The Goodland Energy Center
This web site has been created to provide information about the proposed Goodland Energy Center, as well as the ethanol, coal and biofuels industries.
One must question whether coal and ethanol plants are in our long-term best interest locally. The unfavorable economics of ethanol are now being realized by some politicians and more people in general, with the topic becoming more prominent in the news. While ethanol from switchgrass and other cellulose sources shows SOME promise 5-10 years from now, ethanol from corn as a fuel gives 25% fewer miles per gallon, which means consumers pay more at the pump and have to fill up their tank more often. Ethanol from corn competes with the food supply and is financed by huge government subsidies...the only thing that makes it a seemingly viable alternative to oil. Unless E85 sells for 25% less than regular gas, it will cost more to drive. Many ethanol supporters feel buying E85 reduces our dependence on foreign oil. But studies have shown that if most of the farmland in the U.S. were converted to corn production for ethanol, it would make only a small dent in our dependence on foreign oil!
On a related topic, Governor Sebelius spoke out last fall (see article below, Oct 25, 2007) stating that Kansas should find alternatives to coal plants, citing that legistration introduced would likely cause coal prices to rise if it passes. Is it possible that local investors have not really thought this endeavor through, and are not so much interested in long-term economic growth for Sherman county, but perhaps a short term fix for their pocketbooks?
RECENT NEWS
BIOFUELS BEHIND FOOD PRICE HIKES: LEAKED WORLD BANK REPORT, JUL 4, 2008
For more info, click here.
A NORTHEAST KANSAS ETHANOL PLANT IS GOING BANKRUPT, MAR 29, 2008
For more info, click here.
PRATT, KANSAS ETHANOL PLANT SHUT DOWN, APR 2008
For more info, click here.
BIOFUELS UNDER ATTACK AS WORLD FOOD PRICES SOAR, APR 20, 2008
For more info, click here.
EMAIL FROM THE KANSAS SIERRA CLUB REGARDING LOCAL CONCERNS, FEB 13, 2008
THIS IS A MUST READ ARTICLE FOR LOCAL GOODLAND RESIDENTS. For more info, click here.
EXCERPT FROM EMAIL FROM THE KANSAS SIERRA CLUB ADDRESSING LOCAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE GOODLAND ENERGY CENTER, JAN 29, 2008
For more info, click here.
ETHANOL START-UPS AND THE BANKRUPTCY BOGEYMAN, ETHANOL PRODUCER MAGAZINE - MAR 2008 ISSUE
Two new ethanol plants received a lump of coal in their Christmas stockings...a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. One plant isn't even completed. Now both face the unenviable task of clawing their way out of a hole to become successful enterprises. And both leave corn farmers and other investors wondering how such lofty aspirations went awry. For more info, click here.
STUDY: CORN ETHANOL WORSE THAN GASOLINE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, FEB 7, 2008
Read the latest study from researchers at Princeton University, Iowa State University, the Woods Hole Research Center and the Agricultural Conservation Economics. "The other studies missed a key factor that everyone agrees should have been included, the land use changes that actually are going to increase greenhouse gas emissions." For more info, click here.
WWW.FUELECONOMY.GOV
"FFVs experience no loss in performance when operating on E85. However, since a gallon of ethanol contains less energy than a gallon of gasoline, FFVs typically get about 20-30% fewer miles per gallon when fueled with E85." Will Americans really embrace ethanol once they wake up to the reality of reduced fuel economy? For more info, click here.
THE TROUBLE WITH ETHANOL, INDUSTRIAL FIRE WORLD MAGAZINE
"Industrial firefighters and their municipal fire fighting partners need to take a long, hard look at their ability to deal with burning ethanol." For more info, click here.
BIOFUELS MAY THREATEN ENVIRONMENT, U.N. WARNS, JAN 23,2008
"Initially, biofuels were held up as a panacea for countries struggling to cope with the rising cost of oil or those looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ... But in recent months, scientists, private agencies and even the British government have said biofuels could do more harm than good." For more info, click here.
WHO'S DEMANDING AN END TO COAL POWER?, JAN 18, 2008
John Edwards: "I believe we need a moratorium on the building of any more coal-fired power plants unless and until we have the ability to capture and sequester the carbon in the ground. Because every time we build a new coal-fired power plant in America when we don't have that technology attached to it, what happens is, we're making a terrible situation worse." For more info, click here.
FEDERAL, STATE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ELIMINATE BIOFUEL MANDATES, JAN 7, 2008
"...One survey presented at the Bali [United Nations Climate] conference polled 1,000 respondents from 105 countries. Biofuels from agricultural crops finished dead last of 19 possible choices of answers to the world's energy needs." For more info, click here.
PIC-MARUBENI ENERGY GROUP (PMEG) AWARDED OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH [GOODLAND] ENERGY CENTER, DEC 7, 2007
For more info, click here.
ETHANOL'S A FARCE AND WE'RE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY ALTERNATIVES: MONEY MORNING ETHANOL REPORT, DEC 2007
"For months we've heard nothing but great things about ethanol. And true to form, the experts here at Money Morning have ignored most of the resultant investor buzz." For more info, click here.
