Ethanol Week - October 8, 2012

October 8, 2012

Waiver request comment period enters its final week The U.S. EPA's public comment period on the renewable fuel standard (RFS) waiver requests closes in approximately one week. Nearly 1,500 comments have already been filed, some in favor of maintaining the RFS, others in favor of waiving it. READ MORE SHARE
Patriot Renewable Fuels explores strategic options The board of Patriot Holdings LLC, has continuously monitored and evaluated the ethanol industry in the course of developing its strategic plan for the future. In June, Patriot retained Ascendant Partners Inc. to assist it gathering facts and data. READ MORE SHARE
	RFA partners with Car-Talk host to educate automotive technicians Lights, camera, action! Automotive Expert and Car-Talk Host Bobby Likis is packing up the Car Clinic state-of-the-art show trailer with full crew and is hitting the road to the CARS Congress of Automotive Service & Repair (CARS) event. READ MORE SHARE
Presidential debate references green energy, oil's tax breaks The first debate between President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., didn't contain the words ethanol or renewable energy. Both candidates did, however, address energy, and in Romney's case, green energy or green jobs. READ MORE SHARE
Researchers seek to transfer water-wise traits to biofuel crops University of Nevada-Reno researchers are leading an effort to identify the gene pathways responsible for the great water efficiency in desert plants, and transfer that to poplar trees being developed for biofuels. READ MORE SHARE
	Los Angeles County votes in favor of waste-to-energy development In California, Los Angeles County is taking action to support the development of technologies to convert landfill waste into biofuels and biopower. The county's Board of Supervisors voted to advocate for waste-to-biofuel and waste-to-energy projects. READ MORE SHARE
Elephant grass has potential as biofuel crop in southern states A drought tolerant grass fed to cattle in the tropics is being studied as a possible cellulosic ethanol feedstock in southern states, with encouraging results. The research is ongoing as part of a search for alternative biofuel feedstocks. READ MORE SHARE
Abengoa idles Illinois plant for maintenance Abengoa Bioenergy of Illinois LLC, an 88 MMgy corn ethanol plant in Madison, Ill., is being temporarily idled for maintenance. Chris Standlee, executive vice president for Abengoa Bioenergy, said that he doesn't expect the shutdown to be long term. READ MORE SHARE
Lux Research names Sweetwater Energy to quarterly top 10 list Lux Research has released its list of top 10 innovative companies profiled during the third quarter of 2012. The list includes cellulosic sugar manufacturer Sweetwater Energy Inc. The top 10 companies were selected from 370 companies. READ MORE SHARE
Study finds a LCFS in Minn. would create nearly 32,500 jobs A study recently published by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst explores some of the economic impacts of establishing a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in Minnesota. READ MORE SHARE
ACE releases results of congressional candidate survey A total of 10 candidates for U.S. Senate or House of Representatives in Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota responded to a two-question survey sent out by the American Coalition for Ethanol. READ MORE SHARE
The Andersons to purchase assets of Mt. Pulaski Products The Andersons Inc. recently announced it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase substantially all of the assets of Mt. Pulaski Products LLC. The transaction, which remains subject to certain conditions, is anticipated to close in late 2012. READ MORE SHARE
McKinstray to lead RFA as new chair, other officers named Neill McKinstray is the new chairman of the Renewable Fuels Association's board of directors. He is president of the ethanol group at The Andersons Inc. The RFA chose new officers at its annual membership meeting last week in Omaha, Neb. READ MORE SHARE
OSU researchers find potential in "semi-dwarf" trees Oregon State University researchers have outlined the latest findings on reduced height growth in trees through genetic modification, concluding that several advantageous growth traits could be achieved for short-rotation forestry and bioenergy. READ MORE SHARE