Testing the Mettle of Maintenance

By Bryan Sims

Maintenance teams are taking on more responsibilities as existing ethanol plants are being expanded and new larger plants are coming on line. EPM zeroes in on maintenance experts and the systems they offer to help lift some of the burden.

Is an Ethanol Glut Inevitable?

By Nicholas Zeman

A year ago, ethanol industry talk centered on shortages. Now the hot topic is a possible surplus and what needs to be done to amplify demand as the ominous E10 wall approaches. On the other hand, there's a contingent who believes demand is picking up. However, without the proper infrastructure or a dedicated pipeline, will the renewable fuel be able to penetrate new markets?

Alfalfa's Bioenergy Appeal

By Jessica Ebert

It's becoming increasingly clear that corn-based ethanol alone won't make a definitive dent in the nation's fuel needs. Instead, a diversity of materials from corn to crop residue will be needed to produce significant amounts of ethanol. A perennial plant that is gaining attention for this purpose is alfalfa.

Bracing for a Bin Buster

By Susanne Retka Schill

This year's corn crop promises to be the biggest ever. To prepare, farmers and grain handlers are scrambling to build more grain storage and learning how to meet ethanol industry quality parameters.

Celebrating Safety

By Jerry W. Kram

Running an ethanol plant safely is no easy task. The hard work has paid off for White Energy Holding Co. LLC, whose Russell Kan., ethanol plant has been recognized by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. The plant is the first in the nation to be included in the federal agency's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

Amidst the swaying palm trees, the Florida agriculture department hosted government and promising renewable energy project representatives in St. Petersburg, Fla., during the 2007 Farm-to-Fuel Summit.

A Research Revolution

By Jessica Ebert

Three new U.S. DOE-funded research centers will house multidisciplinary teams of scientists from across the country with the aim of coordinating the basic research needed to accelerate the promise of cellulosic ethanol as a renewable, sustainable, secure and cost-competitive biofuel.

Producing Greener Ethanol

By Roger Moore

Delta-T unveils a new dryer technology that company leaders expect will cut emissions, and reduce energy and water use.

Making Sense of RINs

By Anduin Kirkbride McElroy

The key to demonstrating compliance with the renewable fuels standard, which goes into effect this month, is a 38-digit Renewable Identification Number. EPM explains what's behind all those digits and why they are necessary.

Nebraska Corncob Harvesters

By Ron Kotrba

Thirty-four-year-old twins from Nebraska invented the Residue Recovery System, a custom-made biomass collection system for combines that harvests and stores whole corncobs separately from the grain in a single pass through the field.

Hammermill Master

By Nicholas Zeman

Robert White Industries Inc. in Plymouth, Minn., has been designing biomass handling systems for nearly 20 years. Demand for these services is expected to increase as more companies look to biomass sources for their fuel needs.

Switchgrass Pioneers

By Susanne Retka Schill

Long before President George W. Bush mentioned switchgrass in his State of the Union address, a group of Iowa farmers searching for economic opportunities and solutions for water quality and erosion problems turned to the native prairie grass. Today, with 10 years of research under their belts, the farmers are gearing up to produce switchgrass for commercial use.

A Research Revolution

By Jessica Ebert

Three new U.S. DOE-funded research centers will house multidisciplinary teams of scientists from across the country with the aim of coordinating the basic research needed to accelerate the promise of cellulosic ethanol as a renewable, sustainable, secure and cost-competitive biofuel.

The Clinton County Chamber of Commerce in Frankfort, Ind., has spent four years developing a plan and determining sites for two major waste-to-energy projects. The primary project will be the first commercial, multiple-input anaerobic digester in the United States.

Sandia researchers are looking to biology in earth's extreme environments to help solve the cellulosic ethanol puzzle. Their enzyme studies may provide the key needed to spark an industry.