Ethanol and biofuels comprise one of the fastest-growing markets in today's economy: the renewable fuels market. With the ever-increasing costs of petroleum at record highs and surpassing these daily, the door has been left open for renewable fuels to provide a clean, cheap alternative to oil. The basis of ethanol is largely grain alcohol, produced from crops such as corn and soybeans - a plentiful source that is readily found in North America. This fact enables most of the profits off of renewable fuels to remain in North America, instead or traveling overseas. As renewable fuels are best shipped via tank cars, this enables the rail industry in general, and the short line and regional railroad industry in particular, to benefit from the placement of new plants. Many of these plants are located in the Grain Belt of the Upper Midwest, placed there for ease of location. However, an increasing number of plants have been built or are under construction in areas as different as the Central Valley of California, Georgia, and Upstate New York. To view a list of current biorefineries, click here.
Ethanol/Biofuels as Marketable Resources
100% pure ethanol is not sold generally as a fuel. Rather, it is mixed with unleaded gasoline to reduce the cost and emissions of the gasoline, and to increase the octane rating. Ethanol's two most common forms are E10 and E85 - named after the percentage of ethanol in the mixture. The American Coalition for Ethanol publishes a state-by-state guide, called Status, on ethanol fuel use, production statistics, and other important statistics. To view the 2007 edition, Status 07, visit the ACE Status 07 page, by clicking here.
Ethanol/Biofuels - Getting Started
To operate an ethanol plant, certain requirements must be met. The Clean Fuels Development Coalition and The Nebraska Ethanol Board, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has developed a document evaluating the requirements of ethanol plants. To view this document, click here.
Ethanol/Biofuels in the News
Iowa Northern Railway forms Transportation Partnership with Ethanol Producer (Iowa Northern Railway Press Release)
Upgraded Track Could Bolster Business (Mankato Free Press)
RFA Releases New Ethanol Safety Video (Renewable Fuels Association)
How ethanol has changed transportation in Iowa (Iowa Railroad Ties - Iowa DOT's Office of Rail)
Biofuels distribution development (Iowa Railroad Ties - Iowa DOT's Office of Rail)
Ethanol Monitor Vol. 3, No. 19 (Oil Intelligence Link)
Ethanol/Biofuels Upcoming Events
ACE Conference
Des Moines, IA
August 22-24, 2011
National Ethanol Conference
Phoenix, AZ
February 20-22, 2011
Ethanol/Biofuels Links
American Coalition for Ethanol
Biofuels Business
Biofuels Journal
Oil Intelligence Link, Inc.
Renewable Fuels Association
