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

Biodiesel Jet Flies Into History

John Davis

biojet.jpgA Czechoslovakian-made jet has made history when it became the first jet to fly on 100 percent biodiesel. The L-29 military aircraft flew over the high desert near Reno, Nevada piloted by C.

This press release from Green Flight International says it was a joint project with Biodiesel Solutions… a maker of community-scale biodiesel equipment:

greenflightbiodiesel.JPGThe experimental test flights were conducted starting with a blend of jet fuel and biodiesel. The engine data was measured and the performance was evaluated and found acceptable for continued use, eventually resulting in the landmark flight using 100% renewable biodiesel fuel. According to Chief Pilot Carol Sugars who wrote and conducted the test program, “As we gradually increased the amount of biodiesel in the fuel blend, the data confirmed that the aircraft continued to perform well, giving me the confidence to transition to 100% biodiesel.” Flight tests were conducted up to an altitude of 17,000 feet showing no significant difference in performance compared to conventional jet fuel.

“This test program between Green Flight International and Biodiesel Solutions was a unique and exciting opportunity to show what can be done in renewable fuels.” said Rudi Wiedemann, president of Biodiesel Solutions. “The very idea of using 100% biodiesel to fly a jet aircraft makes a compelling statement about the possibilities for the future of renewable energy and a healthier planet.”

Green Flight has plans for another record-breaking aviation event… and the company is inviting other flyers to take part. For more information contact Doug Rodante at (407) 880-2501 or doug@greenflightinternational.com.

Biodiesel

Americans Buying Record Numbers of Alternative Fuel Autos

John Davis

Americans bought nearly half a million alternative fuel automobiles (AFAs) during the second quarter of 2007… a record and good news for the alternative fuel industry and the environment.

rlpolk.gifThe Missouri Soybean Association lists the story in its “Bean Briefs” and says the numbers from R.L. Polk & Company are a 27 percent increase from a year ago:

Sales of clean diesel vehicles were up 16 percent from 93,012 to 108,044. Sales of E-85 capable vehicles and hybrids were also up significantly. High fuel prices and increasing availability were likely drivers of this upward trend, said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “Yet even though more AFAs are being sold, we still need more gas stations to offer biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.”

The article goes on to say that a recent study conducted by R.L. Polk and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers found that while about three-fourths of consumers were familiar with AFAs, availability of biofuels was still impacting actual purchases.

Biodiesel, Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, News

Advanced Bioenergy Finances SD Operations

Cindy Zimmerman

Adv BioEAdvanced BioEnergy, LLC has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Heartland Grain Fuels, L.P., has closed on a $118 million financing package for its South Dakota ethanol production facilities.

According to the company, the financing will be used to refinance Heartland Grain Fuels’ existing debt, complete construction of a 40 million gallons nameplate per year expansion facility at Heartland’s existing Aberdeen plant, and pay for operating costs at both the Aberdeen and Huron production facilities.

Advanced BioEnergy CEO Revis L. Stephenson III said, “We believe that this financing provides us with sufficient debt financing to complete construction of our 40 million gallon nameplate capacity per year Aberdeen expansion facility. Together with our third facility in Fairmont, Nebraska, which we expect will come on line in October of this year, and our existing operating facilities in Huron and Aberdeen, South Dakota, Advanced BioEnergy’s ethanol production capacity when fully operational will approach 200 million gallons per year.”

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Blencoe Throws Down Hydrogen Gauntlet

John Davis

hydrogendiscoveries.jpgGreg Blencoe, the CEO of Hydrogen Discoveries, Inc., an alternative energy research and development start-up company based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has issued a challenge to hydrogen energy skeptic Joseph Romm to debate the merits of hydrogen power.

Romm is the author of a book titled “The Hype About Hydrogen: Fact And Fiction In The Race To Save The Climate,” and on his blog, Blencoe is taking exception with six myths he says Romm is perpetuating:

blencoeromm.JPGMyth #1 – Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are decades away because fuel cells are 50 times as expensive as they need to be

Reality – If they are mass produced, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be competitive with gasoline-powered internal combustion engine vehicles beginning in three or four years

Myth #2 – Hybrid vehicles are as efficient as fuel cell vehicles

Reality – Fuel cells are twice as efficient as internal combustion engines

Myth #3 – Plug-in hybrids are better than hydrogen fuel cell cars (for whatever reason)

Reality – Plug-in hybrid technology can be used in hydrogen fuel cell cars, so any benefits of plug-in hybrids will also be realized by hydrogen cars

Myth #4 – Hydrogen fuel is three times as expensive as it needs to be in order to be competitive

Reality – The cost of hydrogen will be $4 to $6 per kilogram, which is equivalent to gasoline at $2 to $3 per gallon, due to the efficiency of fuel cells

Myth #5 – Making hydrogen for use in cars is not a good use of renewable energy

Reality – There is more than enough renewable energy to produce both electricity for homes and businesses and hydrogen for cars

Myth #6 – The high cost of building a hydrogen infrastructure means hydrogen should not be pursued

Reality – The cost of building a hydrogen infrastructure will be high, but far less expensive than the costs that will have to be paid if the current path is maintained.

Blencoe admits he’s being a bit aggressive in his approach, but he says it’s too important to dismiss without proper debate. No word on whether Romm will agree to debate. You can read Blencoe’s challenge by clicking here.

Hydrogen

UL Announces E85 Pump Certification

Cindy Zimmerman

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has announced the establishment of safety requirements for E85 fuel dispensing equipment and is now ready to start certification investigations, according to a UL news release.

The establishment of safety requirements follows the completion of UL’s comprehensive research program to investigate potential safety concerns associated with dispensing highly concentrated ethanol-blended fuels. The research included extensive gathering of technical data, field studies of existing E85 installations in the U.S. and Brazil, analysis of material compatibility for dispenser components, and a co-sponsored technical forum with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) that brought together 32 national experts from automobile and petroleum companies, ethanol producers, dispenser and component manufacturers, industry associations, government agencies and university researchers.

EPICThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) welcomed the news, calling it “a major victory for the ethanol industry and efforts to expand availability of E85 and increase demand for this renewable fuel.”

EPIC Director of Operations Robert White says the announcement removes a major barrier to many companies that have been waiting to offer E85 at their fueling stations. “Pump equipment manufacturers are standing by at the ready and will submit their dispenser for approval very soon,” said White. “UL’s efforts to complete their evaluations and develop the safety requirements for E85 dispensing equipment in just under a year are tremendous, and this development will move the ethanol industry to the next plateau in helping improve air quality and reduce dependence on foreign fuels.”

Currently there are more than 1,300 E85 fueling stations open across the United States. With UL’s announcement, projections are that number will double in the coming year.

E85, EPIC, Ethanol, News