumptive water use,” “water embodied,” and “water footprint” of corn-based ethanol in the U.S, with
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Vilsack: USDA Will Continue to Push for Blender Pump Expansion
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA’s Aug. 17 announcement of 900 Rural Energy for America Program grants included just 21 awards for blender pumps. USDA officials promise, however, that more funding is on the way. The announcement highlighted
August 22, 2011 Read Full Article
Scouting for Biofuels Crops in Indian Creek Watershed
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory is looking for the best biofuels crops to grow in the northeast Illinois Indian Creek Watershed. During a recent field tour of the watershed sponsored by theConservation Technology Information Center, Argonne
August 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Town Hopes for Trash-to-Ethanol Plant, but Frustrations Mount
by Marc Chase (NWI.com) What had been all excitement regarding a possible economic boon for this south Lake County town is turning into some frustration and deflated spirits, according to one Schneider official. Town Council President Richard Wright said he still
August 15, 2011 Read Full Article
Purdue Economists Report on Causes of High Commodity Prices
by Keith Robinson (Purdue University) Growing demand for corn to use in biofuels and for soybeans to help feed a booming Chinese economy are among key forces driving commodity prices higher this year, according to a report by three
July 19, 2011 Read Full Article
Purdue Research Investigates Digestive Enzymes in Termites
by Bryan Sims (Biorefining Magazine) Delving into termite guts to find the best cellulases or lignocellulases to efficiently convert cellulose and hemicelluloses, even lignin, into advanced biofuels isn’t a new concept within the biorefining community, but researchers at Purdue University
July 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol Integral to Farm Network
by Bryan Christjansen (Journal Gazette) In “Ethanol’s subsidies drain on economy” (Opinion, July 3), Wayne Townsend claims that ethanol production in the United States and in Indiana has caused the price of corn to “skyrocket,” thus “jeopardizing the financial
July 12, 2011 Read Full Article
Lugar Introduces Practical Energy Plan on Facebook
(Office of Senator Dick Lugar) Senator Dick Lugar today introduced his Practical Energy Plan exclusively via Facebook. Lugar was joined in the live stream by Dave Conover, Senior Vice President of the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Bush Administration official. Video
July 01, 2011 Read Full Article
Watch for a Flex-Fuel Pump Near You
by Tom Bechman (Indiana Prairie Farmer) Corn growers in Indiana promote more pumps. One of the highlights of the ethanol summit in Indianapolis a few days ago was an announcement that the Indiana Corn Marketing Council has launched a new program
June 27, 2011 Read Full Article
It's a Go for MSW-to-Ethanol Plant Near Chicago
by Kris Bevill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A long-proposed municipal solid waste (MSW)-to-ethanol project in Lake County, Ind., has locked in the financing needed to construct the facility and is expected to undergo construction in July. Powers Energy of America Inc.
June 20, 2011 Read Full Article
Indiana Corn Announces Grants for Fuel Retailers
(Indiana Corn Marketing Council) A new program launched by the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) looks to give Hoosier consumers a choice at the pump when it comes to purchasing ethanol blends. The Flex Fuel Pump Program, unveiled during the Indiana
June 14, 2011 Read Full Article
Ethanol Continues to Drive Indiana Economy
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today) ...The facts show that ethanol continues to be a major economic driver in Indiana. The 13 ethanol plants in the state produce over 1 billion gallons annually and generate $3.2 billion in sales and
June 10, 2011 Read Full Article
Scheub Says $600 Million Committed to Ethanol Production
by Bill Dolan (Northwest Indiana Times) Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Merrillville, announced Thursday that an out-of-state investment firm is committing $600 million to the construction of trash-to-ethanol production. "The groundbreaking will be sometime after Memorial Day. The festivities will be
May 20, 2011 Read Full Article
New Biofuel Facility Underway
by Annie Ilnicki (WANE.com) Nature's Fuel to open by end of year A company in Huntington is on its way to turning trash into liquid gold. Officials from Nature's Fuel broke ground Wednesday afternoon, on a facility that'll turn everyday
May 03, 2011 Read Full Article
Saint Michael’s Receives $766,000 NSF Grant as Part of Plant Genome Project
(VermontBiz.com) Saint Michael's College biologist Dr Mark Lubkowitz and his students join a team of researchers from the University of Missouri, University of Florida, Purdue University and the University Nebraska-Lincoln, on a five-year project to study the genes that control
March 24, 2011 Read Full Article
Lake Mayors Range from Optimistic to Concerned on Trash-to-Ethanol
by Marc Chase (NWI Times) Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. expressed reservation at signing a 20-year agreement to commit his city's trash to a process that remains commercially unproven. "I talk to smart people that know what they're talking about, and
March 17, 2011 Read Full Article
Gas Prices and the Use of E85
by Max Resnik (Indiana's News Center) Could E-85, the 85% ethanol based gasoline, prove to be the cure to curb the pain at the pump? In the Summit City, E-85, on average, is going for about $0.40 less per gallon. But
