Further evidence of the shaky situation faced by ethanol producers in light of consumer rejection, rising corn prices and rapidly diminishing political support, the Raleigh-based Triangle Business Journal reported this week on the millions that high-profile investors lost with the closure of North Carolina's only ethanol plant earlier this year. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, corn prices are up 46% since last year due to adverse weather, negatively affecting the profitability of the ethanol plant in Raeford, N.C., which was opened only a few months before declaring bankruptcy. By contrast, US oil and gas production continues to rise, according to Hoover's Bizmology. The GAfuels Blog is written by two private pilots concerned about the future availability of fuels for piston-engine aircraft: Dean Billing, Sisters, Ore., an expert on autogas and ethanol, and Kent Misegades, Cary, N.C., an aerospace engineer, aviation sales rep for U-Fuel, and president of EAA1114. Continue Reading »

===> Posted on September 14th, 2011 by Kent Misegades. No comments. © GAN 2011.