“Fields of Fuel” Debut at Sundance

Cindy Zimmerman

Fields of FuelA documentary about biofuels makes its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this week.

Fields of Fuel“Fields of Fuel” is directed by Josh Tickell, who also wrote “Biodiesel America,” which was introduced at the 2006 Biodiesel Conference. Tickell is a long-time advocate of biodiesel who became known for his “Veggie Van” tours in the late 1990’s. While his main focus is on biodiesel, he is also a fan of ethanol – especially the cellulosic variety.

“Fields of Fuel” is a natural for Robert Redford’s Sundance, which has become the greenest of all film festivals since former U.S. Vice President Al Gore premiered “An Inconvenient Truth” there in 2006. Tickell has been busy doing media interviews all week with the likes of Dan Rather, NPR, and the American Movie Channel, getting lots of good press for biofuels.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

WIREC Speakers Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

WIREC 08Keynote speakers for the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, or WIREC 2008 in March will include international leaders throughout the field of renewable energy.

Among the confirmed speakers are Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden Maud Olofsson, and Lady Mayor of Bonn Baerbel Dieckmann, who serves as President of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change.

Other renowned speakers include Director of National Renewable Energy Labs Dan Arvizu, Harvard professor Millie Dresselhaus, Mohamed El-Ashrey, Chairman of Renewable Energy Network-21, Christopher Flavin, President, WorldWatch, Wolfgang Palz, Chairman of the World Council on Energy, and Michael Liebreich, CEO of New Energy Finance. Business leaders from around the world who also plan to contribute to the discussions include Peter Robertson, Vice Chairman of Chevron and Tony Hayward, the Chief Executive Officer of BP.

WIREC 2008 is the third global ministerial-level conference on renewable energy, following events in Beijing in 2005 and Bonn in 2004. The conference will take place March 4-6 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

conferences, Energy, News

England Co. Gathers Biogas from Animal Waste

John Davis

McCain FoodsMcCain Foods Great Britain is enlisting Eco-Tec for its new venture in capturing biogas from anaerobic digester lagoons. The project is the latest effort meant to promote energy efficiency from McCain Foods.

As part of its energy efficiency projects, McCain Foods in Great Britain implemented a waste process that includes the capture of biogas from anaerobic digester lagoons, and purifying the gas to produce electricity. McCain Foods hired Black & Veatch to conduct an evaluation of available technology and manage the integration into the planned process.

Compared to competing technologies, Eco-Tec’s patented biogas purification system, BgPur(TM), was designed to accommodate McCain’s specific requirements regarding flow rate variations, changes in pressure, and the system’s overall flexibility. With simple operation and lower operating costs, Eco-Tec’s biogas purification technology was selected.

Agribusiness, Energy, News

Georgia Power Fires Up Wood Biomass Plant

John Davis

Georgia PowerWood-burning isn’t just great for pizza. It’s great for power. Georgia Power is using energy from wood biomass as part of its commitment to use independent renewable power producers.

Georgia Power and Yellow Pine Energy Company, LLC, a biomass-fired facility to be located near Fort Gaines, Ga., recently signed a 20-year contract for electricity that will be generated from environmentally-friendly wood waste. The material will come from timber harvesting residuals and collection of non-commercial tree species, tree-thinnings, lumber scraps and wood waste reclaimed from landfills.

The Yellow Pine facility is scheduled to go into operation in 2010 and will produce 110 megawatts of renewable energy. Under the contract, Georgia Power will purchase almost half of the plant’s capacity, or about 50 megawatts. One megawatt is enough energy to supply a Wal-Mart shopping center or 250 Georgia residences.

Georgia Power provides energy for 2.3 million consumers throughout the state.

Agribusiness, Biotech, Energy, News, Production

Virgin Atlantic 747 Soars on Biofuel

John Davis

Virgin AtlanticIt will be a first-ever feat in commercial air travel… Virgin Atlantic is planning to fly one of its Boeing 747s on biofuel next month.

The Virgin Atlantic 747 will fly from London Heathrow to Amsterdam on a demonstration flight, with no passengers on board, using a truly sustainable type of biofuel that doesn’t compete with food and fresh water resources. The flight, in conjunction with Boeing and engine maker GE Aviation, is part of Virgin Atlantic’s drive to reduce its environmental impact wherever possible. The demonstration forms part of Virgin Atlantic’s vision for what the aviation industry can achieve by using clean-fuel technology to reduce carbon emissions.

Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic, said:

“This breakthrough will help Virgin Atlantic to fly its planes using clean fuel sooner than expected. The demonstration flight next month will give us crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint. Virgin Group pledged to invest all its profits from its transportation companies towards developing clean energy and with this breakthrough we are well down the path to achieving our goals.”

Virgin Atlantic has not set an exact date for the flight, but expects to conduct the biofuel run in February.

Energy, News

Minnesota Trying to Lure Danish Wind Company

John Davis

vestas.jpgMinnesota might already be the home of the NFL’s Vikings, but lawmakers in that state are trying to lure some modern-day descendants of the marauders to set up a wind energy research center.

This story from Forbes says they’re coming up with money to lure a major wind turbine producer to the state:

kelliher.GIFHouse Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and several other Democrats said they’re considering a package of unspecified incentives – possibly bonding dollars, or tax breaks – to draw Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems to the state. Vestas, the world’s largest maker of wind turbines, plans to build a U.S. research center, but hasn’t picked a location.

Minnesota is already the third-largest producer of wind energy in the nation, behind Texas and California. Kelliher and her colleagues, DFL Reps. Aaron Peterson and Jeremy Kalin, said the Vestas research center would create 80 high-paying engineering jobs and put Minnesota on the leading edge of green power.

