Operations

March 30, 2020

Marquis Energy continues operations during COVID-19 pandemic

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessHennepin, Illinois-based Marquis Energy sent a letter to its farmers and community members on March 27 announcing the company’s ethanol plant is “economically and logistically positioned to remain open" despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE

March 27, 2020

Pacific Ethanol to idle more than 60% of capacity by end of March

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessPacific Ethanol on March 27 said it is idling capacity in response to the unprecedented decline in gasoline and ethanol demand due to the impacts of COVID-19 and announced it is providing high-quality alcohol for the production of hand sanitizer. READ MORE

March 27, 2020

Opinion: Events and Ideas

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, Business, PolicyFROM THE APRIL ISSUE: Editor Lisa Gibson previews the magazine, including feature articles about bacteria research, cooling tower maintenance and cleaning, coverage of IRFA's January Renewable Fuels Summit, and more. READ MORE

March 27, 2020

In Depth: Bits of the Batch

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, BusinessFROM THE APRIL ISSUE: Researchers use new molecular biology tools to identify inhabitants of ethanol plant bacterial communities. READ MORE

March 26, 2020

Rex idles NuGen plant, explores carbon sequestration project

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessRex American Resources released fiscal fourth quarter financial results on March 26. The company announced a potential carbon sequestration project under development at its One Earth Energy plant in Illinois and discussed the impact of COVID-19. READ MORE

March 26, 2020

In Depth: Cooling Considerations

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, BusinessFROM THE APRIL ISSUE: Experts discuss different approaches to optimize cooling towers and limit summer production slowdowns. READ MORE

March 25, 2020

CropEnergies supplies ethanol for use in disinfectants

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessEuropean ethanol producer CropEnergies has announced plans to alter its operations and partially shift production from fuel ethanol to neutral alcohol in order to help meet the need for disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic. READ MORE

March 25, 2020

The Andersons shuts down ethanol plants for extended maintenance

BY The Andersons Inc. Found In:Operations, BusinessThe Andersons announced March 24 that it will idle its Element ethanol plant in Colwich, Kansas, for an extended maintenance and repair period and will take spring maintenance shutdowns at the four facilities owned by its joint venture with Marathon. READ MORE

March 23, 2020

Ethanol producers help produce hand sanitizer to combat COVID-19

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, Business, PolicyThe U.S. government on March 18 relaxed regulations to allow producers of fuel ethanol and beverage alcohol to shift production to ethanol-based hand sanitizers. Days later, several ethanol plants are taking action to help combat COVID-19. READ MORE

March 20, 2020

UNICA releases updated data, helps fight COVID-19 pandemic

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, BusinessUNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, recently released ethanol production and sales data for February and has announced its members are donating alcohol for use in hand sanitizer to help contain the spread of COVID-19. READ MORE

March 20, 2020

Ocean Park: 2019 ethanol mergers and acquisitions below average

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, BusinessLast year’s low margins impacted mergers and acquisitions in North America’s ethanol industry, according to a report released by Ocean Park. Total North American ethanol capacity bought and sold during 2019 was the second lowest in five years. READ MORE

March 19, 2020

Ethanol industry seeks to protect employees during pandemic

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, Business, Policy, RetailerThe ethanol industry is struggling with demand destruction resulting from COVID-19, an oil price war, ongoing trade disputes, and SREs. “Folks, this is not going to be good, and our biggest concern by far is our people," said Al-Corn CEO Randy Doyal. READ MORE

March 18, 2020

SIRE navigates ‘uncharted territory’ of COVID-19, falling prices

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessMike Jerke, president and CEO of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, dicusses ways in which his company is working to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak while protecting employees and ensuring plant operations can continue. READ MORE

March 18, 2020

Gevo discusses plans to produce low carbon ethanol, jet fuel

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessOfficials from Gevo Inc. discussed plans to produce renewable aviation fuel and upgrade the company’s biorefinery in Luverne, Minnesota, to produce low carbon ethanol during a fourth quarter earnings call, held March 17. READ MORE

March 18, 2020

Ethanol prices hit historic lows during pandemic

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, Markets, BusinessEthanol producers are being impacted by the pandemic, oil war, trade disputes and small refinery waivers. With prices reaching as low as 94 cents per gallon as of March 18, ethanol producers are bracing for difficult decisions and possible closures. READ MORE

