Ethanol Week - March 9, 2015

Pacific Ethanol reports 2014 was a record year Pacific Ethanol Inc. has released 2014 financial results, reporting record net sales, gross profit, operating income, adjusted EBITDA and gallons sold. Neil Koehler, CEO of Pacific Ethanol, called 2014 a pivotal year for the company. READ MORE SHARE
USDA publishes final BCAP rule The USDA has released the final rule for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. Although the general scope of BCAP is not changing, there are some key changes being made to several components of the program. A public comment period is now open. READ MORE SHARE
	Fuels America launches 'Clean, Secure, American Energy' campaign As America marks the 102nd anniversary of tax breaks for oil companies this week, the Fuels America coalition is launching a "Clean, Secure American Energy" campaign that will highlight the success of the renewable fuel standard (RFS). READ MORE SHARE
Oregon governor considers Clean Fuels Program sunset date bill Legislation that aims to repeal the Dec. 31, 2015 sunset date of Oregon's Clean Fuels Program has been sent to the governor for consideration. The bill, S.B. 324, was passed by the Oregon House of Representatives on March 4 by a single vote. READ MORE SHARE
Ethanol industry pretax profit estimated at $7.8 B for 2014 The U.S. ethanol industry came off its best streak of profitability in January, one that ran 95 consecutive weeks without a loss for the model Iowa plant used to estimate and track industry profitability. READ MORE SHARE
Wyoming imposes 24-cent-per-gallon tax on alternative fuels Wyoming Gov. Matthew H. Mead recently signed a bill into law imposing a fuel tax on previously exempt alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. The new rate of taxation on alternative fuels beginning July 1 is 24 cents per gallon. READ MORE SHARE
Total invests in Renmatix, signs joint development agreement Renmatix has announced an investment by the New Energies Division of Total, and the signing of a joint development agreement. Under the agreement, the companies will utilize Renmatix's Plantrose process with specific feedstocks. READ MORE SHARE
Corn crush, DDGS production down slightly in January Corn consumed for fuel ethanol was 445.7 million bushels in January, down 2 percent from December, but up 3 percent from November. Dry mills used 89.3 percent of that, while wet milling fuel production consumed the remaining 10.7 percent. READ MORE SHARE
Beta Renewables CEO Guido Ghisolfi dead at age 58 Guido Ghisolfi, 58, leader of Mossi & Ghisolfi Group died March 3. "He was suffering from severe depression and yesterday this resulted in his untimely passing close to his home in Tortona, Northern Italy," said a statement from the company. READ MORE SHARE
N.D. survey shows support for ethanol fuels The North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy has published results of a statewide public opinion survey on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Ethanol was one of the renewable energy types addressed in the survey. READ MORE SHARE
NREL refines method to convert lignin to nylon precursor A new study from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory demonstrates the conversion of lignin-derived compounds to adipic acid, an important industrial dicarboxylic acid. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces $8.7 million BRDI funding opportunity The USDA announced it is now accepting applications for research and education grants through the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. Approximately $8.7 million in grants are expected to be awarded through the program. READ MORE SHARE
DOE updates announcement for biomass advisory committee meeting The U.S. Department of Energy updated its notice for the recently announced meeting of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. The meeting will now take place as a webinar on March 5. READ MORE SHARE
GLBRC files 100th patent application The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, one of three bioenergy research centers established in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Energy, recently celebrated the filing of its 100th patent application. READ MORE SHARE
Economists examine recent trends in ethanol production, policy A decline in ethanol prices has accompanied the decline in gasoline prices, yet ethanol production has been at record levels for much of the current corn marketing year, biofuels economist Robert Wisner noted in a recent analysis. READ MORE SHARE
Lallemand announces patent approval Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits and Mascoma LLC are proud to announce that Lallemand has been awarded a patent for the technology that is used in TransFerm Yield+. READ MORE SHARE
Miscanthus ethanol increases environmental benefits, profits A recent study simulated a side-by-side comparison of the yields and costs of producing ethanol using miscanthus, switchgrass, and corn stover. The fast-growing energy grass miscanthus was the clear winner. READ MORE SHARE
E15 would reduce CO2 emissions in Wisconsin A recent analysis found that replacing just half of the 2.4 billion gallons of regular E10 gas consumed in Wisconsin with E15 would eliminate 175,636 tons of CO2 equivalent emitted to our air every year. READ MORE SHARE
Step change for screening could boost biofuels Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have developed a new way of rapidly screening yeasts that could help produce more sustainable biofuels. The technique could also aid in the search for new ways of deriving valuable renewable chemicals. READ MORE SHARE
Emergent Technologies Institute breaks ground Florida Gulf Cost University officials recently held groundbreaking ceremonies for the Emergent Technologies Institute, a new research campus that will team academics and private sector partners to study and incubate renewable energy technology. READ MORE SHARE
Metabolic path to improved biofuel production Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute have found a way to increase the production of fuels and other chemicals from biomass fermented by yeast by introducing new metabolic pathways into the yeast. READ MORE SHARE
Ethanol storage tank units added to S.D. incentive program In order to expand the Flex Pump Incentive Program, the state of South Dakota has announced that it is earmarking $300,000 for the installation of ethanol storage tank units. READ MORE SHARE