ethanol production plant in western manitoba

Picks and shovels for the alternative energy industry

The dominant players in the biofuels sector today are the traditional grain handlers and processors

It’s said that the big money, in gold rushes of yore, wasn’t in the gold miners but in those who supplied the picks and shovels. Vendors of sins, booze and brothels also did well. With this issue we’ll have a look at companies that, while not wholly reliant on alternative energy, stand to benefit from […] Read more



The Big River Resources ethanol plant at West Burlington, Iowa, about 120 km southwest of Davenport. (Steven Vaughn photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Biden backs ethanol industry on low-emission aviation fuel tax credits

Aviation is seen as one of the few routes to increase ethanol demand amid rising electric vehicle sales

Reuters - The Biden administration said on Friday it will recognize a methodology favored by the ethanol industry in guidance to companies looking to claim tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a pivotal win for the politically powerful U.S. corn lobby.

ICE November 2023 canola with 20- and 50-day moving averages and January 2024 canola (black line). (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Upside seen for canola prices

'Aggressive manipulation' seen as a factor

MarketsFarm — Early gains were followed by late losses on ICE Futures’ canola market during the week ended Wednesday. The November canola contract began the week at $704.60 per tonne before rising up to $725.80/tonne on Monday, then ending the week at $711.70. The January contract went in similar directions, starting at $710.10/tonne before moving […] Read more


ICE November 2023 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola ‘due for a bounce’

Weather co-operating, mostly, for Prairie harvesting

MarketsFarm — A month-long decline of ICE Futures canola prices, which saw the oilseed lose $110 per tonne, came to an end and was followed by a bounce-back. While the price of the November canola contract still declined by $10/tonne to $726.10 during the week ended Wednesday, it hit its lowest price since the end […] Read more

(Jimfeng/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. EPA denies nearly all biofuel blending exemption petitions

Refineries didn't prove hardship, agency said

New York | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday denied almost all outstanding petitions from oil refiners asking to be exempted from mandates that require them to mix biofuels into their fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has the authority to issue the exemptions, denied 26 petitions from 15 small refineries […] Read more