US ethanol development is dead until 2009, says exec after 15-bank tour

A top engineering executive said that, based on a recently completed US roadshow with 15 major ethanol-related lenders, ethanol development is “dead” until 2009 at the earliest. Bateman Litwin CEO Shuki Raz told Reuters that financing issues and high feedstock prices were the concerns influencing the drying up of capital.

Ethanol Producer has released its updated list of 118 proposed US ethanol projects with a total of 8 billion gallons in planned capacity. The directory of projects in planning, development or construction includes details on ownership and capacity for each proposed project.

Late last year, entrepreneur Carlo Bakker has launched a global database of biofuel plants, called worldbioplants.com. The website includes information on 906 biofuel plants, including 549 ethanol plants and 357 biodiesel plants in 51 countries.

The increase in biofuel plants and fuel outlets has prompted a number of entreprenurial ventures into biofuels information services. NearBio.com and neare85.com recently offered Biofuel Fuel Route Wizard for mobile and desktop users. A new print directory of E85 stations has been released, available from Energy Independence Publications, and listing more than 1000 outlets and available for $9.95 in a glove-box size.

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