Biodiesel Booming in the Stock Market, Too

John Davis

Wall StreetMidwest farmers and truckers, as well as environmental enthusiasts, have long admired the green benefits of biodiesel… green because of how clean it is and green because of the money it saves its users. Biodiesel gets 30 percent better mileage than gasoline (although, I realize the engines are different, and you can’t make a direct comparison between the two).

This story on CNNMoney.com says now biodiesel could be making some green for those suits at the New York trading firms:

These days biodiesel isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for the bottom line. The U.S. market for the combustible stuff has more than doubled every year since 2004 and will hit $1 billion this year. The number of retail pumps nationwide has grown from 350 in 2005 to more than 1,000 today. A couple of biodiesel IPOs are in the offing – and opportunities abound. “Biodiesel is the rock star of fuels,” says Will Thurmond, author of Biodiesel 2020: A Global Market Survey. “It has moved from Woodstock to Wall Street.”

REG logoThe article goes on to say how the biggest player is Renewable Energy Group, a biodiesel plant builder and producer from this author’s home area. Accounting for more than a quarter of the total American biodiesel production, REG is poised to increase its total capacity to 340 million gallons a year by the end of next year… thankls in part to its relationship with soybean growers. And it’s also ready to make a hit on Wall Street:

REG should be the first biodiesel company to hit Wall Street, having filed for an IPO in July. But REG won’t be the last: Also mulling a stock offering is Seattle-based Imperium Renewables, founded three years ago by former commercial-jet pilot John Plaza. Imperium operates the largest U.S. biodiesel plant and plans to cut a production deal with Washington’s canola farmers.

Biodiesel

Fueling America

Cindy Zimmerman

CNN Special ReportCNN.com has an interactive special report called “Fueling America” that features information on a variety of alternative fuel and energy source with a relatively objective viewpoint – simply putting it out there and pointing out some pros and cons.

There is also a good article on CNN about the lack of ethanol production outside of the Midwest.

Outside the country’s corn-producing leaders, efforts to produce biofuels vary widely. In the Northeast, Pennsylvania has moved forward with several measures outlined in Gov. Ed Rendell’s Penn Security Fuels Initiative. Conversely, New York and New Jersey produce no ethanol, though two plants are expected to come on line in New York in the next few years.

There is a focus in the article on Florida’s efforts to move into biofuels production, quoting Dana Weber, executive director of the Florida Biofuels Association.

Take Florida. While it does produce corn, it is without an existing ethanol plant and has none under construction.

The state government, though, has begun an aggressive funding program aimed at developing alternative energy sources, including the types of biofuels that will be needed to reach Gov. Charlie Crist’s goals that the state’s energy sources be 20 percent renewable by 2020.

“One of the challenges we have is this is all very new territory. There’s a lot of technologies out there,” Weber said. “Everybody’s trying to figure out what is going to be the best thing not only for their state but also globally.”

And it also talks about state efforts to develop cellulosic ethanol.

Several states are moving aggressively in developing cellulosic ethanol, which uses various materials from the biomass including switchgrass, corn stalks, wood chips, municipal waste and other substances. Among the cellulosic leaders have been Tennesee and Georgia, where dot.com billionaire Vinod Khosla has financed the construction of a plant that will use the state’s abundant long-leaf pines to create ethanol.

Worth checking out.

Cellulosic, Energy, Ethanol, News

Play the “Stalk” Market

Cindy Zimmerman

Use CornUseCorn.com has introduced a Virtual Stock Trading program on its website that explores the ethanol industry and other companies related to the renewable fuels market.

According to Use Corn’s Dave Clark, “The program simulates actual stock trading, and the user-friendly interface is both inspiring and entertaining.”

The UseCorn Virtual Stock Trading program features some of the ethanol and industry related public companies that are traded on the stock market. The program provides an excellent opportunity to research these companies and
formulate possible investment strategies.

UseCorn.com, L.L.C. is an ethanol information and virtual stock trading website that was established in November of 2006 by a group of professionals in Dallas, Texas.

corn, Ethanol, News

Wind Energy Database Proposed

John Davis

Cong. Randy NeugebauerCongressman Randy Neugebauer from Texas has proposed and the U.S. House has approved a study to look into his measure to put a public database online to find out what kind of wind turbines could go up without causing problems for aviation sites.

This story in the Wichita Falls (TX) Times Record News says it will help the industry and reduce the risks of accidents:

“The basic point behind this is let’s look at it from every single angle to make sure that we’re doing this right and there aren’t any mistakes,” Neugebauer spokesman Michael Frohlich said.

The database would show acceptable height and distance for wind turbines in relation to civilian and military aviation. It would also identify the level of obstruction turbines might mean for aviation sites such as airports.

“From the industry’s point of view, anything that helps minimize the risk of surprises as part of the permitting process is something that’s good,” said Christine Real de Azua, spokeswoman for the Washington-based American Wind Energy Association.

