Ethanol Week - December 23, 2013

Sen. Baucus releases proposal to overhaul energy tax incentives Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., has released a discussion draft of legislation that aims to overhaul U.S. energy tax incentives by creating technology-neutral incentives for clean electricity and clean transportation fuels. READ MORE SHARE
ICM, IGPC Ethanol sign letter of intent ICM Inc. has announced that IGPC Ethanol Inc. of Ontario, Canada, signed a letter of intent to be the first Canadian adopter of ICM's Generation 1.5 technology, which will enable the plant to produce corn fiber cellulosic ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
	Pacific Ethanol, Sweetwater Energy announce cellulosic sugar deal Sweetwater Energy Inc. and Pacific Ethanol Inc. announced an agreement to supply sugars for the production of cellulosic ethanol. The agreement supports the construction of a cellulosic biorefinery at Pacific Ethanol's Stockton, Calif., plant. READ MORE SHARE
Just Energy Group announces agreement to sell Terra Grain Fuels Just Energy Group Inc. is recently announced that it has entered into a share purchase agreement pursuant to which it has agreed to sell all of the issued and outstanding shares of Terra Grain Fuels Inc., an ethanol producer located in Saskatchewan. READ MORE SHARE
USDA, DOE give $8 million for energy crop research Seven projects focused on biomass genomics research will receive a total of $8 million from the U.S. DOE and USDA to study energy crops including switchgrass, energy cane, sorghum and pine and populus trees. READ MORE SHARE
Record season for ethanol in Brazil unlikely to be repeated The Brazil ethanol industry saw record supplies for the 2013/2014 crush season just being wrapped up, and got a welcome boost from auto executives who said ethanol-powered cars are more viable for reducing pollution than electric vehicles. READ MORE SHARE
Air Products, Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy sign agreement Air Products, one of the leading suppliers of liquid carbon dioxide in the United States, has announced the signing of a long-term agreement for the production of liquid CO2 with Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy LLC. READ MORE SHARE
CoBank report considers implications of 2014 RFS proposal CoBank, a national cooperative bank serving rural American industries, has published a report analyzing the possible economic impacts of the U.S. EPA's proposed 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume requirements. READ MORE SHARE
Renmatix announces collaborations with BASF, Virent Renmatix Inc. and Germany-based BASF announced Dec. 18 that they will jointly scale up the Renmatix Plantrose process. The announcement followed another two weeks earlier about an agreement with Virent Inc. READ MORE SHARE
China New Energy to acquire BAPP Ethanol Holdings The Board of China New Energy announced it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to acquire BAPP Ethanol Holdings Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sino Distillery Group Ltd. READ MORE SHARE
EIA publishes AEO2014 reference case The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published the early release of its Annual Energy Outlook 2014 (AEO2014), increasing its projections for biomass energy and other renewables. The analysis also predicts increased consumption of biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
Renewable Fuels Association reflects on success of the RFS The Renewable Fuel Association showcased the trends and successes of the renewable fuel standard (RFS) on the sixth anniversary of the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. READ MORE SHARE
Senators push for clean energy tax credit extensions A group of 24 senators, led by Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., issued a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Finance on Dec. 16 calling for support of programs that spur investment in the clean energy sector. READ MORE SHARE
Iowa leaders invite federal officials to host RFS hearing Elected officials in Iowa are urging the federal government to host a hearing on the renewable fuels standard (RFS) in Iowa, giving government leaders the opportunity to hear directly from Midwesterners how their businesses will be affected. READ MORE SHARE
Bills to extend tax credits benefiting biofuels introduced On Dec. 12, Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., introduced two bills that would benefit the biofuels industry. One aims to extend the second generation biofuel producer credit and the special allowance for second generation biofuel plant property. READ MORE SHARE
Sen. Cochran hopeful Farm Bill agreement can be reached soon Congress has adjourned for the year, leaving the Farm Bill unfinished. Lawmakers are expected to take up the legislation in January, and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, said progress is being made. READ MORE SHARE
IRFA hosts a biofuel forum for republican senate candidates On the sixth anniversary of the signing of the expanded federal renewable fuel standard (RFS) into law, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association hosted a renewable fuels forum for Iowa's leading Republican candidates seeking the GOP Senate nomination. READ MORE SHARE