Nation’s Biggest Biodiesel Plant Moving Forward

John Davis

seenergy1.gifBy a 7-2 vote, the Chesapeake, Virginia city council has given the green light to what will be the nation’s largest biodiesel plant.

This story in the Virginian-Pilot says council members found the proposal to build Smiling Earth’s 320 million gallon refinery to be a lot less dangerous than the jet fuel and gasoline tanks already around the 30 homes in the neighborhood:

“In this case, we’re getting the benefit of a new company that’s going to be providing jobs, taxes and cleaning up a section of South Norfolk, and they’re not asking for anything from us,” said Councilwoman Patricia Willis. “That is just so unusual.”

If Smiling Earth follows through, the plant will be the country’s largest biodiesel producer. It will make 320 million gallons per year, more than the entire amount of the alternative fuel produced in the United States last year.

Company representatives say they will try to build the plant in nine months and want to have it running by next fall.

Smiling Earth is also doing its part to help the community as the company will put up $5 million to revitalize the community. Now, the company just has to come up with the funding to actually build the refinery.

Biodiesel

Study Shows World’s Biodiesel Production Potential

John Davis

A study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison looks at the potential for biodiesel production worldwide and identifies some of the countries that could become big players in the future of biodiesel.

sage.gifThis article on the Science Daily web site says the study ranked 226 countries according to their potential to make large volumes of biodiesel at low cost. While many of the big players already in the biodiesel market, such as the United States and Brazil, ranked in the top 10, researchers Matt Johnston and Tracey Holloway of the Nelson Institute’s Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) looked at some of the developing countries and their potential:

mattjohnston1.JPG[T]he researchers say the study’s true motivation was to identify developing countries that already export significant amounts of vegetable oil for profit, but may not have considered refining it into biodiesel. By exporting biodiesel – a higher value commodity – these countries could improve their trade balances, says Johnston, or use the fuel to offset their own energy needs.

“A lot of these countries don’t have any petroleum resources and so they’re having to import petroleum,” he says. “At the same time, they’re exporting vegetable oil that they could be turning into biodiesel and using domestically.”

Overall, the study ranked Malaysia, Thailand, Colombia, Uruguay and Ghana as the developing nations most likely to attract biodiesel investment, not only because of their strong agricultural industries, but also due to their relative safety and stability, lack of debt, among other economic factors.

The study goes on to say worldwide biodiesel production could reach 12-13 billion gallons a year… 4-5 percent of the world’s current petroleum demand… IF all vegetable oil was turned into biodiesel. However, the researchers acknowledge that’s not feasible because of the implications to the food market.

Check out the map below to see where each country ranks and read more about the study by clicking on SAGE’s web site here.
biodieselmap2.GIF

Biodiesel

KL Process Design Group First Cellulosic Plant

Chuck Zimmerman

KL Process Design Management TeamWhile we’ve been listening to people talking about when someone will build a commercially viable cellulosic ethanol production plant one company has actually gone ahead and done it. That’s what KL Process Design Group claims. I met with their leadership team at the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit. Pictured are (L-R) Dave Litzen, Tom Slunecka, Randy Kramer and Steve Healey.

I sat down with Dave and Randy for an interview to learn more about how they’ve been able to accomplish this. For one thing they’ve been working with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Department of Forestry. Through experimentation and research they’ve been able to produce ethanol from their Western Biomass Energy plant in Upton, WY. They get their feedstock from ponderosa pine wood chips/waste in the foothills of the Black Hills of Eastern Wyoming. Basically, they’re not only making ethanol from the wood waste but they’re helping with the forest management which includes thinning to prevent forest fires. That sounds like a two-fer to me.

They’re going to be going at this cellulosic business in a kind of non-traditional way as you’ll hear in the interview. For example, they’re looking at smaller plants and customers who have a need to take care of waste products that pile up and become a problem like wood mills and anyone involved in silviculture. This means that the ethanol they produce will come from many sources. I think you’ll find the interview very interesting.

You can listen to my interview with Randy and Dave here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ethanol/cellulosic-summit-07-kl-process.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

EPIC Executive Director Going Cellulosic

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom SluneckaOne of the sponsors for the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit and Domestic Fuel coverage of it is the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council. EPIC Executive Director, Tom Slunecka was on hand and we sat down for a chat. I’ve been waiting to do this since he announced that he’s heading on to a new opportunity with KL Process Design Group (more on KL later).

Tom is the man who has been the voice of EPIC since the beginning a couple of years ago when he, along with founding members, ICM, POET and Fagen had the vision to start a promotional organization to brand their product and educate consumers in a big way. I remember when Tom walked into the media room at the Commodity Classic with some invitations to attend a press conference in Washington, DC with an IRL car on display. I think I was the only one to take him up on that offer at the time and we’ve been working with EPIC ever since.

I’d say we’ll miss Tom (I’m sure his staff will) but I know we’ll still be working with him as he ventures into the cellulosic side of the industry. So I guess you can view this as my exit interview with Tom from EPIC to a new chapter in his career. In my interview with Tom you’ll hear him say that EPIC is on very firm footing from a membership and financial standpoint and that there’s a full staff in place to move it forward aggressively in the coming year. I agree and I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunity to keep up with EPIC right here as we continue our support for the organization and the industry. We’re excited to find out who will replace Tom once the board completes their Executive Director search.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ethanol/cellulosic-summit-07-slunecka.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, EPIC, Ethanol, News

Ohio Commits to Utility-Scale Wind Energy Production

John Davis

Mycogen SeedsOhio wants wind energy to be a bigger player in it’s overall energy production. That’s why the state is incorporating new projects to develop utility-scale wind energy as part of it’s commitment to renewable energy innovation.

