Ethanol Week - January 5, 2015

Pacific Ethanol, Aventine announce merger The merger of California-based Pacific Ethanol Inc. and Midwest-based Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc. will bring their combined capacity to 515 MMgy. READ MORE SHARE
US ethanol production runs full bore, sets records as 2014 ends U.S. ethanol producers have steadily been ramping up production in recent weeks, setting new records. The most recent weekly data indicates the industry was operating at an annualized rate of more than 15.2 billion gallons per year. READ MORE SHARE
	Efficient producers approved for expanded ethanol production Under the U.S. EPA's efficient producer petition process, first-generation ethanol producers can be approved to generate renewable identification numbers above the registered volume that was grandfathered in under the renewable fuel standard. READ MORE SHARE
USDA publishes final rule for REAP program On Dec. 29, the USDA published a final rule in the Federal Register for the Rural Energy for America Program. The program provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems. READ MORE SHARE
2015 biomass conferences to colocate in Minneapolis BBI International, owners and organizers of the International Biomass Conference & Expo, announced Heating the Midwest, an important regional conference focusing on biomass-derived thermal energy, will be colocated this year. READ MORE SHARE
Grant funds research into nanomaterials effect on feedstock yield The Arkansas Science and Technology Authority has approved grant funding for a University of Arkansas at Little Rock biology professor who says nanomaterials could increase the germination rate and biomass yield of bioenergy crops. READ MORE SHARE
Iowa ethanol production hits record at 3.9 B gallons in 2014 Iowa's 43 ethanol plants produced a record 3.9 billion gallons, after no growth in the past three years. For the first time, a small amount came from cellulosic feedstocks. READ MORE SHARE
Gasoline prices influence ethanol market direction Ethanol supplies are becoming much more manageable at the end of the year. This has lessened concern about gaining access to needed gallons and sparked aggressive price pressure in all ethanol markets. READ MORE SHARE
Natural gas price trends encouraging for the consumer For the near term the natural gas market is on a trajectory to remain inexpensive compared to historical benchmarks. The upcoming year is looking encouraging for the consumer of natural gas but the assessment is not an unqualified positive. READ MORE SHARE
Corn market expected to hover around $4 Choppy and volatile trades are expected leading up to the January USDA report, writes Jason Sagebiel. Traders expect corn prices to stay on either side of $4. READ MORE SHARE
DDGS priced well above corn DDGS prices are, in some places, 120 to 130 percent above corn. Traders will keep an eye on how the domestic market reacts to the price run up, writes Sean Broderick of CHS Inc. READ MORE SHARE
Illinois economists: Can 1 monster crop end new grain price era? University of Illinois agriculture economists examine whether the recent low prices for corn, soybeans and wheat are signaling an end to the new era of higher average crop prices. READ MORE SHARE
Cuba policy changes could open door for U.S. corn, DDGS exports Coarse grains exports could increase dramatically if United States-Cuba diplomatic relations are fully normalized, with the island nation having the potential to become the 12th largest market for U.S. corn if trade is truly open. READ MORE SHARE