“A big part of our economic future can be these green-collar jobs,” Kelliher said.

Bringing Vestas to the state is “a great idea,” (Gov. Tim) Pawlenty said, adding that his administration is holding talks with the company. He said he would support state help if the turbine maker would commit to Minnesota for its research center.

Last year, Minnesota put in one of the most aggressive renewable energy standards in the country, as lawmakers decided to require 25 percent of Minnesota’s electricity to come from wind and other clean sources by 2025.

Wind

Petroleum Terminal Goes Biodiesel

John Davis

magellan.gifA new biodiesel blending facility located at a petroleum terminal in Aurora, Colorado is seen as key to improving the availability of biodiesel in the area while helping integrate the green fuel into the nation’s petroleum infrastructure.

Pipeline company Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P., is the owner of the facility. The ceremony was attended by industry and legislative leaders and gained the praise of the National Biodiesel Board in this release:

salazar.jpg“Today we are witnessing a renewable energy revolution in our state and in our nation,” said U.S. Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), who spoke at the opening ceremony. “This revolution is fueled by innovative firms like Magellan and CHS who understand that the production of clean, renewable biofuels not only strengthens America’s national and environmental security, but offers an unprecedented opportunity to spur economic growth and job creation in our rural communities as well. I commend them for their work and urge other firms to follow suit.”

The recently passed federal Energy Bill includes an expanded Renewable Fuels Standard, which for the first time will require more renewable fuel to be incorporated into the U.S. diesel market. Biodiesel and other renewable fuels depend on petroleum infrastructure such as the Magellan terminal for easy distribution.

“We are celebrating the opening of our 10th biodiesel distribution system inside one of our petroleum distribution terminals,” says Don Wellendorf, Magellan CEO. “We view renewable fuel distribution as a growth opportunity for our company and we are a trailblazer in this area. Our investment in biodiesel blending infrastructure at our Aurora facility is underpinned by our customer CHS, and the renewable fuel policies passed by Congress.”

Right now, more than 40 terminals nationwide provide biodiesel. Increased numbers of these biodiesel terminals are seen as key to getting biodiesel more widely used.

Biodiesel

Promoting Biofuels in Indiana

Cindy Zimmerman

IN Corn BillboardIndiana corn and soybean growers are helping to promote biofuels awareness in their state in a number of ways.

For one, the corn growers have partnered with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) on a billboard and radio campaign in major Indiana cities aimed at informing consumers that all automakers approve the use of 10 percent ethanol-enriched fuel. The campaign will also urge consumers to ask retailers if they are selling ethanol and make a push for E85 and flex-fuel vehicles.

IN Biofuels Car TagIndiana Corn and Soybean is also working to gain support for a Biofuels special recognition license plate to be made available through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The Biofuels license plate will promote both ethanol and soy biodiesel as Indiana-grown renewable fuels helping to move the state forward and will cost drivers between $25 and $40.

Biodiesel, corn, Ethanol, News

Renewable Energy Investments Up 50% in 2007

John Davis

Venture capital (VC) investments in renewable energy sources, including solar, biodiesel, and ethanol (among others) hit $3.4 billion… up a whopping 50 percent over investments in green energy ventures in 2006.

This story from RenewableEnergyAccess.com has more information:

Investment in solar was more than $1.05 billion in more than 70 financing rounds. Investment in battery technology came to $433.9 Million and the energy efficiency/smart grid sector received $419.1 million in investments.

greentech.gifAccording to Greentech (Media), venture firms also continue to invest in biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel, with more than $750 Million directed towards these new feedstocks and technologies. Notable alternative energy VC funding rounds in 2007 included HelioVolt’s $101M for thin film photovoltaics, Great Point’s $100M for coal gasification, Amyris’ $70M for synthetic biology and biofuels, and A123’s $70M for innovative battery technology.

The story goes on to say the entire renewable energy spectrum saw more than 220 funding rounds.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News, Solar

Dakota Wind Announces Start-Up Plans

John Davis

dakotawind.pngDakota Wind Energy, LLC, has announced plans to form South Dakota’s first utility scale community-owned wind project. The project has the potential of generating 750 megawatts of energy and will spread over 700 square miles of farmland in Roberts, Marshall, and Day counties.

This press release from the company says it will take advantage of the under-used wind power South Dakota offers:

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), South Dakota ranks 4th in the nation with the greatest wind potential. However, when compared to other states, South Dakota‟s current installed wind power capacity is very low.

The Dakota Wind Energy LLC was conceptualized by South Dakota landowner, Gerry Fisher. National Wind, the project’s manager, local landowners and community leaders have capitalized the company. Dakota Wind Energy, LLC has formed a members advisory board which includes nine of the South Dakota landowners/co-founders. These board members are, Donald Erickson, Dennis Fagerland, Gerry Fisher, Blair Healy, Tim Hofer, Walt Johnson, Bob Metz, Don Ogren, and Curt Sampson. Additional landowners and local community members will become owners as the project develops.

“For community-wind projects, such as Dakota Wind Energy, size does matter. Utilities and institutional investors prefer large community-owned wind projects because they have the local support needed to move smoothly through permitting, site control, and power line siting,” says Patrick Pelstring, co-chair of National Wind. “This increases their likelihood of completion and gives projects such as Dakota Wind Energy, a competitive advantage. Large community wind projects also have the capital available to afford the high costs related to wind developments of any size, including building a private transmission line, which can cost millions of dollars,” says Pelstring.

The project could produce enough energy to power more than 200,000 homes.

Wind