Media Invited to Ride in Challenge X Vehicles

John Davis

challengex1.JPGGeneral Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy have invited the media to ride in the vehicles participating in the Challenge X Competition… a multi-year engineering competition that has 17 university teams from across North America in a real-world engineering experience to develop GM vehicles in the company’s global vehicle development process. The idea is the teams will create advanced propulsion technology systems that increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact through hybrid, plug-in, or fuel cell systems, powered by alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen.

This story on the Autochannel.com says the media event will feature students from the 17 universities in Challenge X at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California on November 29th:

WHAT:
General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy will host a media ride
and drive event featuring vehicles from the collegiate engineering
competition Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility. Program
officials also will reveal details for the next national competition
beginning mid-2008.

WHEN:
* Thursday, November 29, 2007
* Broadcast media: 5:30 to 8 a.m.
* Print media: 8 to 10 a.m.

WHERE:
Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax Avenue)
Los Angeles, Calif. 90036

Media interested in attending need to R.S.V.P to:
Jeff Ormond, 248-824-8205, jormond@stratacomm.net
Kimberly DeClark, 202-441-0096, kdeclark@stratacomm.net

Biodiesel, Car Makers, Ethanol, Hydrogen, News

Iowa Hands Out $500K to Expand Biofuels Access

John Davis

iowaded.gifA state program administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development has handed out $563,800 to 21 Iowa retailers installing pumps for E-85 and biodiesel fuel, terminals installing biodiesel storage tanks and blending equipment, and tank wagons for farm delivery having dedicated compartments for E-85 and biodiesel.

This press release from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Board (RFIPB) has more:

“These awards to expand access to E-85 ethanol and biodiesel demonstrate our state’s commitment to a greater use of renewable energy,” said Iowa Department of Economic Development Director Mike Tramontina. “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Iowa families to use renewable fuels, promote Iowa’s renewable energy economy and reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

Another $7.75 million in grants will be handed out by the RFIPB over the next couple of years to expand consumer access to E-85 and biodiesel. The next set of grants will be handed out in February, so owners or operators of retail motor fuel sites, biodiesel bulk storage terminals and tank wagons with dedicated compartments for renewable fuels are encouraged to get their applications for the grants in to the Iowa Department of Economic Development. You can get an application by clicking here.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Find an Ethanol Pump Near You

John Davis

EPICThere´s no denying the capability for the use of ethanol is a few steps ahead of the infrastructure for accessing the alternative fuel. But, that doesn´t mean consumers can´t fill up their flex-fuel vehicles with E85 without ease. Simply log on to drivingethanol.org to find the E85 Fueling Station Locator. A drop down menu allows browsers to search for E85 pumps by city and state.

E85, EPIC, Ethanol, Facilities, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

Turkey Day Goes Green

John Davis

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a turkey, and lots of folks like to fry their bird in a pot of cooking oil. A company in Colorado that hauls away restaurant grease is asking people to donate their used cooking oil to be made into biodiesel.

This story in the Rocky Mountain News has more:

rockymtnsustainables.jpgAnd while the amount of turkey grease that Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises collects this Saturday isn’t likely to cut our dependency on Middle Eastern oil, the company is still hopeful its post-Thanksgiving drive will be beneficial.

holidayrecycoil1.jpgAaron Perry, co-founder and CEO of RMSE, said the recycled grease will be turned into biodiesel. The grease can also be used for animal feeds, he said.

Perry said it’s better to recycle the grease than put it down a sink, because that clogs the drain and contaminates water.

This is the first year the recycling company has held such a drive, which will be conducted in 10 cities.

In addition, those picking up the used cooking oil will also be picking up nonperishable goods as part of a food drive. Click on the HolidayrecycOil logo for pickup locations.

Biodiesel

Ethanol 101

John Davis

EPICYou´ve heard of ethanol, but do you understand what, exactly, is this alternative fuel source? The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council offers a free online training course that will help you learn about “ethanol-enriched fuels.” Farmers, consumers and dealers can log onto drivingethanol.org to register for the Ethanol Fuel Performance Training course.

E85, EPIC, Ethanol, News

New Holland Backs Biodiesel 100 Percent

Cindy Zimmerman

CNH at NAFBAs we reported a couple of weeks ago, New Holland has approved the use of 100 percent biodiesel in all equipment with New Holland-manufactured diesel engines.

New Holland representatives Gene Hemphill and Michael Long were at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting last week talking with farm broadcasters about that announcement and other news from New Holland.

In an interview with Domestic Fuel, Long talked about the extensive testing and development New Holland has conducted using B100 in real-life conditions and the importance of using quality biodiesel from reputable dealers.

Here is an interview with Michael Long:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/new-holland/nafb-new-holland-biodiesel.mp3]

Biodiesel, New Holland

Give Thanks for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

With oil just pennies away from $100 a barrel, Americans are looking at higher costs for both their Thanksgiving travel and the turkey on the table. But, the good news is that ethanol is saving drivers about 15 cents a gallon this holiday season.

