In Iowa, the couple who had sued DuPont for setting up large-scale biomass storage for its ethanol plant in Nevada, saying it was a risk for their rural property, have settled out of court and dropped the suit. No comments were made regarding the value of the settlement or whether the couple still felt the […]
In Iowa, a couple owning 42 acres near the cellulosic ethanol plant under development near the town of Nevada is suing DuPont because of a March fire that burned thousands of tons of corn stover, and what they claim is the risk of more damage. The plant has had five fires over the past years. The […]
In Nebraska, renewable experts, the EPA, and the research community alike have disputed a recent University of Nebraska study which concluded that fuel produced from cellulosic ethanol from corn residue could result in 7% more greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline in the short term. According to critics, the study was conducted under highly unrealistic conditions: […]
In Nebraska, using corn crop residue to make ethanol and other biofuels reduces soil carbon and can generate more greenhouse gases than gasoline, according to a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The findings by a University of Nebraska-Lincoln team of researchers cast doubt on whether corn residue can be used to meet federal […]
In Canada, the Ontario Farmers Association is looking for a company to invest $75 million in a corn stover-based ethanol plant somewhere in the southwestern part of the province, but that Lambton County could be a good option. The OFA estimates 250,000 metric tons of corn stalk is available in the area to feed such […]
In Missouri, the Columbia Municipal Power Plant will begin co-firing tests with corn stover and miscanthus pellets beginning in December. Wood is currently being co-fired with coal to reduce GHG emissions but the new pellets will go further towards reducing those emissions. Columbia-based Enginuity produces the pellets. The pellets are expected to work better than […]
In Iowa, USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and DuPont signed an agreement on Friday to establish guidelines for corn stover collection. The agreement directs the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to work with DuPont and Iowan farmers for give years to set standards for the percentage of stover that can be collected without diminishing […]
In Iowa, DuPont is looking to contract 500 farmers to supply corn stover for its cellulosic ethanol plant that it is building in the town of Nevada. The 30 million gallon per year plant won’t be online until 2014 but it will eventually seek 375,000 dry tons of stover from a 30 mile radius.
In Iowa, farmers have been turning to corn stover as a cattle feed in light of the recent droughts causing hay shortages. Many farms are beginning to mix stover with hay, vitamins, and minerals to stretch the volume of feed from their hay harvests each year. Iowa State University Extension Beef Specialist Denise Schwab believes […]
In Michigan, researchers at Michigan State University of developed a bioelectrochemical process using microbial electrolysis cells, or MEC’s, to produce ethanol from corn stover that boosts recoverable energy by 2000%, an amazing feat when existing technology can only extract about 3.5%-4.5% of the energy.
