Daily Summary for July 27

In today’s producer news, a new ethanol plant has been announced in Illinois and a methanol plant in Puerto Rico. A New England-based producer has announced a new product that converts toxic emissions of fixed, fossil fuel powered electric power generators into biodiesel and ethanol feedstocks.

In research news, an Oregon State University study stated that biofuels adoption would reduce Oregon’s fossil fuel usage by only one percent, and be 6 to 15 times as costly as tax incentives aimed at curbing gasoline usage.

In policy news, former New York City Mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani called for more investment in ethanol as a part of his national energy strategy, while Florida House Republican leader Marco Rubio blasted Republican Governor Charlie Crist for his Florida biofuels initiatives. Crist meanwhile received outspoken support from Florida Democratic leaders.

In international news, a proposal was introduced in India calling for the petroleum industry to purchase up to five percent of the Indian ethanol production to shore up the slumping Indian sugar industry. A new algae biodiesel joint venture to produce biodiesel from algae has been announced in Portugal, while a biodiesel plant will also be constructed in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta.

Richard Branson and famed high-tech venture capitalist Vinod Khosla announced their investments in the start-up Gevo, which will produce advanced biofuels such as butanol.

In demand-side news, Marathon announced that it will begin selling B2 and B11 biodiesel blends at two of its Illinois terminals. Marathon has been selling soy-based biodiesel in Minnesota and Kentucky since 2005. Meanwhile, General Motors kicked off its E85 Days of summer program this week with promotion stops at ethanol stations in several cities in Texas.

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