Biofuel Niches

This is the final installment of a three-part series that examines some of the renewable energy options that are presenting themselves as possible contenders to step up as petroleum steps down the depletion curve. The […]

An E-Fuel MicroFueler Dealer Responds

After publishing the previous story, I went back and searched through my Gmail to see when I had first heard about the E-Fuel MicroFueler. It turns out that about a year ago a regular reader […]

Another Journalist Fails Due Diligence 101

I have had a number of people ask me about the E-Fuel MicroFueler, so at one point I did a bit of investigating. It is essentially a small still, but apparently has a fermentation capability […]

Answering Reader Questions 2009: Part 4

This marks the final installment of answers to questions recently submitted by readers. This final installment covers the impact of E10 on fuel efficiency, my general optimism (or lack thereof), algal fuel, thermodynamics and energy […]

POET Sets the Standard

In a recent post (but certainly not the first time I mentioned this), I wrote: Corn ethanol producers have to move away from fossil fuel inputs – or they need to otherwise find inputs that […]

How to Calculate Ethanol’s Value

There was a comment following the previous post that claimed that ethanol producers are making money – minus subsidies – at $1.75 a gallon. I attempted to set the record straight in the comments, but […]

Implications of the CARB Ethanol Ruling

A number of people have written or commented regarding the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ruling that is expected on ethanol later this week. Treehugger had the story: Corn Ethanol Worse than Oil? California Rules […]

The 2009 EIA Energy Conference: Day 1

The Plenary I covered Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s comments in the previous post. Here, I will cover the rest of Day 1. This is not so much a comprehensive summary as it is a collection […]

Valero Now in the Ethanol Business

In an update to Big Oil Buys Big Ethanol, it is official: Valero Energy, the Oil Refiner, Wins an Auction for 7 Ethanol Plants Valero Energy, the country’s largest independent refiner, said on Wednesday that […]

The WSJ Hates Ethanol

Actually, according to them everybody hates it:Everyone Hates Ethanol I can assure them that corn farmers, ethanol producers, and ethanol lobbyists don’t hate ethanol. 🙂 But they are correct that a coalition of strange bedfellows […]