Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance » Bio Fuels

“Freedom” rolls out big in DC

Jason — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:12:59 +0000

“Freedom,” the compelling documentary investigating the repercussions of America’s addiction to foreign oil and a proposed solution for our energy independence will have its red carpet premiere in DC tonight with a slew of special guests.

Preceding the film’s premiere a press conference will take place at 2pm ET. The debate and Q&A hosted by Dennis McGinn, retired Vice Admiral and President of the American Council on Renewable Fuels, will include filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell as well as General Wesley Clark, who ranked at a four-star general and director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Chief of Staffs.

“Freedom” covers a wide range on our country’s oil issues ranging from last year’s Deepwater Horizon explosion, Keystone XL pipeline, and the economic impact of foreign oil on American citizens. The film also highlights a path to long-term sustainable path to domestic fuel.

To learn more about “Freedom,” click here. Or, check out the trailer here.

Wisconsin company advances in US Air Force renewable fuel testing

Jason — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:54:50 +0000

A Madison based company has developed a renewable jet fuel which has recently received the green light after the first round of testing by the US Air Force.

The one hundred percent renewable fuel produced by Virent was recently tested at US Air Force Laboratory as a result of a strong push by the Pentagon to depend less of foreign fuels. The chemical conversion process which Virent uses to produce its biofuel was developed in the labs of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Aaron Imrie, Virent’s commercial fuels manager, expressed his excitement over the results from US Air Force by stating:

“These ARFL results are exciting because they demonstrate the potential of Virent’s catalytic process to create renewable plant-based jet fuel that can meet or exceed petroleum.”

Earlier this year, the US Air Force completed a test flight using a 50-50 blend of petroleum and a biofuel derived from camelina. Honeywell also announced this summer the first successful trans-Atlantic flight using the same biofuel-petroleum blend.

To read more about Virent’s biofuel success, click here.

Or, to learn about Virent, click here.

Ag. Secretary Tom Vilsack at Wisconsin State Fair on biofuels

Jason — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:29:51 +0000

Clean Snowmobile Challenge

Jason — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:01:59 +0000

At the last WBIA meeting in May, students from UW-Platteville’s Clean Snowmobile Challenge came and spoke about their experience this past winter competing in the competition. Afterward, they presented WBIA Executive Director Josh Morby with a plaque recognizing the WBIA’s sponsorship of the team.

Dueling Fuels: Minnesota and Wisconsin to Face Off in Friendly E85 Rivalry

Jason — Tue, 31 May 2011 21:04:21 +0000

Two gas stations on opposite sides of the St. Croix River will compete to sell the most E85 fuel on June 2. The Freedom Valu Center in Maplewood, Minnesota and River Hills BP in Somerset, Wisconsin will sell their E85 fuel at a $.85 cent discount between 4-6 p.m. Thursday as a way to promote the use of cleaner fuels.

The ethanol-based fuel can save drivers money as well as improve the quality of air we breathe. The beginning of summer is also the kickoff for ozone season, the main ingredient of smog. Using the ethanol based fuel E85 can combat the increase of smog during summer months and decrease the risk of adverse health effects including asthma.

The promotions are supported by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Bob & Steve’s BP Amoco Shops, Erickson Oil, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest and MN & WI Clean Air Choice Teams.

New List of Wisconsin E85 Stations Available

Jason — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:34:10 +0000

An updated list of gas stations in Wisconsin that offer E85 is now available, using data compiled by the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence.

There are currently 125 stations across the state that offer the fuel, with another six opening in the near future.

To download the list, and find a station near you, please click here.

Restructuring of VEETC

Jason — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:43:27 +0000

Earlier this week Rachel Gantz, a reporter at OPIS, was the first to break the news story about whats happening at the national level as it relates to our industries efforts to restructure VEETC. The WBIA is excited to be able to be part of these discussions and work closely with our friends across the county. The WBIA and our members have been in contact with members of our congressional delegation such as Congressmen Ron Kind and Reed Ribble and Senator Herb Kohl as recently as this week to educate them about the importance of the ethanol industry and the ideas we have about the importance of a tax credit.

Call for unity in the ethanol industry

Jason — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:26:24 +0000

At the Renewable Fuels Association’s National Ethanol Conference this week, ethanol leaders from around the country meet to discuss the future of the industry.

Bob Dinneen, RFA CEO, will give the State of the Industry Address. Dinneen’s column this month, ‘Speaking with One Voice,’ calls for unity and focus.

“It is critically important that, as Congress and the country debate and decide energy policy, the ethanol industry will be speaking with one voice. That’s why the recent announcement that companies developing the next generation of advanced ethanol technologies are working together with the ethanol industry’s trade organization, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), through the formation of the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is so significant.”

Read more of Dinneen’s column: Speaking with One Voice: RFA chief calls for biofuels unity

Future of the Bio Industry from Georg Anderl

Jason — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:09:24 +0000

Following our last WBIA meeting, we asked our speaker Georg Anderl, Vice President of Engineering for DDCE, to talk briefly about the future of the bio industry. Hear what he had to say.

Fueled by cheese

Jason — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:22:54 +0000

These days, your car could be fueled by corn, grass, wood, alcohol or even garbage. Leave it to Wisconsin researchers to add cheese to the list. Researchers at Concordia University say the microbe Lactococcus lactis, used to produce cheese, buttermilk and yogurt, can also be used to produce biofuels.

The research paper explains that scaffolding proteins on the surface of the microbe could be engineered to break down plant material into biofuels. Researchers say this study could lead to studies of other microbes that could be used to create biofuels.