According to an analysis by John Urbanchuk, a director at the economic consulting firm LECG, LLC, Americans will fork over $520 million more this year than last year on their Thanksgiving travel. That means, based on the national gas price average of $3.11, an increase of 39 percent over 2006 just to drive over the hills and trough the woods to Grandma’s house. That is $520 million that won’t be spent on Black Friday, the traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season. More specifically, it will cost the average family an extra $17 for roundtrip travel for Thanksgiving dinner.

RFAThe Renewable Fuels Association says the analysis also shows that without ethanol blended at ten percent with gasoline (E10), the average pump price of gasoline would be as much as $0.15 per gallon, or 4.7 percent higher than current levels and the average American household would pay $19.68 more than last year for the Thanksgiving trip.

“Americans are literally over a barrel this holiday season as oil prices are likely to remain high and gasoline will no doubt follow suit,” said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. “Were it not for the growing availability of ethanol, Americans would be spending a whole lot more to go over the river and through the woods this holiday season.”

Ethanol, News, RFA

The New San Francisco Treat – Biodiesel

John Davis

San Francisco, California has started a program to turn the waste cooking oil from the city’s many restaurants into biodiesel.

This story in the San Francisco Chronicle has more details:

sfgreaselogo.gifToday the city launches SFGreasecycle, a free program in which the city will pick up used cooking oil and grease from local restaurants, hotels and other commercial food preparation establishments. Those substances then will be turned into biodiesel, a fuel made of plant oil that burns cleaner than petroleum-based fuels.

Although several other localities around the nation have begun limited programs to collect cooking grease for biodiesel, San Francisco officials believe theirs will be the largest such effort.

Eventually, the city wants to recycle grease produced in homes with the intention of someday using the locally produced biodiesel to power all city vehicles, including public buses and fire trucks.

“This is a case of taking what could be a bad situation and turning it into a win,” said Susan Leal, general manager of the city’s Public Utilities Commission, the agency behind SFGreasecycle.

Turning the grease into fuel also helps the city in that it costs $3.5 million a year to clean out sewer pipes clogged with illegally-dumped used cooking oil. Part of the plan is for the city to build its own biodiesel plant.

Some local biodiesel-from-grease makers are crying foul, however, as they say the city’s efforts are cutting into their feedstocks. Used cooking oil is getting to be a hot commodity, as you might remember from my story a couple of days ago.

Biodiesel

Sweet Homegrown Alabama Biodiesel

John Davis

eufalaaudubon.jpgThe City of Eufala, Alabama has cashed in on the benefits of biodiesel.

This story in the Eufala Tribune says cost savings and tax credits are helping its bottom line:

By operating various city vehicles and machines on a co-processed bio-diesel mixture, the city currently saves approximately 90 cents per gallon of fuel. That’s big savings considering the city, even buying wholesale and without taxes, pays $2.31 per gallon for diesel.

[ Bill Clark, who oversees the bio-diesel project] says even more savings may come in the form of federal tax credits. The government is giving a 50 cents tax credit for each gallon of bio-diesel produced to organizations that meet certain requirements.

Though cost may be the bottom line when considering alternative fuel sources, bio-diesel has other benefits as well.

Producing fuel locally cuts down on foreign oil dependency and also creates jobs throughout the country as more bio-fuel factories are established.

No wonder the city is known as an Certified Audubon Sustainable Community.

Biodiesel

Companies Form Montana Biodiesel Venture

John Davis

greenearthtargeted.jpgA West Coast company has joined a Texas-based company to form a joint venture to produce biodiesel in Montana.

sustainableoils.JPGThis press release from Sustainable Oils… formed from Seattle-based Targeted Growth, Inc. a renewable energy bioscience company, and Green Earth Fuels of Houston, a vertically integrated renewable biodiesel energy company… has more.

The new venture will produce and market up to 100 million gallons of Camelina-based biodiesel by 2010, launching the single largest U.S. contract for the unique biodiesel-specific feedstock. Nearly all of the initial Camelina production is expected to be grown in Montana.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Montana – it represents a combining of two major thrusts of economic growth outside the boot,” said Governor Brian Schweitzer. “It is energy related and it is value-added agriculture. Having this sort of major commitment is great news.” This joint venture sets a precedent for continued research and development of dedicated energy crops.

Targeted Growth has spent years applying its suite of yield and trait technologies to Camelina to create the first Elite Camelina Seed. Green Earth Fuels opened one of the country’s largest biodiesel production facilities this month, in Houston (see my November 15th post), and is successfully developing additional projects to provide biodiesel that meets exceptional quality and ratability standards to leading energy companies.

Camelina development has been a three-year project for Targeted Growth.

“We have created a better feedstock for biodiesel,” said Tom Todaro, CEO of Targeted Growth. “Camelina can be rotated with current Montana crops, it grows in land with lower agricultural value, and it doesn’t significantly increase the use of fertilizer or irrigation water. We think this will be a model for the development and use of other biofuel-specific crops.”

Biodiesel