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« Previous Entries Next Entries »Industry Deals With Ethanol Blending Issues
Friday, August 29th, 2008
Ethanol Producer Magazine:
Two recent separate matters concerning ethanol blending have generated some concern and interest among fuel retailers and the ethanol industry.
The Iowa Attorney General’s office filed a state consumer-protection lawsuit Aug. 13, charging Jerry Fratzke, owner of Pronto Market gas stations in Sumner and Fairbank, Iowa, of “improperly and fraudulently” selling E85 […]
Thanks To ALL, Brazil’s Ethanol Gets On The Right Track
Friday, August 22nd, 2008Brazzil Magazine:
Brazil-based ALL (América Latina Logística), the largest railway logistics operator in Latin America, is the newest player in the fuel alcohol sector in the state of São Paulo, which is responsible for around 75% of the whole alcohol and sugar production of Brazil. The state produces 24 billion liters of the product per year. […]
Genetically Modified Trees Provide Alternative Fuel
Friday, August 22nd, 2008WHQR Public Radio:
North Carolina State University has received a grant to study how genetically modified trees can be used to make ethanol.
The nearly $1 million will go toward planting trees at various locations across the state.
The modified trees produce more sugar, which is the part of the tree that can produce ethanol.
NC State’s Principal Investigator […]
A Better Way To Make Hydrogen From Biofuels
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008Eureka! Science News:
Researchers here have found a way to convert ethanol and other biofuels into hydrogen very efficiently. A new catalyst makes hydrogen from ethanol with 90 percent yield, at a workable temperature, and using inexpensive ingredients.
Umit Ozkan, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Ohio State University, said that the new catalyst is much […]
Barbados Considers Brazilian Ethanol Plant
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008International Herald Tribune:
Brazil is partnering with a Barbados businessman in a proposal to build a US$36 million ethanol plant near the capital.
Etanol de Costa Rica SA says the plant would produce about 132 million gallons (500 million liters) of ethanol a year, refining ethanol imported from Brazil. Spokesman Fabio Chazyn says the fuel would be […]
US To Spend $600 Million Advancing Renewable Fuels
Monday, August 18th, 2008Birmingham Star:
The United States plans to spend $600 million in coming years to propel development of renewable fuels and other new energy solutions.
The funding goes along with millions that private investors are spending to find ways to cut the nation’s dependence on oil.
The future of alternative energy appears to be rich, whether it is the […]
Sweet Opportunity For Farmers
Monday, August 18th, 2008The Amherst Daily:
Beets from Cumberland County could soon be fuelling cars if a proposed ethanol plant goes ahead as planned.
Ron Coles, manager of communications and public relations for Atlantec BioEnergy, said farmers across the province this summer planted 550 acres of beets to be used as a demonstration and in the company’s research.
“The main focus […]
Ethanol Industry Gears Up To Fight Its Critics
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008KTIV:
Hundreds of people involved in ethanol production have gathered in Omaha to learn about innovations in brewing the alternative fuel and share ways to fight back against ethanol critics.
The American Coalition for Ethanol’s trade show began less than a week after the Environmental Protection Agency gave the industry some good news by refusing to cut […]
Turning Waste Material Into Ethanol
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008Science Daily:
Say the word “biofuels” and most people think of grain ethanol and biodiesel. But there’s another, older technology called gasification that’s getting a new look from researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University.
By combining gasification with high-tech nanoscale porous catalysts, they hope to create ethanol from a […]
Irrational Policy: Ethanol Rules Are All About Politics
Wednesday, August 13th, 2008Houston Chronicle:
Few government programs have had more unintended and damaging consequences than subsidies for corn-based ethanol and mandates for its use as a motor fuel. Unfortunately, the leadership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, largely indifferent to environmental protection in recent years, seems blind to the harm the ethanol mandate is causing.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry […]
Energy Subsidy Dreams
Monday, August 11th, 2008Washington Post:
It seems every candidate has his favorite energy subsidy. Or two.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has favored setting a minimum goal of 60 billion gallons for ethanol of all kinds, derived from corn and cellulosic materials such as grasses or wood chips. That’s twice the current target for an industry which has thrived largely […]
Coal Is Hot, Ethanol Is Not
Monday, August 11th, 200824/7 Wall St.:
Pacific Ethanol led off its second quarter financial report with higher sales number. Unfortunately, the company also had to report earnings, or the lack of earnings. For the quarter, Pacific reported a net loss of $8.3 million (-$0.23 EPS). That was nearly double analysts’ average estimate of a -$0.12 EPS loss. Even the […]
Ethanol Industry Looking Up
Monday, August 4th, 2008Chicago Tribune:
The industry, which buys corn to make ethanol, has been finding it tough to make even a tiny profit, said ethanol consultant Mark Luitjens of Aberdeen, who has been part of the industry since 1992.
“For the past few months, the plants have struggled, and some have had negative (profit) margins,” he said. “Today, […]
Mechanics Criticize Ethanol For Small Engines
Monday, August 4th, 2008KETK:
Some mechanics now say ethanol can cause major problems for small engines, like those in lawnmowers and chainsaws.
Mechanics say ethanol attracts moisture from the air and prevents oil from properly lubricating engines. Mechanics say when this happens, a residue starts to clog filters and hoses.
The Renewable Fuels Association of Ethanol Producers says there […]
Cattlemen Are Against Subsidized Ethanol
Friday, August 1st, 2008NewsOK.com:
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association bolstered its stance against a subsidized ethanol industry Thursday when its Beef Production Committee adopted a resolution that stated its opposition.
In a meeting on the opening day of the group’s 56th annual convention at the Reed Center in Midwest City, the Beef Production Committee re-adopted a resolution first passed in 2005 […]
Gevo Seeks Partners To Enter Brazil Ethanol Sector
Friday, August 1st, 2008Reuters:
Gevo Inc, a U.S. developer of second-generation biofuels, wants to sell in Brazil a new technology that can turn cane-based ethanol into a more expensive biofuel — potentially boosting mills’ profits, an executive said late Thursday.
With minor equipment changes, the technology allows ethanol mills to produce isobutanol, a biofuel that has an energy content equivalent […]
Group Says Ethanol Had Small Effect On Food Prices
Friday, August 1st, 2008NTV:
Another new study says that ethanol production has had an impact on food prices, but only a small one.
Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson is chairman of the Ethanol Across America campaign that released the study. He says farmers are increasing yields to help meet the strong demand for corn, and that may lead to prices leveling […]
Ethanol Plant To Mean Millions To Local Economy
Thursday, July 31st, 2008South Hill Enterprise:
Osage Bio Energy’s proposed ethanol plant in Chase City is predicted to bring more than a hundred direct, indirect and induced jobs and millions of dollars into the local economy, according to the economic impact study completed by Duff & Phelps, an international provider of independent financial advisory and investment banking services.
The Duff […]
Brazil Is Poised To Begin WTO Protest Over Ethanol Tariffs
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008International Herald Tribune:
Brazil is likely to ask the World Trade Organization to open a blockbuster case into U.S. ethanol tariffs, a senior official said Wednesday, outlining the first possible dispute to arise as a result of this week’s global trade talks collapse.
Roberto Azevedo, Brazil’s WTO ambassador, said there was a “strong possibility” that the Latin […]
Gulf Ethanol Begins Testing New Cellulosic Preprocessing System
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008CNNMoney.com:
Gulf Ethanol Corporation announced today that testing of its new preprocessing system for cellulosic ethanol production has begun.
On Monday we started the equipment and began the process of calibrating it to handle sorghum. Tuesday was spent further evaluating the settings and a small amount of sorghum was tested in the machine to establish a […]