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A big July issue is coming your way

Posted: June 7, 2010 at 10:47 AM CST

The July issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine was uploaded to the printer last week. It’s always a good feeling to get an issue closed and out the door, but this one especially so since it’s my largest to date as editor—seven features and four contributions and the usual columns and news section.

It’s a solid issue, including the annual proposed project review, an update on projects under construction or completed in the past year, a look at the international scene and a cellulosic project update. The proposed project articles rank among the top-read stories on the EPM website. In past years, we’d start with a list of 200-some proposed projects gathered in previous months which were divvied up among all staff members to track down for an update, with a comprehensive region-by-region printed report.

Obviously, the booming ethanol build-out is history. We still have projects being proposed, but they are far fewer in number, and actually far more interesting. Projects now being proposed include new synergies, new approaches to energy efficiency, new ways of integrating into the agricultural scene. Several are close to breaking ground, but as is common these days, pinning down the final finances is problematic for most. That’s particularly true for the cellulosic ethanol projects.

There are two challenges we face when doing these sorts of projects. One is covering all bases and not missing an important project. While we keep a close eye on the industry, there are projects that slip in under the radar. The second challenge is the finite space in any given print magazine. Much more could have been written.

The issue should be posted online in the next week or so and is due to be delivered to the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in St. Louis. Take a look. And as always, we welcome feedback.

Speaking of FEW, we have a busy week ahead at BBI International pinning down the final details for the world's biggest ethanol conference. One of the details our sales team calculated was that producers representing 80 percent of US installed capacity will be in St. Louis. It looks like another great event.

Hope to see you there.

-Susanne Retka Schill