National Ethanol Conference Kicks Off

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m back, back in the Gaylord again. Almost sounds like a line from an Aerosmith song. Now I’m not going to get that out of my head. But I am back in a Gaylord hotel again. This time it’s the 2012 National Ethanol Conference. Cindy will be joining me tomorrow as we provide full coverage on our Domestic Fuel website. …

Ag Groups, Biofuels, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Orange County Choppers Paul Sr. Unveils Biodiesel Bike

Chuck Zimmerman

The big news today at the National Biodiesel Conference was the unveiling of the biodiesel bike built by Paul Teutul, Sr., Orange County Choppers. The bike was built in partnership with CIMA Green. Today the bike debuted on stage driven by former NBB Chairman, Ed Hegland. Then Paul Sr. himself drove it onto the biodiesel vehicle showcase floor where he …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference, Video

National Biodiesel Conference Opening Speech

Chuck Zimmerman

Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board, welcomed attendees to the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference this morning. He started out by telling a story about what biodiesel means to him and how he got involved in energy, politics and history. One of the things that really got him interested in the industry was, “I wrote a paper for my high school …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference

Revived Renewable Fuels

Chuck Zimmerman

While I’m attending IPE Week, Cindy is at today’s Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. Most of her coverage can be found on Domestic Fuel. Just thought I’d share this first story with you: Today’s 6th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit kicked off in Des Moines on Tuesday on a very positive note, considering that 2011 was a record year in the …

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

BASF Invests in Cellulosic Sugar Company

Cindy Zimmerman

Global chemical giant BASF has invested $30 million in a Pennsylvania-based company that has developed a process to produce cellulosic sugars for renewable chemicals and biofuels. BASF, through subsidiary BASF Biorenewable Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG led a $50 million financing round in the technology firm Renmatix Inc. Renmatix has developed the patented Plantrose™ platform whereby industrial sugar can be …

BASF, Biofuels

Trends in Energy/Alternative Fuels

Chuck Zimmerman

During the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Trends in Agriculture Conference we had a session that focused on “Trends In Energy/Alternative Fuels” which featured Nathan Schock, POET & Matt Roberts, PhD. Pictured is Matt who is an Associate Professor of Ag Economics at Ohio State University. Matt does a lot of work in biofuels. One of his take aways from the session …

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, NAMA

Biodiesel Falls Under Minnesota Ag Marketing & Development

Cindy Zimmerman

Fields of soybeans surround the newly re-opened Renewable Energy Group REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in southern Minnesota, serving as a reminder of where the renewable fuel is rooted. Christina Connelly with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Ag Marketing and Development Division attended the grand re-opening Monday of the 30 million gallon a year plant, which was shut down in …

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean

Biodiesel Adds Value to Minnesota Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Energy Group (REG) celebrated the official grand opening of REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in Minnesota on Monday, with representatives of the state and local community and agriculture industry. REG President and COO Dan Oh (right) says the plant was shut down in 2008 when economic woes hit the biodiesel industry, but REG felt it was a significant …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean, USB, Video

Agricultural Bio-based Careers are Booming

Cindy Zimmerman

Novozymes was one of the companies that participated in the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable held this past week at Purdue University. Novozymes is a Danish-based international company which specializes in enzymes for bioag products, biofuels and bio-pharmaceuticals. Novozymes Recruitment and Employer Branding Manager Darlene Godsey says the company’s workforce has increased tremendously just in the last five …

AgCareers, Audio, Biofuels, Biotech

Book Review – The Vertical Farm

Joanna Schroeder

I spent some time learning about ways the world can feed a burgeoning population. One emerging idea is through a “vertical farm,” an idea that has been promoted by Dr. Dickson Despommier, a former professor of microbiology and public health in environmental sciences at Columbia. He recently authored, “The Vertical Farm Feeding the World in the 21st Century,” which lays …

Agribusiness, Biofuels