Wind

The Greenest Team in Football

John Davis

Go GreenThe Philadelphia Eagles don’t just wear green jerseys (although, what was up with those UGLY uniforms this past weekend?). They also are living the green lifestyle.

This story on the ABC News web site
says the team is probably the greenest franchise in American sports:

When the lights come on for an Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field, 30 percent of the power comes from so-called clean sources, such as wind power and methane reclaimed from landfills.

When the Eagles fly to an away game, their organization plants trees in the Philadelphia area to make up for the carbon dioxide emitted by the team’s plane.

If you go get a beer at halftime, you’ll notice recycling bins every 46 feet on the concourse. Why that distance? Because a study showed people will actually walk that distance to drop off a plastic cup for recycling; any further, and the cups will just be dumped with regular trash.

The team’s tickets are printed on recycled paper. So are the programs. Even the machine that vacuums the field after the game runs on biodiesel.

Gotta love their all-around “Go Green” program and motto.

Biodiesel, Wind

Wisconsin Biodiesel Association Opens Meeting to Public

John Davis

Wisconsin BiodieselThe Wisconsin Biodiesel Association is opening its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25th at 9:30 a.m. at the Wisconsin DNR office in Madison to the general public.

This story on Wisconsin Ag Connection says it’s an effort to educate people about the benefits of biodiesel in the state:

WBA President Jeff Pieterick says the group has prepared a particularly informative series of presentations that will offer a substantial overview of the biodiesel industry in Wisconsin.

“Please join with us to learn about the exciting developments, the opportunities, and the challenges that bear impact upon Wisconsin’s effort to develop ‘Homegrown fuel for a better Wisconsin,'” Pieterick says.

The agenda includes a legislative update with Attorney John Wilson of Michael, Best & Friedrich, LLP; a discussion on fuel distribution by Tim Glynn from EH Wolf & Sons; and an update on biodiesel production in Wisconsin by BEST Energies Vice President Tony Janowiec.

Contact Jeff Pieterick at the WBA at (920) 988-4058 for more information.

Biodiesel

NASDAQ Campaign Features US BioEnergy

Cindy Zimmerman

US BioenergyUS BioEnergy Corporation has been selected by NASDAQ as one of 17 companies featured in a new advertising campaign, “NASDAQ and the Companies that Move Life Forward,” that profiles NASDAQ-listed companies and how they improve the way we work and live every day.

The US BioEnergy ad shows a man pumping fuel into his pick-up truck at a filling station in a rural part of America. After hearing a strange noise, he removes the nozzle from the tank and corn kernels pour out of the nozzle into his hand.

The campaign, which began on Monday, September 17, is airing nationally on CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business Channel and CNN, among others. The ad is posted on the News Room page of US BioEnergy’s website.

corn, Ethanol, News

Indy and Ethanol on the College Circuit

Cindy Zimmerman

The IndyCar Series and ethanol are being featured as part of Popular Science’s “What’s New” College Tour visiting college campuses around the nation this month and next.

According to an article on Auto Racing Daily, the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series branding are featured in the high-tech mobile dorm room, which is outfitted out with sophisticated surround sound systems, wireless gaming, computers and flat-panel TVs.

Popular Science Indy CarStudents can also learn about the series’ partnership with the ethanol industry through interactive displays and experience what it’s like to drive an IndyCar Series car by testing out an IndyCar Series simulator.

The photo was taken at the University of Massachusettes last weekend and is featured on the PopSci.com National College Tour FlickR photo album. The tour has already visited Georgia Tech, NC State, Duke, and George Washington. Upcoming stops include Purdue, Kansas State, San Diego State, and the Universities of Utah and New Mexico.

More information about the tour, including the rest of the schedule, can be found on the PopSci National College Tour website.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Another Kansas Ethanol Plant Sought

Cindy Zimmerman

According to a Kansas.com report, a northern Kansas energy broker is working to get a second ethanol plant in Harvey County.

Newton Area Chamber of Commerce officials say the North Central Energy Group of Morrowville has taken an 18-month option on land within the county.

The group plans to test the land’s water, then recruit investors for an ethanol plant if adequate water is available.

Harvey County officials in August approved the county’s first ethanol plant, which will be built southwest of Newton.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Agenda Change for Cellulosic Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Cellulosic SummitWith the resignation of US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns last week, the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit next month has made an agenda change.

Chuck ConnerJohanns was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the event but now Acting Secretary Chuck Conner will be the keynoter.

The Summit will be in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-17. The annual three-day event has established itself as the major place where all communities in the cellulosic ethanol value chain come together to discuss how to build a national cellulosic ethanol industry. Again this year, leaders from the agricultural, industrial biotech, biorefinery developer and financial communities will gather to their communities’ perspectives on what is needed to form an efficient effective value chain to commercialize cellulosic ethanol production.

Among the sponsors for the event are the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

Cellulosic, conferences, corn, EPIC, Ethanol, News, RFA