In a letter to Energy Department employees today, Energy Secretary Steven Chu highlighted the tremendous progress of the last four years, and announced his decision to not serve a second term as secretary.
Valero Energy Corp. has released its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012. Regarding Valero's ethanol segment, the company reported an operating income of $12 million in the fourth quarter, a decrease compared to the same period of 2011.
Novozymes announced it has reached an agreement to acquire Iogen Bio-Products, the industrial enzyme business of Ottawa-based Iogen Corp. for CA $67.5 million and potential earn-out payments of up to CA $12.5 million.
Spot prices for U.S. fuel ethanol were lower throughout most of 2012 compared to 2011. Prices were relatively stable during the first half of 2012, but they rose at mid-year as severe drought and scorching temperatures reduced corn yields.
The U.S. EPA is proposing the 2013 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency's renewable fuel standard program (RFS2). The proposal announced today will be open for a 45-day public comment period.
Groups representing the U.S. ethanol and advanced biofuel industries responded swiftly to the 2013 renewable fuel standard (RFS) volumetric requirements released Jan. 31, pointing out both positives and negatives.
On Jan. 31 the U.S. EPA published a proposed rule that creates a structured process for buyers of renewable identification numbers (RINs) to verify their validity. A 30-day comment period will allow member of the public to weigh in on the measure.
The phones were ringing and multiple staff meetings were being held at the Iogen Corp. headquarters following the Jan. 31 announcement of Novozymes' acquisition of the industrial enzymes business of the Ottawa-based enzyme maker.
ACE Ethanol LLC and Front Range Energy LLC have signed 15-year agreements with Sweetwater Energy Inc. to purchase cellulosic sugars for processing at their corn-ethanol facilities.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board has once again demonstrated that it either does not understand why Congress decided to require oil companies to use cellulosic biofuels five years ago or it is not willing to tell the truth about it.
High corn prices, difficult supplies and tight margins have taken three more ethanol plants offline in recent weeks, including one in Plainview, Texas, one in York, Neb., and a third in Ravenna, Neb.
On Jan. 28 Global Partners LP announced it would acquire 100 percent of the membership interests of an idled 110 MMgy ethanol plant in Clatskanie, Ore., as well as an onsite rail transloading facility serviced by the BNSF Railway, and other assets.
The U.S. Grains Council has issued its 2012 Annual Report, which includes success stories from the year and market profiles from more than 25 countries and regions. The also includes export data on distiller's dried grains with solubles.
The Coordinating Research Council has released a report outlining fuel test results that show E15 fuel can damage fuel system components. Representatives of the ethanol industry, however, are questioning the testing methods.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Fuel Ethanol Overview in its January Monthly Energy Review shows that ethanol consumption for the first 10 months of 2012 was up slightly compared to the two previous years.
January 28, 2013
Planning for the 2013 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, June 10-13 in St. Louis, is gearing up. Those interested in being part of a panel presentation are invited to submit their ideas. New this year will be a poster session.
The Bundesverband der deutschen Bioethanolwirtschaft (BDBe), a German ethanol trade organization, has released production statistics for 2012. According to the organization, German ethanol production increased by 7.4 percent last year.
A recently released European Commission proposal on deploying alternative fuels infrastructure recognizes the importance of biofuels but does not go far enough, said ePURE, the European Renewable Ethanol Association.
A research team in England has discovered that differences in the ease with which sugars can be extracted from willow can be explained by differences in their wood composition in response to conditions that induce growth stress.
The D.C. Circuit court has issued a narrow, but mixed decision, striking down the 2012 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement under the renewable fuel standard (RFS), but affirming the 2012 volume standard for advanced biofuels.
Chromatin Inc. will host a meeting on Feb. 5 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Modesto, Calif., to introduce production opportunities for grain sorghum in California. The grower meeting will provide details on the Chromatin 2013 Grain Sorghum Program.
The U.S. EPA has published renewable identification number (RIN) data for all 12 months of 2012. RINs are used by obligated parties to meet volume requirements of the renewable fuels standard (RFS). No cellulosic RINs were generated in December.
Praj Industries has announced major order gain for an ethanol plant from Riopaila Castilla SA for a 400,000 liter-per-day plant that will be located at La Paila in the Valle del Cauca region of Columbia.
On Jan. 23, Guardian Energy Heron Lake LLC announced the signing of an agreement to acquire the ethanol production assets of Heron Lake BioEnergy LLC, a 50 MMgy ethanol plant located in Heron Lake, Minn.
Poet Biorefining-Macon will temporarily suspend plant operations effective Feb. 1 due primarily to a lack of available local corn. All of the plant's 44 team members will remain employed at their current hours.
Poet LLC announced that 25 of its network of 27 biorefineries have installed its patent-pending corn oil technology, bringing its total capacity to approximately 250,000 tons per year, enough to produce 68 million gallons of biodiesel annually.
The Renewable Fuels Association and the Renewable Fuels Foundation are excited to announce Wade Hunt of Sterling, Neb., is this year's recipient of a scholarship to attend the 18th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Driving Forward.
An idled ethanol plant in Nebraska has been purchased by a North Dakota-based company that intends to turn around and find a new buyer and operator for the facility, according to the plant's president and general manager.
Novozymes has appointed a new president and CEO and released its financial results for 2012. On Jan. 21, the company announced its board of directors has appointed Peder Holk Nielsen president and CEO, effective April 1.
The Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy have responded to the European Commissions recent proposal to impose duties on ethanol imported from the United States, equivalent to 62.3 Euro per metric ton.
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