Until more alternative fuel stations are built, allowing these important industries to flourish, this app will serve as a great resource for consumers who are dedicated to using these fuels to ensure our nation’s energy security and economic growth.

Click here for more information and to download the app.

The Wausau Daily Herald ran Tom Tyskiewicz’s letter to the editor on June 17 in which he stated his support of the project. Tyskiewicz asked  Rothschild residents to embrace change and progress for the sake of our future. He said he believes renewable energy is a big part of that future.

Tyskiewicz reminds us that Domtar and WE Energies are two companies “held in high standards by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, EPA and DNR.” He adds that “nothing will be built without their final stamp of approval.”

Tyskiewicz was not alone in his sentiments. Today the Wausau Daily Herald ran Kathleen M. Ruenger’s letter to the editor pledging her support of the plant and calling it “a win-win situation for all involved: Domtar, WE Energies, the Village of Rothschild and all other communities involved.”

Ruenger address concerns that the new biomass plant would reduce air quality in the area. She refers to the Rothschild Paper Mill’s storied past in which it was always environmentally and socially responsible. Ruenger believes the new plant will be no different.

We at the WBIA are glad to see Wisconsin communities rise up in support of a good cause. The support of Wisconsinites like Ruenger and Tyskiewicz is crucial if the WBIA hopes to achieve it’s goal of helping Wisconsin be the nation’s leader among states to improve the efficiency, conservation and profitability of bio fuel production.

It will include presentations and “hands on” sessions featuring biofuels experts, business and government leaders, educators and equipment manufacturers from Wisconsin. There will also be several small-scale systems demonstrated.

The workshop fee is $40. WSSBPP members receive a discounted rate of $25.

Click here to download a flyer with more information about the event. You may also click here to download the program.

A University of Wisconsin-Madison research group at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center developed a strain of bacteria which could lead to more cost-effective cellulosic biofuels. The team’s findings were published online by the Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology on June 11.

The breakthrough has made it possible to perform genetic analysis on the bacteria, which has long been known to convert biomass to sugars. The team developed a way to mutate any gene with the bacteria, which should bring greater success to the difficult process of breaking down plant cell walls to extract sugar molecules for producing biofuels.

Also advancing the bio industry is Milwaukee-based Lallemand Ethanol Technology, which just introduced Thermosacc® GOLD, a new fresh-cake yeast better able to withstand fermentation. Thermosacc GOLD was designed to use sugars more efficiently and increase yield.

The WBIA is proud to see Wisconsin leading the way in the biofuels industry, and we hope this is just the beginning of Wisconsin’s contribution to the global movement toward bio power.

For more information about the grant, visit the Grants.gov website.

To learn more about biomass, you can download fact sheets from our Bio Power page.

The report, published by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC), was due to test 16 engines manufactured between 2001 and 2009, but has only conducted testing on half thus far.  In fact, testing has only been completed for four engines.

It is troublesome that the auto industry is drawing conclusions from a study that is nowhere near finished when other third party research, and even the EPA, has suggested that E15 is safe for recent engine models.

CEO of Growth Energy, Tom Buis, said, “The EPA has told us in writing that they intend to complete their testing on E15 before making a decision, and we are confident they will.”

Why hasn’t the auto industry done the same?

Buis added, “We are also confident that the testing will show what we already know: that E15 can run just fine in today’s modern engines, all while creating good paying jobs here in America.”

For more details about the situation, check out this story at BrighterEnergy.org.

Even Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California and a high-profile Republican, has come out against off-shore drilling after the disaster, saying that the environmental impacts are not worth the potential economic gain. “You turn on the television and see this enormous disaster, you say to yourself, ‘Why would we want to take on that kind of risk?”‘ he said.

According to the EPA, biodiesel fuels are biodegradable.  This means that if a spill occurs, biodiesel breaks down into sugars and starches, rather than harsh chemicals, and is non-toxic to animal and marine life.

The US has the means to produce this safe fuel alternative, but has let tax credits expire that are essential to keeping this industry working.  In light of this disaster, it is more important than ever to renew these tax credits and help those who are providing safe, clean and affordable fuel for Americans.

Monday, April 12
11:00am
Wisconsin State Capitol
Room 400SE

RSVP to Jason Rae at rae@nationconsulting.com if you can attend! Hope to see you there!