Ethanol Week - November 21, 2016

St1 plans 50 MMly Cellunolix ethanol plant at UPM site in Finland Acting on behalf of North European Bio Tech Oy (NEB), St1 has begun the analysis and signed letters of intent with Alholmens Kraft and UPM on a sawdust-based ethanol plant in the Alholma industrial area in Pietarsaari, Finland. READ MORE SHARE
White House decarbonization report addresses biofuels, biomass The White House has published a mid-century strategy on decarbonization that addresses biofuels and bioenergy. On Nov. 16, the report was filed with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under the Paris climate deal. READ MORE SHARE
	Gevo provides update of operations at Luverne facility On Nov. 14, Gevo Inc. released third quarter financial results, reporting the company produced approximately 145,000 gallons of isobutanol during the quarter, with approximately 240,000 gallons produced during the first nine months of the year. READ MORE SHARE
Natural Chem acquires Abengoa plant in Portales, New Mexico Natural Chem Group LLC recently announced that the company has acquired the mothballed Abengoa ethanol plant in Portales, New Mexico. NCG plans to redevelop the facility into an Eco-Fuels Blend Terminal that produces a B20 biodiesel blend. READ MORE SHARE
Aemetis’ third quarter 2016 gross profit up Aemetis Inc. has reported improved gross profit for the third quarter of 2016. Looking ahead, the company expects the 2016 corn harvest to result in favorable pricing and believes that the ethanol business will perform well during the final quarter. READ MORE SHARE
USGC: Ethanol exports up in September The U.S. Grains Council recently reported that USDA export data for September, which is the first month of the 2016-’17 marketing year, showed a dramatic increase in exports of feed grains in all forms. READ MORE SHARE
European groups oppose any phase-out of conventional biofuels ePURE was among a group of trade organizations that recently issued a letter to the European Commission strongly opposing any phase-out of European Union support for conventional biofuels produced in Europe from European-grown crops and feedstock. READ MORE SHARE
Food security benefits found in African biofuels production Biofuels operations under the right conditions can lead to improved household food security in developing countries, concludes a new study conducted by researchers in Ireland that reviews the limited development of biofuel production in Africa. READ MORE SHARE
Gevo: Cellulosic ATJ fuels flight, isobutanol blend sold in Texas On Nov. 14, Gevo Inc. announced Alaska Airlines flew a flight using its cellulosic jet fuel. The company also recently announced that gasoline blended with its isobutanol is now being sold in Houston, Texas. READ MORE SHARE
Q3 RINs update suggests sufficient supplies for all but D3 While earlier quarterly updates suggested potential deficits of renewable identification numbers (RINs) to use for showing compliance with the 2016 mandate targets, the pace of RIN generation has increased, according to a recent FarmDoc Daily post. READ MORE SHARE
Sleepy Eye High School students visit Highwater Ethanol Twenty-three students from Sleepy Eye High School toured Minnesota-based Highwater Ethanol Nov. 8 to get a closer look at clean renewable energy production. The tour was organized by the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association. READ MORE SHARE
RFA: Report knocks the stuffing out of ‘food vs. fuel’ turkeys The Renewable Fuels Association has released an independent analysis on the impact of ethanol on food prices showing the current collision of falling food prices and record ethanol production should end the contrived “food vs. fuel” debate for good. READ MORE SHARE
Changing cell behavior could boost biofuels, medicine A computer scientist at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a way to coax cells to do natural things under unnatural circumstances, which could be useful for stem cell research, gene therapy and biofuel production. READ MORE SHARE
Iowa E15 retailers’ ‘Pink at the Pump’ campaign raises $12,000 Drivers filling-up their cars with cleaner-burning E15 during the month of October raised $12,000 for breast cancer awareness as part of the “Pink at the Pump” Campaign. Nearly 30 E15 retailers in Iowa participated in the program. READ MORE SHARE
GRFA calls for strong global commitment to biofuels at COP22 On Nov. 16, Bliss Baker, president of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, called on negotiators participating in events underway at COP22 to seize the opportunities presented by biofuels to support the global transition to low-carbon transportation. READ MORE SHARE
Post-election, USGC encourages focus on expanding ag exports Grain exports are a bright spot in the current farm economy and can grow even further through outreach to the 95 percent of the world's consumers who live outside U.S. borders, leaders of the U.S. Grains Council said at a recent event. READ MORE SHARE
USDA announces fiscal year 2017 BCAP funding USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini announced Nov. 10 that $1.5 million will be available in fiscal year 2017 under the Biomass Crop Assistance Program for farmers and foresters who harvest and deliver biomass for renewable energy. READ MORE SHARE
ICM: Flight powered by biofuel made from residual wood ICM Inc. contributed to the successful production of renewable biojet fuel from woody biomass used on a commercial Alaska Airlines flight on Nov. 14 as part of the USDA-sponsored Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance project. READ MORE SHARE
RSB revises principles and criteria The Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials has announced that its global members have voted to approve and publish revised principles and criteria, which will provide users with streamlined and easier to follow requirements. READ MORE SHARE