Ethanol Week - December 22, 2014

December 22, 2014

EPA: Nearly 6 million cellulosic RINs generated in November The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) data for November, reporting that more than 1.38 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 6 million cellulosic RINs. READ MORE SHARE
Industry debunks Minn. report shedding bad light on corn ethanol An analysis of conventional and alternative vehicles and their air pollution-related public health impacts from researchers at the University of Minnesota got a swift debunking from the ethanol industry. READ MORE SHARE
	USDA provides greater protection for specialty crop growers Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that greater protection is now available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance, including energy crops. READ MORE SHARE
Iogen announces startup of Brazilian cellulosic ethanol plant Ottawa-based Iogen Corp. announced its first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant is producing ethanol in Brazil. The first 200,000 liters (53,000 gallons) has been distributed by Brazilian ethanol producer Raizen to its network of gas stations. READ MORE SHARE
Hungarian ethanol plant to expand capacity above 100 MMgy Nearly three years after construction was completed at a corn-ethanol plant in Dunafoldvar, Hungary, Pannonia Ethanol has signed a loan deal so it can expand its production capacity. READ MORE SHARE
Renmatix acquires Sweden-based REAC Fuel's intellectual property Renmatix Inc. recently announced it has acquired the intellectual property rights and know-how of REAC Fuel. Based in Sweden, REAC has developed intellectual property that complements Renmatix's existing technology portfolio. READ MORE SHARE
UNICA: Brazilian ethanol production up, exports down UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane energy association, has announced ethanol production from the start of the current season through the end of November is up 3.54 percent when compared to last year. Exports, however, are down 55 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Purdue researchers develop process to convert lignin to chemicals A new catalytic process is able to convert what was once considered biomass waste into lucrative chemical products that can be used in fragrances, flavorings or to create high-octane fuel for racecars and jets. READ MORE SHARE
Indiana ethanol plant resumes operations Noble Americas South Bend Ethanol LLC is restarting operations at its 100 MMgy ethanol plant in South Bend, Indiana. The facility is currently undergoing testing activities and is expected to be producing ethanol by mid-December. READ MORE SHARE
USGC leaders engage on China and biotech at JCCT As word came that Chinese officials have given verbal approval for the biotech corn trait MIR 162, trade and agriculture stakeholders gathered this week in Chicago for the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce discussions. READ MORE SHARE
Senate passes short-term tax extenders package On Dec. 16, the U.S. Senate passed a short-term tax extenders package that aims to retroactively extend several tax incentives that expired at the end of 2013 and throughout this year through the end of 2014. READ MORE SHARE
BPC report highlights 40 RFS policy options Growth Energy has responded to a report released by the Bipartisan Policy Center that describes several options for reforming the renewable fuel standard (RFS), noting it pushes some of same tired talking points Big Oil has relied on for years. READ MORE SHARE
Finland provides money to build cellulosic ethanol plant The government of Finland announced Dec.17 that it granted $36.8 million to help build a cellulosic ethanol plant. A separate project to produce biogasoline, biodiesel and smaller amounts of other renewable products was also granted funding. READ MORE SHARE
USGC ethanol assessment team finds potential in the Philippines The U.S. Grains Council recently led a delegation of industry leaders representing the USDA, Renewable Fuels Association, and Growth Energy to the Philippines to assess factors contributing to the large exports of U.S. ethanol to Southeast Asia. READ MORE SHARE
USDA improves forest health by harvesting biomass for energy Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that more than 200,000 tons of biomass were removed from federal lands through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program.This summer, 19 energy facilities in 10 states participated in BCAP. READ MORE SHARE
RFA: The RFS celebrates 7 years of success This Friday marks the seventh anniversary of the signing into law of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The law expanded the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and set America on a path toward a cleaner, more energy-independent future. READ MORE SHARE
U.K. opens competition to fund demonstration-scale biofuel plants The U.K. Department for Transport has announced plans to award GBP 25 million ($39.37 million) to support the development of up to three advanced biofuel demonstration plants through a two-phase competition. READ MORE SHARE
RFA comments on FDA animal food supplemental rulemaking The Renewable Fuels Association has submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration last on its supplemental rulemaking proposal outlining best practices for the regulation of animal food under the Food Safety Modernization Act. READ MORE SHARE
Turkey's biosafety laws restrict U.S. DDGS shipments Turkey is effectively no longer accepting imports of U.S. corn coproducts following the stepped-up enforcement of existing biosafety laws that restrict which genetically modified (GM) corn varieties may enter the country's grain supply. READ MORE SHARE
SUNY wins DOE grant to support feedstock logistics research The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded up to $3 million to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to develop and demonstrate ways to reduce the cost of delivering woody bioenergy feedstocks to biorefineries. READ MORE SHARE