Goshen Energy, Native American Biofuels Ink Landmark Deal

John Davis

Goshen Energy has struck an agreement with Native American Biofuels International, which represents biofuels interests for about a dozen Native American Tribes, to help NABI distribute biofuels.

This story from CNNMoney.com says the partnership is designed to help development of both bio-fuels and other renewable energy resources, along with necessary accompanying infrastructure, to establish a low cost feedstock source on tribal lands to produce biodiesel at higher profit margins, and secure operating contracts with governmental departments:

Native American Biofuels International CEO James Cooke said, “Goshen Energy Resources provides NABI with a more technologically advanced and strategic approach to developing and distributing biofuels. This JV agreement will allow the tribes we represent an opportunity to broaden their profit potential in a positive way, utilizing Goshen’s advanced systems, processes and extensive government and community relationships. This is a highly profitable niche market and we feel Goshen Energy Resources is an ideal partner.”

“Our partnership with Native American Biofuels International provides us a stable crop source for biodiesel production to service our customers over the long-term. Additionally, James Cooke brings to us over 15 years of experience in securing significant multi-million dollar governmental contracts. We believe this partnership will help us directly increase our shareholders’ value and enhance our bottom line profits,” said City Capital (owner of Goshen Energy) CEO Ephren Taylor.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Canadian Government, Farmers Investing in Biodiesel

John Davis

A biodiesel plant in Alberta is the beneficiary of a $600,000+ contribution from the federal Canadian government, that goes along with $275,000 in direct equity investment from farmers.

westernbiodiesel.gifThe money is going to help Western Biodiesel Inc. build a plant near Aldersyde, Alberta that will crank out about five million gallons of biodiesel a year. This story from Marketwire.com says it’s part of the Canadian government’s ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital (ecoABC) initiative:

“This announcement is another example of our government’s commitment to deliver results to the agricultural community as well as taking tangible action for our environment,” said Parliamentary Secretary (Ted) Menzies. “With this ecoABC initiative, this new state-of-the-art biodiesel plant in Aldersyde will benefit farm families, and also help strengthen the local community and our agriculture sector.”

“Through the federal ecoABC program, Western Biodiesel Inc. has been able to leverage farmers’ investment almost three times,” said Dean Cockshutt, Chief Executive Officer of Western Biodiesel Inc. “This financial support will help create another significant increment of Canada’s biofuels production capacity.”

The plant will use canola oil and rendered beef tallow as a feedstock.

Biodiesel

Alternative Fuels in Alabama

Cindy Zimmerman

Alabama GovernorMotorists traveling on Interstate 65 in Alabama will soon have the opportunity to fill up their vehicles on cleaner burning fuels produced in America.

Governor Bob Riley made that announcement last week at a gas station in Vestavia Hills that will soon be offering E85 and B20 biodiesel. Three other cities – Athens, Cullman and Mobile – are also scheduled to have pumps installed within the next eight months.

“These cleaner, more secure American sources of energy are going to be available to most Alabamians for the very first time,” said Governor Riley. “Alternative fuels are not only better for our natural environment, they also help make us more energy independent. They open up new markets for our farmers. This is a win-win situation, and Alabamians can be proud of the steps our state is taking as America searches for a more secure, less dependent energy future.”

Governor Riley also took the occasion to announce the state is receiving a second federal grant so up to 30 service stations along Corridor X and Corridor V can offer B20 biodiesel to motorists.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, News

E85 in Atlanta

Cindy Zimmerman

e85 PumpThe greater Atlanta metro area officially welcomed its first E85 station station last week, thanks to help from General Motors, CleanFUEL Distribution, SP Petroleum, and Indore Oil. The pump is located at the Texaco Food Mart in Smyrna.

CleanFUEL Distribution supplied the necessary E85 conversion parts and equipment, which were used to convert the dispenser to E85 compatibility. SP Petroleum performed the equipment conversion service, and CleanFUEL Distribution, along with its partner Indore Oil, are providing and transporting the fuel to the station.

Atlanta is the third of six stops on GM’s E85 Fall Kick-off of the Fuel for Thought Tour, an effort to educate consumers about the use of E85 as an alternative to gasoline. According to GM officials, another 20 to 25 E85 pumps will open around Georgia in the next six months.

E85, Ethanol, News

Ethanol Blended Gasoline Record

Cindy Zimmerman

The Energy Information Administration gasoline supply and production information released Nov. 7 indicates a new record for ethanol blended with conventional gasoline.

The Weekly Supply Estimates Report shows that conventional gasoline blending with ethanol reached an all-time high of 2.119 million barrels per day as of the week ending Friday, Nov. 2.

Such so-called discretionary blending is not required under the Renewable Fuels Standard.

Ethanol, News

Georgia Groundbreaking Marks Cellulosic Milestone

Cindy Zimmerman

Range Fuels PerdueGeorgia Governor Sonny Perdue welcomed a new phase in ethanol production to his state with Range Fuels’ groundbreaking of the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant this week.

“Georgia is proud to partner with Range Fuels to lead the nation in delivering cellulosic ethanol as a solution to America’s dependence on foreign and fossil fuels,” said Governor Perdue. “Our abundance of natural resources, as well as our growing bioenergy research and development community and access to global markets firmly establish Georgia at the forefront of the national movement to a higher level of renewable energy.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman also attended the ceremony Tuesday at the site of the plant in Soperton, Georgia.

“Together, the Department of Energy and Range Fuels are blending science and technology in order to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. The biorefinery soon to stand on this site is the result of President Bush’s initiatives to expand the use of homegrown alternative fuels, protect the environment, and enhance the nation’s energy security,” Bodman said.

