Archive for April, 2008
Brazilian president: “The developed world imports oil with no tariffs, yet they place an absurd tariff on Brazilian ethanol”
In Brazil, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called on industrial nations to “stop your hypocrisy”, and drop agricultural tariffs on Brazilian ethanol to save the Doha round of world trade talks. The Doha round, launched in 2001, has failed to produce an agreement because of disputes between developed and undeveloped countries over agricultural subsidies [...]
Peru’s president says ethanol creating serious food price increases; green lights ethanol project for Peru
In Peru, Peruvian president Alan Garcia said that Peru is a victim of the ethanol industry, which he said increased food prices. “It’s creating very serious problems for countries that have to import these products. We believe there are alternative energies that do not put the world’s food in danger,” said Garcia. Meanwhile, his government [...]
Oppenheimer says US ethanol overcapacity will ease by fall; ethanol stocks jump
In New York, Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Joseph A. Gomes Jr. said that overcapacity in the ethanol sector will begin to ease in the fall. He said that “the difficult near-term operating environment resulting in limited upside to near-term operating results caused by rising corn prices and a glut of capacity supply. Corn prices [...]
Texas Governor requests 50 percent waiver from Renewable Fuel Standard: “Best, quickest way to reduce [food] costs”
In Texas, Governor Rick Perry has requested a 50 per cent waiver from the federal renewable fuel standard as a response to rapidly rising food prices. “We appreciate the good intentions behind the push for renewable fuels,†Perry said in a statement. “In fact, we’re diversifying our state’s energy portfolio at a rapid rate, but [...]
$1 per gallon ethanol for home brewers?
In California, Silicon Valley magnate Thomas Quinn has backed a company that says it has developed a $10,000 E-Fuel 100 MicroFueler that will allow consumers to make ethanol at home for $1 per gallon. The machine converts sugar and some household waste into ethanol. Quinn, who backed the Wii motion sensor, told the International [...]
54 Mgy Center Ethanol plant accepting grain deliveries; opening imminent
In Illinois, the 54 Mgy Center Ethanol plant in Sauget is accepting grain deliveries. The plant, which commenced construction in 2006, is expected to commence ethanol production shortly.
Illinois continues to be at the forefront of the US biofuels industry. Recent developments include:
• The 100 Mgy Marquis Energy corn ethanol plant will open last week in [...]
Sean Penn to lead biodiesel-powered Dirty Hands Caravan from California to Louisiana
In California, actor and activist Sean Penn announced plans to lead a biodiesel-powered, 300 person, 1800 mile caravan from California to New Orleans. The Dirty Hands caravan will leave Southern California today, arriving in New Orleans on May 4 in time for the New Orleans Jazz Festival. The actor said that caravan participants will volunteer [...]
Biofuels Digest Index gains 2.72 percent as ethanol overcapacity expected to ease by fall
The Biofuels Digest Index™ (BDI), a basket of public biofuels stocks, gained 2.72 percent to close the week at 131.05 Friday, on gains in agribusiness and ethanol stocks. For the day, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) rose 2.56 percent to $47.31, while Aventine Renewable Energy (AVR) rallied 10.15 percent to $4.45. Among small caps, Environmental Power [...]
Choren opens biomass-to-liquid plant in Germany; company may add second synthetic diesel plant
In Germany, Choren Industries opened what it called the world’s first biomass-to-liquid (BTL) plant, a 5 Mgy plant utilizing the Carbo-V process, in Freiburg, Saxony. The company said it would take up to 18 months to reach full productivity at the plant. The Carbo V process is a gasification process in which biomass is gasified [...]
Hearing on injunction against proposed North Carolina biodiesel plant this week
In North Carolina, Iredell County Superior Court judge Judge John Holshouser Jr. will rule this week on an injunction requested by opponents of a local farmer’s biodiesel production plans.
In January, a Superior Court judge ruled that Iredell County farmer Phil McLain may proceed with plans to produce 500,000 gallons per year of biodiesel from [...]
