Ethanol Week - July 22, 2013

Senate approves McCarthy's nomination to lead the EPA The U.S. Senate has voted to approve Gina McCarthy's nomination to lead the U.S. EPA by a vote of 59 to 40. President Obama nominated McCarthy as the EPA administrator in March. READ MORE SHARE
Chemtex, Murphy-Brown sign biomass supply agreement Chemtex International Inc. and Murphy-Brown LLC have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of purpose grown energy crops and residues to be used as cellulosic feedstock in Project Alpha, Chemtex's proposed cellulosic ethanol facility. READ MORE SHARE
	Idled plant looks to restart, some aim to replace board members East Kansas Agri-Energy LLC is preparing for restart this fall after idling in October. The largest shareholder of the plant, Clean Energy Capital LLC, aims to implement a strategic plan that would replace most members of the board of directors. READ MORE SHARE
Oil industry predictably blames ethanol as prices spike again A group of energy experts held a media call about rising gas prices on July 15, shooting down critics' assertion that ethanol is to blame. Gas prices have increased by as much as 30 percent in recent weeks, but ethanol is not at fault. READ MORE SHARE
Mixed views of RFS shared at policy briefing A recent briefing on the renewable fuel standard evoked a variety of different opinions from members of the advanced biofuel and environmental community, with the consensus being that the industry needs consistency from the U.S. EPA and Congress. READ MORE SHARE
Ethanol discussed at Senate oversight hearing on high gas prices On July 16, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a full committee oversight hearing on gasoline and fuel prices. While the hearing officially focused on U.S. oil sector's impact on prices, several witnesses blamed ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
Court rules to uphold Calif. LCFS, but requires corrective action California's Fifth District Court of Appeal issued its opinion in the lawsuit filed by Poet LLC against the California Air Resources Board. The court is upholding the low carbon fuel standard, but requires CARB to correct implementation errors. READ MORE SHARE
EPA comment period closed on corn fiber as ag residue, biobutanol In all, the U.S. EPA received 117 comments on a proposed rule on renewable fuel standard (RFS) pathways, including corn kernel fiber-to-cellulosic ethanol and issues relating to biobutanol. The comment period ended July 15. READ MORE SHARE
Ethanol yield enhancement patent granted to Hydro Dynamics Hydro Dynamics Inc. of Rome, Ga., announced that it has been granted a patent (U.S. Patent Number: 8,430,968) covering its Shock Wave Power Reactor (SPR) cavitation technology for ethanol yield enhancement. READ MORE SHARE
John Deere introduces mower that runs efficiently on E0 to E85 John Deere introduced a flex-fuel model to its ZTrak line of commercial lawn mowers. The new, industry exclusive, Z925M Flex Fuel is compatible with the full range of fuels from E0 to E85 and delivers improved horsepower, torque and fuel efficiency. READ MORE SHARE
Chip Energy breaks ground on prototype pellet plant Goodfield, Ill.-based Chip Energy broke ground on a 100-ton-per-day biomass recycling and pelletizing plant that can condense a variety of feedstock sources. The plant configuration is designed to serve the power and cellulosic biofuels industries. READ MORE SHARE
ND group educates FFV owners, promotes use of higher blends Thanks to a promotion by North Dakotans for Energy Independence, flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) owners in the state can receive coupons for discounts on higher ethanol blends and enter to win a $1,000 fuel card. The awareness campaign runs through December. READ MORE SHARE
GAIN report highlights Canadian ethanol industry An annual biofuels report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Global Agricultural Information Network provides an overview of Canadian ethanol industry, noting that 15 ethanol plants are expected to be operational in 2013. READ MORE SHARE
Ceres issues Q3 financial results, Brazilian update Ceres Inc. has announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, reporting revenues of $1.4 million. The company also provided an update on its Brazil operations, including achievements in the fuels and power sectors. READ MORE SHARE
SD ethanol industry has $3.8 billion impact on 2012 economy The South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association released a study, "The Economic Impact of the Ethanol Industry on the South Dakota Economy in 2012," showing more than a $3.8 billion overall impact, more than a $2 billion increase from 2004. READ MORE SHARE
Growth Energy, RFA respond to latest API attack The ethanol industry has been quick to criticize the new anti-renewable fuels standard (RFS) advertising campaign launched by the American Petroleum Institute this week, calling it misleading, unfounded and unscientific. READ MORE SHARE
Syngenta pledges support for renewable fuels Syngenta has announced a three-year commitment to contribute $1 to the renewable fuels industry for every acre planted with Enogen trait technology, beginning with this year's growing season. The initiative will support the renewable fuel standard. READ MORE SHARE
DDGS valued at 89 percent of corn in 6 year average While the pricing of distillers dried grains with solubles is primarily explained by the relative value of energy, protein, corn and soybean meal prices, University of Illinois economists find there is significant variation to those relationships. READ MORE SHARE