Top Story:VeraSun Energy (VSE) and US BioEnergy (USBE) yesterday announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. The merger is expected to close during the first quarter of 2008, pending approvals. The deal, in which USBE shareholders will receive approximately $680 million of VeraSun stock, will create the world’s largest ethanol producer, with a […]
In Montana, Big Horn Basin Ethanol announced a lease agreement with Bronte Renewable of Ontario to provided $45 million in financing. Under the agreement, BHBE will lease and operate the plant, which will be owned by Bronte. The 25 Mgy plant is scheduled to open in September 2009. He said the plant would produce up […]
In Minnesota, the Granite Falls Energy ethanol plant has been fined $300,000 for environmental violations by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Thursday. The violations have been corrected, according to the agency, which related to over-production and water discharge quality among other issues. It is the largest environmental fine ever given to an ethanol plant.
The […]
In Brazil, the CFO of Cosan said that the company is seeking acquisitions to add to its portfolio of 17 ethanol plants, and included a focus on investment in the US.
He said the company’s $1 billion IPO, completed last year, provided the necessary growth capital for the company, which derives 33 percent of its revenue […]
In Finland, Neste Oil announced a plan to construct the largest biodiesel plant in the world, in Singapore.
The 430 Mgy plant would be completed by the end of 2010. The plant would use palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Estimated project cost is $814 million.
The Singapore’s Economic Development Board has […]
In Burkina Faso, officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) completed three days of meetings that coordinated biofuels policy prior to the commencement of the 13th UN Conference on Climate Change which will be held in Bali next week.
African ministers are expected to push for the inclusion of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation […]
In the Czech Republic, the mandatory blending of biofuels, scheduled for January 1,will be delayed because the controlling legislation on air emissions has not yet been passed by the national legislature.
Although companies such as Ceska rafinerska and the state-run Cepro could implement the 2 percent biofuels mandate on a voluntary basis, they have said that […]
A new cost-benefit analysis by researcher John Graham at the Pardee Rand Graduate School found that E85 scored the worst among all fuel options.
Diesels performed the best, saving $2300 over a vehicle’s lifetime compared to regular gasoline. Hybrids were a close second, while E85 cost $1600 for fuel over vehicle lifespan. The study’s authors […]
In North Carolina, North Carolina State University researchers announced that they have developed a sweet potato with a higher starch content by weight than corn. However, high production costs will prevent the new potato from enjoying large-scale cultivation for the time being.
North Carolina continues to position itself for US biofuels leadership through research into advanced […]
In Washington, more details emerged regarding the 2007 Energy Bill, which is now said to be be ready before December 7. Among items still under negotiating, a dispute between the House and Senate over administration of the ethanol mandate. The House prefers the EPA while the Senate wants the Department of Energy.
Currently under negotiation are […]