The first two phases of the Range Fuels project, in which the Department of Energy is playing a cost-sharing role, is projected to process 1000 tons per day of wastewood to produce about 30 million gallons of biofuels and chemicals.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Green Gadgets Produce Portable Power

John Davis

This week is “Green Week” as NBC promotes various ways of saving energy, and, thus, saving the planet. If you happened to be watching the Sunday Night Football Game on NBC, you might have noticed the halftime show was done without the normal studio lighting (I think it was Bob Costas who said there were more dim bulbs than normal in the studio that night).

This posting on SciFi.com lists the top seven gadgets that are able to produce portable power. One gadget, in particular, that caught my eye was number five on the list… the Micro Wind Turbine:

microwindturbine.jpg5. Micro Wind Turbine
Want a surefire icebreaker at the beach, the cottage or the stadium parking lot next week? Just bring along Atlantic Power Master’s Micro Wind Turbine, set it up, offer to plug everyone in — and you’ll be renewable energy-powered party central. The turbine generates about half the amount of power used by a typical home, and it’s small, lightweight, and easy to set up. It’s also kind of portable (more like transportable) — just plan for someone else to bring the cooler. Oh, and get there early — we’re told it can take three hours to set up. Ah, that’s just pre-game anyway. It’s available now for a little under (gulp) $10,000.

Wind

Missouri Biodiesel Maker Hits Quality Standard

John Davis

Mid-America Biofuels of Mexico, Missouri has become the first biodiesel maker in the state to achieve an important quality standard. The company’s biodiesel has met the standards of the BQ-9000 voluntary fuel quality assurance program. The program is overseen by the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission (NBAC) and has been adopted by the National Biodiesel Board and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

nbb-logo.jpgThis NBB release has more:

“Mid-America Biofuels is committed to producing quality biodiesel, and we are pleased to become an accredited BQ-9000 Biodiesel Producer under the National Biodiesel Accreditation Program,” said Cliff Smith, general manager, Mid-America Biofuels. “This accreditation is the next step in ensuring that our customers receive the highest quality biodiesel available.”

Twenty biodiesel production facilities have been accredited as producers under the program, and nine are Certified Marketers of biodiesel.

Biodiesel

Candidates Vye for Iowa Biodiesel Vote

John Davis

clinton.jpgPresidential candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-New York) and John McCain (R-Arizona) made separate stops at two Renewable Energy Group biodiesel facilities during their campaigns in Iowa today.

mccain-bus.jpgClinton toured the 30-million gallon REG network biodiesel production facility in Newton, while McCain attended the ribbon-cutting of the new REG headquarters in Ames. The fact that two national candidates are pushing biodiesel is a welcome sight to the National Biodiesel Board:

“These two visits in the same day exemplify the bipartisan recognition of biodiesel’s many benefits, ranging from economic development to energy security to climate change,” said Darryl Brinkmann, who serves as Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and spoke at the event. “The NBB applauds efforts to increase public awareness of the many benefits associated with expanded biodiesel production and use.”

Keep in mind, though, that neither one has been a great advocate of biofuels when it really counted: during their votes in the U.S. Senate. Back on June 5th, I told you about McCain’s flip-flopping ways when it comes to alternative energy with this from a UPI article:

During the 2000 presidential campaign, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., skipped the Iowa caucuses, perhaps sensing that, among other things, his opposition to ethanol subsidies would not go over well in a corn-growing state like Iowa.

Seven years later, he is crisscrossing the country again to win support for his bid to become the Republican presidential nominee, and this time his route includes stops in Iowa.

The article points out that in a speech in Virginia in April McCain said that while he would encourage the growth of ethanol infrastructure, he still won’t sign off on government subsidies.

Clinton is a bit of a fair-weathered friend of biofuels as well, as I pointed out in a July 24th post from this Newsday article:

At one time, Clinton stood squarely with ethanol’s opponents, and voted several times against ethanol bills.

When the Senate last took up ethanol-related legislation in 2005, the former first lady unsuccessfully opposed requiring refiners to boost their use of renewable fuels and the 51-cent tax credit.

Previously, she had warned that requiring added ethanol would bring higher gasoline prices and environmental risks.

“We are providing a single industry with a guaranteed market for its products — subsidies on top of subsidies on top of subsidies and, on top of that, protection from liability,” she said during an April 2002 Senate energy bill debate. “What a sweetheart deal.”

So let’s see where both these candidates REALLY stand when the Iowa Caucuses are over.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, Legislation, News

Could Biobutanol Beat Cellulosic to Market?

Cindy Zimmerman

BiobutanolDuPont and BP are working to bring a next generation biofuel to market on a commercial scale and officials are optimistic that it might get there before cellulosic ethanol.

Philip NewIn an interview with Ethanol Statistics, Philip New, President of BP Biofuels, said “he wants to avoid setting expectations that are inappropriate on the basis of cutting edge biotech. We (BP) have our targets, but I hope that we will have butanol available on a commercial scale, before we have cellulosic ethanol on an economically sound basis.”

New says biobutanol potentially has some advantages over traditional ethanol and yet is still a corn-based fuel. “There is an interesting dilemma facing the biofuels industry called the E10 wall. Some countries will want or need to go beyond a 10% ethanol blend, but we have a car fleet that is overwhelmingly E5 or E10 capable. Flex-fuel vehicle sales are increasing in the United States, but not enough to increase consumption significantly beyond 10%. The properties of butanol allow you to blend it with gasoline up to 18%, which buys you time to increase the market share of flex-fuel vehicles. In addition, you can transport butanol through pipelines and it has 88% of the mileage of gasoline, compared to under 70% for ethanol.”

New addressed an audience of managers and CEO’s about the future of biofuels at a next generation biofuels market conference in Amsterdam last month.

Cellulosic, News