The Ohio Department of Development, through its Ohio Wind Production and Manufacturing Incentive Program, has awarded grants totaling $5 million to The Buckeye Wind Project. Developed by EverPower Renewables and the JW Great Lakes Wood County Wind Farm, The Buckeye Wind Project is the first large scale wind energy projects for the state.

The Buckeye Wind Project is planned to meet the electricity needs for nearly 300,000 homes and the JW Great Lakes Wind Farm could power 15,000 homes. Both projects are located in northwest Ohio and are expected to be operational by June 30, 2009.

According to a recent study by the Washington, D.C.-based Renewable Energy Policy Project, Ohio would gain more than 13,000 new manufacturing jobs with an investment in wind energy.

Ohio also is moving forward with feasibility studies for the installation of up to ten wind turbines off the coast of Lake Erie. If the yearlong study proves favorable, it will be the world’s first instance of wind turbines installed in fresh water.

Energy, Wind

Bob Dinneen Chairing Cellulosic Ethanol Summit

Chuck Zimmerman

Bob DinneenThe Chairman of this year’s Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is the “Reverend of Renewable Fuels” and RFA’s own Bob Dinneen. Bob got us started and has been sort of emceeing the activities here.

I sat down with him for a chat to get his perspective on cellulosic production and energy legislation. Bob says that RFA is sponsoring this event because the companies he represents are involved and that they’re looking at new developments like cellulose. He says RFA will represent ethanol and that the organization is feedstock neutral. He wants to remind people that “ethanol is ethanol is ethanol.” That there’s no good or bad ethanol.

Bob says that cellulosic is part of the present and the future of the ethanol industry. He wants people to take away from the conference that cellulosic ethanol is much closer to commercial reality than conventional wisdom would suggest. He also wants people to realize how much the oil industry is working against the development of ethanol regardless of what feedstock it’s made from. He’s also pretty confident we’ll have an energy bill by the end of the year.

You can listen to my interview with Bob here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ethanol/cellulosic-summit-07-dinneen.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News, RFA

The Birth of Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association

Chuck Zimmerman

Map of Ohio Ethanol PlantsThere will soon be a number of ethanol plants in operation in Ohio. To help them and the biodiesel industry as well, a new group has been formed called Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association. BRFA is headed up by long time corn grower leader Mike Wagner. In fact, he says the Ohio Corn Growers are playing a key role in the development of this organization.

Mike is here at the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit and I spoke to him about BRFA. He says they’re just getting started and that there was a real need for an organization like this. BRFA will work on regulatory, legislative, promotional and educational issues of behalf of the industry. He says they’ve got 5 ethanol plants coming on line in the next 90 days with 2 or 3 more soon after that. Right now he encourages anyone wanting more information to contact the Ohio Corn Growers office. The new organization will hold it’s first board meeting later this year.

You can listen to my interview with Mike here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ethanol/cellulosic-summit-07-wagner.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

A Sorghum Producer Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman

National Sorghum ProducersOne of the people I met with here at the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is Tim Lust, CEO of the National Sorghum Producers. Tim provided me with a historical perspective on how sorghum has been involved in ethanol production. For example, he says that the first ethanol plant to use sorghum in the production of ethanol was in New Mexico 20 years ago.

Tim says that about 60 percent of the crop grown next year will be within about 50 miles of an ethanol plant and they’re very excited about the future of ethanol production for the industry. He says they expect that 25 to 30 percent of next year’s crop will be used for ethanol production.

I asked him about the legislative work they’re doing here in DC and where things stand with an energy bill. He says that we’ve got a very non-traditional situation in terms of creating legislation but that’s it’s not necessarily a bad thing and that he’s optimistic there will be an energy bill. He also hopes that people attending the conference here will be excited about the opportunities being presented by cellulosic ethanol production but that they don’t forget who brought them to the dance. That would be grains.

You can listen to my interview with Tim here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ethanol/cellulosic-summit-07-lust.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Cellulosic Ethanol Summit Day Two

Chuck Zimmerman

Cellulosic Ethanol SummitThe Cellulosic Ethanol Summit is wrapping up this morning in Washington, DC. I haven’t been able to post much from it due to a complete lack of internet access in the venue (Almas Temple Club). So I’m playing a little catch up.

The program has been pretty much back to back panels and speakers on a variety of topics related to the organizing company’s mission, “The Summit provides an important opportunity to initiate profound conversations between the various communities in the value chain and it provides a powerful venue where these communities can fully understand how to build links within the value chain that are necessary to make the cellulosic ethanol industry a reality.”

Additionally, various sponsors set up displays with information and had people on hand to talk about what they bring to the table when it comes to building a cellulosic ethanol industry.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

MYCOGEN Ramps Up Ethanol Production

John Davis

Mycogen SeedsDow AgroSciences is promoting a product that it says will drive higher production of ethanol. The seed company says it’s MYCOGEN® brand corn hybrids will help corn growers meet the increasing demand for ethanol.

The Mycogen Seeds ethanol product lineup features superior yield protection technologies such as HERCULEX® XTRA Insect Protection and the latest in weed control options.

“As industry projections predict the demand for corn for ethanol to more than double in the next decade, growers need to arm themselves with high-yielding and highly fermentable corn hybrids. We have a full lineup of highly fermentable corn hybrids with powerful traits to protect growers’ yield all season long,” says Dave Schumacher, Marketing Specialist, Mycogen Seeds.

Growing MYCOGEN brand highly fermentable corn hybrids can offer growers many potential benefits including competitive agronomics and increased yield. The MYCOGEN brand ethanol product lineup provides growers with more ethanol production per acre and access to superior in-plant traits including products stacked with HERCULEX XTRA.

In addition, many of the corn hybrids in the ethanol lineup also meet the Processor Preferred® standard for ethanol production.

Ethanol, News