March 17, 2020

Grassley: Biofuel industry is ‘very nervous’

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Business, PolicySen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, fielded questions on COVID-19 and the biofuels industry during a media call held March 16. In his comments, Grassley said the industry is “very nervous.” He also addressed the Tenth Circuit Court ruling on SREs. READ MORE

March 16, 2020

COVID-19 lowers corn demand, ethanol price

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, Feedstocks, Business, PolicyA report from University of Illinois Extension shows weak demand for corn for ethanol use in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethanol production will fall dramatically, it predicts, with gasoline consumption expected to be down about 20 percent. READ MORE

March 13, 2020

Aemetis provide updates of RNG, cellulosic ethanol projects

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Cellulosic, BusinessAemestis Inc. released fourth quarter financial results on March 12, reporting increased revenues and progress with the development of its cellulosic ethanol and renewable natural gas (RNG) projects. READ MORE

March 12, 2020

EIA increases 2020 ethanol production forecast

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, BusinessThe U.S. Energy Information Administration slightly increased its forecast for 2020 ethanol production in its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, released March 11. The 2021 forecast, however, was unchanged. READ MORE

March 12, 2020

Red Trail Energy to begin drilling well for carbon sequestration

BY Office of Sen. John Hoeven Found In:Operations, Coproducts, PolicySen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., announced March 11 that Red Trail Energy will begin the drilling of a stratigraphic well, designed with the intent to be permitted as a Class VI injection well and used to sequester CO2 from the company’s ethanol plant. READ MORE

March 11, 2020

Study finds ethanol, biodiesel production power Iowa’s economy

BY Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Found In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, BusinessA new study releaesd March 11 finds despite challenges, Iowa biofuel production continues to have a significant impact on Iowa’s economy, supporting over 48,000 jobs and more than $2.4 billion in household income. READ MORE

March 04, 2020

EIA: Weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol set new record

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessU.S. weekly ending stocks of fuel ethanol set a new record at 24.964 million barrels the week ending Feb. 28, breaking the previous record set only two weeks earlier, according to data released by the U.S. EIA on March 4. READ MORE

February 20, 2020

In Depth: A Natural Fit

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, Coproducts, BusinessFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Some ethanol plants are turning to alternative cleaning methods and naturally derived products that are more environmentally friendly than traditional chemicals. READ MORE

February 20, 2020

Opinion: March On

BY Lisa GibsonFound In:Operations, BusinessFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Editor Lisa Gibson previews the magazine, including feature articles about alternative cleaning methods, a study that highlights the befits of various fractionation techniques, developments in yeast strains, and more. READ MORE

February 19, 2020

Study: Ethanol contributed $2.31 billion to Minnesota GDP in 2019

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Markets, Feedstocks, Coproducts, Business, RetailerA new study conducted by ABF Economics for the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has determined Minnesota’s ethanol industry contributed approximately $2.31 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year. READ MORE

February 18, 2020

Novozymes launches Innova Fit yeast technology

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, BusinessNovozymes announced the launch of its next yeast technology, Innova Fit, on Feb. 10. The company said the non-GM yeast product eliminates production constraints caused by conventional and basic yeasts. READ MORE

February 18, 2020

In Depth: A Combined Approach

BY Matt ThompsonFound In:Operations, BusinessFROM THE MARCH ISSUE: Partnered expertise helps yeast developers keep up with evolution in the ethanol industry. READ MORE

February 17, 2020

The Andersons reports profitable Q4 for ethanol group

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Coproducts, Cellulosic, BusinessThe Andersons Inc. reported a profitable Q4 for its ethanol group during a Feb. 13 earnings call, but noted a difficult margin environment is expected to continue. The company also reported its Element plant is producing cellulosic ethanol. READ MORE

February 17, 2020

Green Plains to focus on high-protein feed products

BY Erin VoegeleFound In:Operations, Coproducts, BusinessGreen Plains Inc. officials announces plans to transform into an ag tech-focused company that produces sustainable high-protein and novel feed ingredients in addition to biofuels during a fourth quarter earnings call held Feb. 11. READ MORE

February 14, 2020

USGC visits beef operation in Nicaragua

BY U.S. Grains Council Found In:Operations, Markets, Coproducts, BusinessLocated in Nicaragua, the operation includes 60,000 to 70,000 head of cattle, and uses U.S. corn rolled and mixed with mombasa, a tropical grass. READ MORE