Ethanol Week - January 12, 2015

Oregon vote approves second phase of Clean Fuels Program On Jan. 7, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission voted 4-1 to approve rules for the second phase of the Oregon Clean Fuels Program, which requires a 10 percent reduction of greenhouse gases from transportation fuels over a 10-year period. READ MORE SHARE
Investor call highlights Pacific Ethanol, Aventine merger Pacific Ethanol Inc. CEO Neil Koehler answered questions about the company's recently announced merger with Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings Inc., as well as current market conditions for ethanol, during a recent investor call. READ MORE SHARE
	USDA trims corn crop size in WASDE report, though still a record USDA lowers its estimation for corn yield in the January supply/demand report by 2.4 bushels per acre, for a national average of 171.0 bushels per acre. Production, however, is still a record at 14.216 billion bushels from 90.6 million planted acres. READ MORE SHARE
EPA accepting comments on preliminary biomass sorghum analysis The U.S. EPA is accepting public comments on its preliminary analysis of the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the growth and transport of biomass sorghum for use as biofuel feedstock through Jan. 30. READ MORE SHARE
E2: Advanced biofuel production likely to double in 3 years Advanced biofuel capacity topped 800 million gallons in 2014, up from the previous year and almost double the capacity in 2011, according to the E2 Advance Biofuel Market Report 2014 released by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). READ MORE SHARE
Gevo issues plant update, transfers common stock listing Gevo Inc. has issued an update of operations at its Luverne, Minnesota, plant, reporting that the facility produced more than 50,000 gallons of biobased isobutanol in December. The company also announced the transfer of its common stock listing. READ MORE SHARE
EPA seeks nominations for technical subcommittee The U.S. EPA is requesting nominations for its Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee, which provides the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee with input on technical aspects of programs related to mobile source air pollution and its control. READ MORE SHARE
Sensenbrenner bill would hinder E15 growth Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., has introduced a bill that aims to revoke current approval of E15 and require additional testing of midlevel ethanol blends. The Renewable Fuels Association criticized the bill, noting it would hinder E15 expansion. READ MORE SHARE
ACE announces dates for 2015 grassroots fly-in As the 114th Congress is sworn-in Jan. 6, the American Coalition for Ethanol is confirming plans to meet with lawmakers and key Administration officials during the group's 7th annual fly-in, also referred to as the "Biofuels Beltway March." READ MORE SHARE
USDA solicits REAP applications The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing it is accepting applications for the Rural Energy for America Program. A final rule for REAP was published in late 2014. READ MORE SHARE
DOE: Project capturing CO2 from ethanol plant reaches milestone The Department of Energy has announced that its Illinois Basin-Decatur Project successfully captured and stored 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from an Archer Daniels Midland Co. ethanol plant and injected it into a deep saline formation. READ MORE SHARE
Praj contracts order for Uganda ethanol plant from Kakira Sugars Praj Industries has contracted a 60,000-liter-per-day project for production of fuel ethanol and premium grade extra neutral alcohol from Kakira Sugars, a Uganda-based sugar and power producer. READ MORE SHARE
Plant genetic advance could improve biofuel processing Plant geneticists from universities in Massachusetts and California have sorted out the gene regulatory networks that control cell wall thickening by the synthesis of the three polymers, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. READ MORE SHARE
Soil sensor technology uses biocomposites A technology developed at North Dakota State University creates precise in-the-ground measurement and monitoring of soil and crop conditions, which could provide opportunities for greater yields. The technology also has led to a new start-up company. READ MORE SHARE