Briefing the President

By Lindsey Irwin

David Bransby has long been known among his industry peers as an authority on switchgrass. In 2006, amidst all the cellulose hype, he became a popular man with those outside of his circle as well, including President George W. Bush and English entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. Bransby shares his wisdom with EPM regarding the current state and the future of the cellulose-to-ethanol movement.

2007 Flex-Fuel Vehicle Lineup

By Ron Kotrba

In this splashy photo spread, EPM takes a vivid look at the new and continuing lines of flexible-fuel vehicles available for sale in the United States during this new model year.

Chicken or Egg: Availability Limits E85 Acceptance

By Jerry W. Kram

One of the arguments ethanol producers face is the idea that consumers aren't ready to accept renewable fuels and technology and would rather continue to stick with what they know. However, it looks like the public is ahead of the pundits. A series of polls in 2006 shows widespread acceptance and demand for E85 fuel, if consumers could find a place to buy it.

California Emissions Remission

By Ron Kotrba

E85 holds great promise as an integral part of California's transportation fuels strategy to protect air quality, curb greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security.

Ethanol Gets the Green Light

By Holly Jessen

IndyCar Series racing fans will witness the power of ethanol during the 2007 season. Every high-powered race car chasing the checkered flag this year will be fueled with 100 percent ethanol. Proponents of the switch from methanol to ethanol hope this is only the beginning and that others will follow IndyCar's lead.

Fanning the Flames

By Lindsey Irwin

Recent advancements in the laboratory and on Capitol Hill have set the ethanol industry ablaze, and it continues to spread like a prairie wildfire in the midwestern United States. Industry leaders would like to see those flames spread to the East and West coasts. The 2006 Biofuels Workshop and Trade Show series, which included events in both San Diego and Nashville, Tenn., was held to address regional barriers that keep the eastern and western states from Midwestern-style ethanol production success despite enormous fuel demands.

With worldwide production of biofuels at well over 10 billion gallons and $6 billion invested in building new ethanol plants by 2008, a global communication network for biofuels is needed. In addition, businesses worldwide are realizing the benefits of being eco-friendly. To facilitate worldwide communication about responsibly developing the rapidly growing biomass industry, BBI International has developed an initiative called Going Green Globally (g3). The global initiative is an opportunity to get connected without the common duties of member organizations.

Will Consolidation Follow Deconcentration?

By Susanne Retka Schill

Results of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission 2006 Report on Ethanol Market Concentration released in December came as no surprise to those in the industry. The study concluded that rapid expansion in the industry is diluting the big players' market share. Digging deeper, though, just what does the report say about the industry's future? Is a consolidation period looming?

Sweden is an international leader in the fight against global warming. Included amongst its strategies is the increased use and distribution of high-ethanol blends and flexible-fuel vehicles.

The market for flexible-fuel vehicles is thriving in Brazil where ethanol plays a large role in the country's transportation fuels sector. Considered a developing country less than 50 years ago, Brazil's ethanol economy has created a dynamic automotive industry.

The Makings of a Logistical Revolution

By Ron Kotrba

One of the largest midstream energy companies in North America, Kinder Morgan, talks with EPM about what it would take to build an ethanol-dedicated pipeline.

Opportunities to Conserve Water

By Holly Jessen

Currently, a typical corn-based ethanol plant takes in more water than the ethanol it produces. That doesn't have to be the norm, however. At the Biofuels Workshop and Trade Show-Western Region, an industry expert talked about trimming water consumption by using current and future technologies.