Biodiesel and Ethanol Investing

Abengoa Expects Ethanol Plant Re-Start Very Soon

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:00:35 +0000

Reuters UK reports that Abengoa planes to re-start its ethanol plant in Spain in the near future. The company expects the new ethanol blending mandate to help boost its domestic market. The facility, which is half-owned by Ebro Puleva, has been on hold since last September.

PhibroChem Hiring for Ethanol Industry Growth

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:00:55 +0000

Ethanol Producer Magazine reports that PhibroChem’s Ethanol Performance Group hired Neal Flickinger, Henry Huertas and Stephen O’Shea to help grow the ethanol industry. PhibroChem offers ethanol, personal care, paint and coatings, metal finishing performance products.

NGA and GM to Help Increase E85 Pumps

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:00:41 +0000

Feedstuffs.com reports that the National Governors Association (NGA) has secured a public-private partnership between its Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiative and General Motors to make E85 available at more fueling stations. The partnership will help states develop strategies to install the E85 pumps in the best locations.

Earth Biofuels Restructuring Debt at Biodiesel Plant

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:00:33 +0000

EarthTimes.org reports that Earth Biofuels, Inc. is restructuring promissory notes to reduce its senior secured debt on an Oklahoma biodiesel facility by $4M. The company plans to produce biodiesel from yellow grease and animal fats at the plant.

August Ethanol Drops Down on CBOT

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:00:33 +0000

MSN Money reports that the CBOT agriculture and ethanol closing prices for September corn dropped to $6.48 1/4 per bushel and soybeans dropped to $15.28 per bushel. August ethanol also closed lower to $2.599 per gallon.

Car Manufacturers and Station Owners in Catch-22 Over Ethanol

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:36 +0000

CityPages.com reports that although flex-fuel cars are greatly increasing in the U.S., there are not enough pumps for people to use the fuel. The current problem with the U.S. market is that car manufacturers say they would make more flex-fuel cars if the ethanol pumps were available and fuel pump owners say they’d install more pumps if more flex-fuel cars were on the road.

Burkett Says Ethanol is Bad Solution for Oil Crisis

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:00:10 +0000

iStockAnalyst.com reports that ethanol is not the best solution for the U.S. oil crisis. The article says if food production is used for energy needs, we will only drastically increase the numbers of malnourished and starving people throughout the world. The open column supports a repeal of ethanol mandates.

High Corn Prices Threaten U.S. Energy Independence

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:39 +0000

The Washington Times reports that high corn prices are threatening the U.S. ethanol industry’s ability to reduce the country’s foreign oil independence. Analysts are predicting that corn prices will stay high through next year even though the number of crops planted has drastically increased.

Verenium Receives DOE Grant for Cellulosic Ethanol Facility

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:05 +0000

Energy Business Review reports that Verenium received a grant under the DOE’s $40 million program to help small-scale cellulosic ethanol plants have success. During this round, Verenium was one of the two companies who received the grant money. Verenium will use the funds to support production at its 1.4 Mgy demonstration-scale facility in Louisiana.

More E85 Stations Showing Up in Iowa

Laurel — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:55 +0000

Wallaces Farmer reports that more E85 pump stations are popping up all over Iowa to try and meet the demand for alternative fuel. Shannon Textor, Market Development Director of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Corn Promotion Board, says the price of E85 is significantly lower than traditional gasoline right now. Textor also mentioned that ethanol helps stimulate the economy, reduce environmental harm, and avoid the dependence on foreign oil.

Glacial Lakes Energy Opens Ethanol Plant, Puts Other on Hold

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:00:47 +0000

Keloland.com reports that Glacial Lakes Energy began production at its Aberdeen Energy ethanol plant in northeast South Dakota. But the company put its ethanol plant in Meckling, South Dakota on hold due to high costs.

Green Plains Renewable Energy Opens 55 Mgy Plant

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:00:28 +0000

KTIV.com reports that Green Plains Renewable Energy is finding success in a volatile market. The company recently began ethanol production at its 55 Mgy plant in Superior, Iowa. A merge with Great Lakes Co-op likely helped the plant reach production with “a little bit of an edge on [the] corn supply.”

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:00:06 +0000

PIA Information Services reports that San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. will likely sell its first batch of ethanol at the end of this year. The company is producing the first locally-produced sugar ethanol in the Philippines. According to San Carlos Bioenergy’s website, its ethanol facility has the capacity to produce 125,000 liters of ethanol every day.

MinnErgy’s Proposed Ethanol Plant Receives Split Views

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:12 +0000

PostBulletin.com reports that MinnErgy’s proposed ethanol plant for the Eyota Township received a 5-4 vote in support of an Environmental Impact Statement from the Olmsted County Environmental Commission. The commission also gave unanimous approval for the Environmental Assessment Worksheet and recommendations from county staff and commission members.

Ethanol Subsidies Round Table Discussion

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:09 +0000

Galesburg.com held an online community round table discussion on ethanol subsidies. Some say ethanol is only part of the answer to the America’s energy problems. Others say ethanol is too expensive to continue to offer government subsidies. Some people say that investors backed out of ethanol support, so the government should follow suit.

Dow Chemical and DOE to Make Ethanol from Bioimass

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:00:04 +0000

TCE Today reports that Dow Chemical is teaming up with the U.S. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) to research production of ethanol from biomass. The research will look at using ingredients like wood waste and corn plant leaves to make ethanol through Dow’s mixed-alcohols catalysts.

Forbes Lists Top 5 Biomass States

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:00:49 +0000

Biomass Magazine reports that Forbes Magazine listed the top five U.S. states with the best biomass industry potential. Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, North Dakota, and North Carolina were chosen because they have unique land composition, distinctive biomass feedstocks, and the best farming and economy for biomass. Iowa was chosen for its large grain contribution, North Dakota has great potential to grow unconventional biomass feedstocks, and Georgia has a great amount of waste wood that could be used for fuel. Mississippi also has tons of extra wood chips and North Carolina has a large swine population which produces hog waste that can be used for electricity from methane.

Biofuel Energy Corp. Facilities Almost at Full Capacity

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:21 +0000

MarketWatch.com reports that Biofuel Energy Corp. has begun shipping ethanol and distillers grain from its Wood River, Nebraska and Fairmont, Minnesota facilities. The plants are almost at full capacity and have each exceeded 90%. Biofuel Energy Corp. plans to become a top ethanol producer in the States.

Cardiff University Making Biodiesel from Chip Fat Oil

Laurel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:37 +0000

WalesOnline.co.uk reports that Cardiff University began a new project that will convert chip fat oil into biodiesel that is 20p less expensive than traditional diesel. The chemistry department at Cardiff is also looking into improving efficiency by making other eco-friendly products from the biodiesel by-product glycerol.

Frequent Filter Changes Increase Biodiesel Cost

Laurel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:00:48 +0000

WFTV reports that transportation companies are saying biodiesel is causing problems with clogged fuel filters and increasing costs with frequent filter changes. Bus systems such as Lynx in Orlando, FL are planning to convert their fleets to biodiesel in the near future. But, some bus riders aren’t looking forward to the change because they are afraid the increase filter changes will raise the price of their tickets.