First "Closed Loop" Ethanol Biorefinery up and Running

This Biorefinery is fueled by gas from cattle manure and they feed byproducts back to the cattle, closing the loop. It's a revolutionary system that is developing a track record on a commercial scale at Mead, Nebraska. -- Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Suburban Newspapers - Mead Ethanol continues to produce:
October 22, 2007
"'We've been really pleased, especially with the quality of the gas,' he said. 'It's excellent.'"

Grand Opening at Shenandoah, IA Ethanol Biorefinery

This event is set for Novemebr 17th. Should be a good opportunity to hear some speakers and visit an ethanol biorefinery.
Grainnet -- October 23, 2007
Green Plains Renewable Energy to Hold Grand Opening in Shenandoah, IA For Company's First Ethanol Plant

Giant corn stalks may be better for ethanol

Here we are talking about getting sugars from the stalks--even easier to convert to ethanol than the starch from corn kernels. The long days of midwest summers cause high sugar production instead of forming ears in tropical maize (corn) varieties. This could mean a large increase in ethanol yield per acre and decrease in fertilization without the need for new cellulosic processing technology. -- Jeffrey Goettemoeller
If Corn Is Biofuels King, Tropical Maize May Be Emperor:
Science News -- Oct. 16, 2007
"Without ears, these plants concentrate sugars in their stalks, he adds. Those sugars could have a dramatic affect on Midwestern production of ethanol and other biofuels."

Ethanol plant with reduced emissions

These significant advances in ethanol production technology will reduce cost and environmental impact. -- Jeff Goettemoeller
The Times-Tribune - Ethanol plant a new breed:
by Elizabeth Piet -- 10/07/2007
"the facility will use 25 percent less thermal energy and 50 percent less water than existing U.S. ethanol plants, with the goal of eliminating both in the future."

Moving Wind to the Mainstream: Leveraging Compressed Air Energy Storage

Underground compressed air storage could move wind power to a new level in inexpensive production of electricity. Traditional coal or natural gas powered generators have always had a huge advantage over wind and solar because they could deliver power when needed. Batteries were never efficient or cost effective enough to compete with this. Underground comrpessed air storage powered by wind-driven compressors could close this gap, making wind power extremely attractive and competitive with fossil fuels. -- Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Moving Wind to the Mainstream: Leveraging Compressed Air Energy Storage :
by David Marcus -- October 1, 2007
"The study's results indicate that compressing air with wind power can deliver measurable economic value and make renewable wind power more cost-effective and grid-friendly."

Mid-America economy up on farming, ethanol

Mid-America economy up on farming, ethanol -survey | News | Economic News | Reuters

Texas A&M, Ceres To Develop Sorghum For Cellulosic Ethanol

When you consider sorghum requires much less water than corn, a 2000 gallon per acre per year ethanol yield would be a tremendous breakthrough for ethanol production in North America. It would expand the range of production well beyond the Corn Belt. -- Jeffrey Goettemoeller
Texas A&M, Ceres To Develop Sorghum For Cellulosic Ethanol:
CNNMoney.com -- Oct 1, 2007
"Rooney's first breeding lines - the precursors to hybrids - can grow to almost 20 feet under favorable weather conditions and could produce more than 2,000 gallons of ethanol per acre, more than four times as much as a conventional cornstarch-to-ethanol process."

Tennessee hosts U.S. first switchgrass ethanol plant

Emerging Energy News: Tennessee hosts U.S. first switchgrass ethanol plant:
October 1, 2007
"Construction of the 5 million gallon per year biorefinery will begin by the end of 2009, with the aim of commencing operation in 2009."