March 09, 2011 Read Full Article
Too Vulnerable to Reliance on Foreign Oil
by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind (IndyStar) ...Washington over the years has failed to focus sufficient attention on our oil vulnerability and generate momentum behind substantive, concrete proposals with definable goals. In 1999, former CIA director James Woolsey and I published
March 07, 2011 Read Full Article
Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit: Conference Report
by Bill Brandon (Advanced Biofuels USA) On February 10 & 11, about 120 participants gathered in chilly Chicago for the first Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit presented by the British firm, Eye for Energy. The conference drew participants from
February 21, 2011 Read Full Article
Genetic Mutation Helps Plants Use Less Water without Biomass Loss
(NewKerala.com) Purdue University researchers have made a discovery that could reduce the amount of water required for growing plants and help plants survive and thrive in adverse conditions. They have found a genetic mutation that allows a plant to better endure drought
January 18, 2011 Read Full Article
Indiana County Won't Own Ethanol Plant After All
by (AP/The Republic) ...The Lake County Solid Waste Management District board unanimously adopted a revised contract Thursday that strips away the county's ownership of the plant that Powers Energy of America wants to build near the town of Schneider. The Times of
December 20, 2010 Read Full Article
Scientist: Ethanol the Wrong Path for Lake County, Alternative Fuels
by Marc Chase (The Times/istockanalyst.com) Lake County's public-private plan to transform trash to ethanol would generate an inferior fuel with a questionable future, a former National Science Foundation official and energy adviser to the federal government said. John Regalbuto, a chemical engineering
December 15, 2010 Read Full Article
Draft Contract Puts Ethanol Plant in Private Hands
by Christine Kraly (NWITimes) Citing what's best for Lake County residents, a draft revised contract to bring a waste-to-ethanol plant to Schneider now puts the facility in the hands of its private operator. A proposed revision to the contract between the Lake County Solid Waste
December 13, 2010 Read Full Article
Washington Could Determine Ethanol's Indiana Future
(Chicago Tribune/AP) A decision by Congress on whether to extend or gradually phase out a tax credit to oil companies and refiners to blend ethanol with gasoline could make or break some of Indiana's 12 ethanol plants. A study by a
November 29, 2010 Read Full Article
Gene Find Could Lead to Healthier Food, Better Biofuel Production
(EurekAlert!) Purdue University scientists have found the last undiscovered gene responsible for the production of the amino acid phenylalanine, a discovery that could lead to processes to control the amino acid to boost plants' nutritional values and produce better biofuel
November 26, 2010 Read Full Article
Ethanol Queries Welcomed
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) Earl Powers said he is ready to answer questions regarding his proposed nearly $300 million garbage-to-ethanol plant. Powers, president of Evansville-based Powers Energy of America, said Wednesday he will attend the Lake County Solid Waste Management District's
November 08, 2010 Read Full Article
Griffith Trash Pact 60 Percent Higher than Ethanol Plant Fee
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) If the town approves any of three recently opened trash hauling bids, residents here would likely pay 60 percent more to have their trash taken to a landfill than to a proposed garbage-to-ethanol plant. Town officials, who
October 18, 2010 Read Full Article
Bioethanol Effort Gets Boost in Florida
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) Project in south Lake County based on same technology. A proposed Florida bioethanol plant that will use the same process as a planned Schneider plant will use has been issued an air permit for the project. The
September 09, 2010 Read Full Article
TerraSolutions Take Top Honors at 23rd Annual Business-Plan Competition
by Phillip Fiorini (Purdue Newsroom) Student-led companies that develop consumer products from the byproducts of ethanol production and a tissue-healing technology that also reduces scarring took top honors at Purdue University's 23rd annual $100,000 Burton D. Morgan Business Plan Competition. ...TerraSolutions
February 27, 2010 Read Full Article
Waste-to-Ethanol Plant Plan Questioned
by Diane Krieger Spivak (Post-Tribune) Lake County (Indiana) Solid Waste Management Commission chief Jeff Langbehn defended a planned $256 million bioethanol plant Friday before the Lake County Advancement Committee. ...Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez questioned whether the expense of the plant, which
February 17, 2010 Read Full Article
Indiana Corn Acres Decrease as Ethanol Production Increases
(Hoosier Ag Today, Indiana Corn Marketing Council) For the last five years, Madison County farmer Mike Shuter has maintained the same crop rotation on his farm of two-thirds of his fields in corn and one-third in soybeans. He hasn’t seen
October 07, 2009 Read Full Article
Indiana Publishes Agriculture Roadmap Including Cellulosic Ethanol Promotion
Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman presented a roadmap for continued growth in Indiana agriculture. This publication updates the Indiana State Department of Agriculture's strategic plan and will guide that Department's focus over the next four years. Included in the strategy