ETHANOL CRAZE COOLS AS DOUBTS MULTIPLY: WALL STREET JOURNAL, NOV 28, 2007
"Our love affair with ethanol has finally ended because we've taken off the makeup and realized that, lo and behold, it's actually a fuel, with environmental and various other drawbacks", says Kevin Book, an analyst at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc. For more info, click here.
ETHANOL BUST MAKES LOSERS OF BUSH, GATES, D.E. SHAW: PEAK OIL NEWS, NOV 19, 2007
"Ethanol, the centerpiece of President George W. Bush's plan to wean the U.S. from oil, is 2007's worst energy investment." For more info, click here.
SEBELIUS: KANSAS CAN FIND ALTERNATIVES TO COAL PLANTS: OCT 25, 2007
Interesting that our own Governor Sebelius is denouncing coal plants, something the local investors believe will save our local economy in NW Kansas! Click here for the article.
DTN ETHANOL BLOG (Reuters UK, October 16, 2007)
WEAK U.S. ETHANOL PROFITS COULD LEAD TO MORE DELAYS. After several U.S. ethanol refineries have closed their doors or canceled construction plans, even more ethanol producers are expected to close refineries and delay construction due to crumbling profit margins. In the past year, corn prices have increased sharply and ethanol prices have fallen, reducing profits for ethanol producers. The latest closing came from Alchem Limited, one of the oldest U.S. ethanol producers, that it will close its 10.5 million gallon plant in Graton, North Dakota next week. Although the closure is expected to be temporary, three other U.S. refiners have canceled plans for new construction, one of which is major ethanol producer VeraSun Energy. Some analysts, however, are pointing to positive factors for the industry, such as the record corn crop that should herald declining corn prices which will increase refinery profit margins.
ETHANOL PRODUCER MAGAZINE Web exclusive posted Oct. 11, 2007
Alchem Ethanol LLP, a 10.5 MMgy in Grafton, N.D., will be closing its doors temporarily due to industry economics. Plant spokesman Rick Newman said the plant has stopped taking corn and has enough on hand to produce ethanol for two to three weeks before shutdown.
According to Alchem President Harold Newman, the high cost of corn and low price of fuel ethanol have caused unfavorable market conditions and will lead to the shutdown which will last until ethanol prices rebound. Although the shutdown is indefinite, company officials say they are hopeful the plant can reopen by the beginning of 2008.
AUTOBLOGGREEN Posted Oct 11th 2007: ALCHEM ETHANOL PLANT IN NORTH DAKOTA SHUTS DOWN
"Well, whaddya think of this? A 25-year, 10-million-gallon-per-year Alchem ethanol plant in Grafton, North Dakota is shutting down. You can probably guess the reason: low price for ethanol due to the high price of corn. For at least the time being, the plants 40 employees are out of a job (or will be, once the two- to three-week supply of corn is used up). Harold Newman, president of Alchem, told the Grand Forks Herald that when (if?) ethanol prices improve, something he (and Citibank) expects will happen, the Alchem plant will re-open."
"Prices for North Dakota: a bushel of corn costs $3 and can make three gallons of ethanol. The "rack price" (what distributors pay) for a gallon of ethanol is currently around $1.70. Earlier, it was $2.50. No figure was given where the plant could afford to start back up."
ETHANOL BOOM STALLING AS GLUT DEPRESSES PRICE: SEP 24, 2007
"The end of the ethanol boom is possibly in sight and may already be here ... This is a dangerous time for people who are making investments." For more info, click here.
ONE INJURED IN FIERY ETHANOL EXPLOSION IN SIOUX CENTER, KCCI-TV, AUG 1, 2007
For more info, click here.
ETHANOL COULD KEEP PRICE OF GAS HIGH, MSNBC, JUNE 17, 2007
"A push from Congress and the White House for huge increases in biofuels, such as ethanol, is prompting the oil industry to scale back its plans for refinery expansions. That could keep gasoline prices high, possibly for years to come." For more info, click here.
CORN TO BLAME FOR RISING FOOD PRICES, ABCNEWS, MAY 17, 2007
"...corn is now used to make billions of gallons of ethanol a year. The growing demand for the corn crop is sending a ripple effect into every aisle of the supermarket." For more info, click here.
ETHANOL'S GROWING LIST OF ENEMIES: MAR 19, 2007
"As demand for the alternative fuel drives corn prices up, an unlikely assortment of groups are uniting with the hopes of cutting government support." For more info, click here.
WATER SUPPLY CAN'T MEET THIRST FOR NEW INDUSTRY
"In Minnesota's arid southwest, doors are closing to coveted farm-related businesses, particularly ethanol plants." Do we really have enough water to fuel an ethanol plant in NW Kansas? For more info, click here.
DTN: "The shift in ethanol economics for ethanol production follows the boom in refinery construction that finally surpassed demand. Planned expansions have fallen in recent weeks and have decreased production estimates from 13.7 billion gallons per year by 2008, to 13.5 billion gallons, according to the RFA. More shutdowns and construction delays may be inevitable until ethanol prices rebound, despite the Senate's proposed energy bill that would increase ethanol consumption/production by more than five times current levels." (Cheryl Warren)
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