Ethanol Week - September 22, 2014

Cellulosic developers call for favorable EPA rule on 2014 RVO The cellulosic industry continues to keep the pressure on the administration as the Office of Management and Budget reviews the U.S. EPA's final determination on the 2014 renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard. READ MORE SHARE
Florida cellulosic ethanol plant upgraded, coming back online The Indian River BioEnergy Center, a cellulosic ethanol production center near Vero Beach, Florida, has completed a major turnaround, including technology upgrades, and the facility is now being brought back online. READ MORE SHARE
	Senate Finance Committee holds hearing on energy tax incentives The U.S. Senate is once again addressing energy tax incentives. On Sept. 17, the Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing, titled "Reforming America's Outdated Energy Tax Code," to discuss possible paths forward to reform U.S. energy tax code. READ MORE SHARE
New secretary general appointed to ePURE The European renewable ethanol association, ePURE, has appointed Robert Wright as its new secretary general. Wright will take up the position immediately. READ MORE SHARE
USGC, RFA, Growth Energy promote ethanol overseas Representatives from the U.S. Grains Council, Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy traveled this week to Japan and Korea to explore the potential for U.S. ethanol in those markets. READ MORE SHARE
Comment period opens on FRA rule impacting ethanol trains The Federal Railroad Administration has opened a comment period on a proposed rule that aims to amend brake system safety standards for certain trains. According to the rulemaking, trains carrying ethanol would be among those impacted. READ MORE SHARE
Aventine secures $40 M loan, security agreement Aventine pays down debt and adds $10 million in increased borrowing capacity, providing more flexibility of working capital for Nebraska, Illinois plants. READ MORE SHARE
NRDC loses challenge to Indiana ethanol air permits The Indiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state's ethanol industry in a case filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council challenging Indiana's implementation of the Clean Air Act. The case begun in 2010 has undergone several reversals. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo provides update on Luverne, Minnesota, plant Gevo reported an update on the progress of the side-by-side operational mode (SBS) of its plant in Luverne, Minnesota, on Sept. 18. READ MORE SHARE
Froman asked to intervene in MIR 162 issue, Cargill sues Syngenta Several senators have asked U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman asking to work with China to restore the flow of agricultural-related trade following the MIR 162 trade issues. Meanwhile, Cargill has filed a lawsuit against Syngenta. READ MORE SHARE
USDA not expected to sell sugar under FFP during fiscal 2015 In early September, the USDA's Commodity Credit Corp. announced it does not expect to purchase sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program in fiscal year 2015. READ MORE SHARE
2008 NC ethanol blending statute upheld by appeals court A final point in a challenge to the North Carolina ethanol blending statute was upheld by U.S. District Court. The plaintiffs, the American Petroleum Institute and Association of Fuel and Petroleum Manufacturers, have until late September to appeal. READ MORE SHARE
BlueFire Renewables pursues new avenues of revenue for projects BlueFire Renewables Inc. recently filed a quarterly report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission noting the company is seeking financing for its proposed Fulton, Mississippi, project from Chinese entities. READ MORE SHARE
DuPont selects Murex as marketing partner for cellulosic ethanol DuPont Industrial Biosciences has announced the selection of Murex LLC to market the cellulosic ethanol produced from its 30 MMgy plant in Nevada, Iowa. READ MORE SHARE
Fluid Quip Process Technologies adds Neal Jakel Fluid Quip Process Technologies has announced that Neal Jakel joined the company to lead its strategy and technology growth efforts.Jakel is the former general manager of Illinois River Energy. READ MORE SHARE
IRENA report features bioenergy supply, demand projections The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a new report predicting a major role for modern, sustainable biomass technologies in the world's energy mix. It includes forecasts for power, thermal and liquid fuels production. READ MORE SHARE
RFA submits comments to CARB on LCFS lifecycle analysis tool The Renewable Fuels Association has submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board voicing support for CARB's proposal to transition to a new version of the GREET model, but also recommending several additional improvements. READ MORE SHARE
Leader of ePURE steps down, looking to serve as consultant Rob Vierhout, secretary general of ePURE, is stepping down from his position at the European Renewable Ethanol Industry Association. The group has not yet publically announced the name of his successor. READ MORE SHARE
Chempolis, NRL partner to produce cellulosic ethanol, chemicals Chempolis Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding with India-based Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. that could result in the development of a cellulosic biorefinery that produces ethanol, furfural and acetic acid. READ MORE SHARE
Iowans purchase more than 2.9 million gallons of E85 in Q2 The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has announced Iowa motorists purchased 2.98 million gallons of E85 in the second quarter of 2014, according to data released by the Iowa Department of Revenue. READ MORE SHARE
Pacific Ethanol to sell CO2 from Columbia plant in Oregon LLC to sell CO2 from the Pacific Ethanol Columbia plant located in Boardman, Oregon. Kodiak plans to construct a liquefaction and dry ice processing facility adjacent to the plant. READ MORE SHARE