Biodiesel Considered for New Hampshire

John Davis

New Hampshire sealA state commission in New Hampshire is considering the viability of the green fuel in the state.

This story from New Hampshire Public Radio says the group made up of representatives from state agencies, oil industry producers, distributors and dealers, along with scientists and environmentalists is looking into the issue:

New Castle State Representative David Borden chairs The New Hampshire Biodiesel Commission.

Borden says that the goal of the panel is to spur the use of bio-diesel in the state. “Just now, they’re already using bio-diesel in one D.O.T. Truck, Department of Transportation truck, but if they start using it in more vehicles, and if they start using it in school vehicles and state buildings for heating, that will begin turning the tide in favor of bio-diesel”

As you might remember from my post back on April 8th, Borden wants 20 percent of the heating oil used in the state to be biodiesel. One of the biggest obstacles the commission is trying to overcome is the higher cost of biodiesel. Hopefully, the area will open up more biodiesel plants to solve that problem.

Biodiesel

Race Drivers Run Ethanol Marathon

Cindy Zimmerman

ALMDetroit IndyDetroit motorists had the opportunity this week to get bargain-priced 10 percent ethanol fuel pumped by some top racers at a Marathon Station in Taylor, Mich.

The pump promotion, sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, was in honor of the American Le Mans Series Detroit Sports Car Challenge on September 1 and the IndyCar Series Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on September 2. ALM drivers Peter Dumbreck and Dirk Mueller Peterson of Motorsports/White Lightening Racing and IRL Team Ethanol car driver Ryan Hunter-Reay of Rahal Letterman Racing did the pumping. The price for an hour and a half on Wednesday was a cool $2.45 per gallon, the time allotted for the Detroit Sports Car Challenge presented by Bosch.

Read an article about the promotion from the Detroit Free Press.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Symposium on E85 in Florida

Cindy Zimmerman

E85Florida International University‘s Energy and Business Forum and General Motors are having an open symposium to discuss the status of E85 ethanol in South Florida.

E85 ethanol infrastructure, technology, and availability will be discussed by senior engineers from General Motors and distinguished panelists from the areas of academia and industry on Wednesday September 12 at FIU University Park Campus.

The objectives of the panel are to highlight the progress of South Florida’s E85 ethanol infrastructure, educate consumers and media on E85 ethanol benefits, promote E85 ethanol as a bio-fuel with potential to displace petroleum-based fuels and reduce emissions in the U.S., and discuss all relevant issues surrounding E85 ethanol.

More information and registration available on-line.

E85, Ethanol, News, Promotion

Kroger Offers VE85

Cindy Zimmerman

KrogerVeraSunVeraSun Energy Corporation and The Kroger Co. this week announced the opening of 20 VE85™ fueling locations at Kroger convenience stores in Ohio and Kentucky.

This makes Kroger the first national retailer to offer VeraSun’s branded E85. With the addition of the 20 Kroger locations, VeraSun now has more than 100 retail fueling stations in 11 states and the District of Columbia selling VE85™.

Located in Cincinnati, Kroger currently operates almost 2,500 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. The company also has more than 750 convenience stores and 650 supermarket fuel centers. Currently, Kroger has 40 locations offering E85 in the states of Texas, Ohio and Kentucky.

Read more from VeraSun.

E85, EPIC, Ethanol, News

RFA Says We’re Ready for RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

RFAThe U.S. ethanol industry is ready to hit the ground running as the full Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is implemented beginning September 1.

According to Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president Bob Dinneen, “The U.S. ethanol industry has worked diligently with the Environmental Protection Agency and our petroleum customers to ensure that the implementation of the RFS is as smooth as possible. The RFA has sponsored workshops, produced educational material and surveyed the industry and we are confident U.S. ethanol producers are prepared to meet the regulatory requirements of the full RFS. America’s ethanol producers look forward to the challenge of being a renewable energy industry that is standing up to meet America’s growing demand for energy.”

Starting September 1, 2007, the full RFS will be in effect, including the generation and transfer of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) used to track the amount of renewable fuels used.

Ethanol, News

Millennium Becomes US Bio Marion

Cindy Zimmerman

US BioenergyMillenniumUS BioEnergy has completed its acquisition of Millennium Ethanol.

According to a news release, members of Millennium Ethanol approved US BioEnergy’s acquisition of the 100 million gallon per year South Dakota facility, which will now be known as US Bio Marion.

The plant located near Marion, South Dakota is expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2008.

Ethanol, News

Jatropha Tree Could Be Key to Florida Biodiesel

John Davis

JatrophaResearchers at the University of Florida are looking into the feasibility of using the jatropha tree as a source for biodiesel.

This story from the University’s web site, says the plant is a native of Mexico and produces an oil that is ideal for biodiesel:

“For maybe a year and a half now, I have been working on an idea that here in deep South Florida we can grow a biodiesel crop that does not conflict with food and that we have a comparative advantage in growing,” said Roy Beckford, a Lee County extension agent who specializes in sustainable farm development.

Beckford, who works for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has been pushing Jatropha as an alternate crop to South Florida farmers the past couple years through IFAS newsletters.

The hardy trees can live for 50 years and can be ready for twice-a-year harvests just 18 months after planting. Each acre can produce 600 to 1,000 gallons of oil a year… although researchers are working on even more productive varieties. It even grows in land not suitable for other types of agriculture.

Just recently, 1,500 Jatropha seedlings were donated to Lee County by a company called Dream Fuels in hopes of getting the plant established as a biodiesel feedstock in Florida.

Biodiesel

REG Earns Rare, Double BQ-9000 Certification

John Davis

REG logoIowa-based Renewable Energy Group is one of just three companies in the country to earn both BQ-9000 certified statuses from National Biodiesel Accreditation Committee (NBAC). It’s a quality assurance program for the production nd marketing of biodiesel.

REG has now earned the Certified Marketer status. This press release from the National Biodiesel Board says its certification is a standard the group hopes all producers and marketers try to obtain:

The voluntary program couples universally accepted quality management systems with the biodiesel product specification ASTM D-6751. The program covers storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution and fuel management practices to help ensure quality biodiesel throughout the supply chain.

“With the addition of the BQ-9000 Certified Marketer status, REG can provide added confidence to our customers through our extensive biodiesel handling, storage, transportation and testing methods,” said REG chief executive officer Jeff Stroburg. “We want to ensure that every gallon of high quality biodiesel that leaves one of our production facilities is handled properly all the way to the fuel tank of a school bus, commercial truck, tractor or diesel vehicle.”

REG was already a BQ-9000 Accredited Producer. The other two companies with both certifications are Peter Cremer North America and FUMPA Biofuels.

Biodiesel

Ag Secretary Visits Farm Progress Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns visits the EcojetAs Cindy mentioned earlier this week, I’m attending the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, IL and biofuels is still a major topic of discussion in agriculture. Many of the booths here are featuring new products that will make the production of ethanol and biodiesel more efficient as we continue to grow our own fuel here in America.

We had a high level visitor yesterday from Washington, DC. Our Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns held a press conference and visited the New Holland tent to see Jay Leno’s Ecojet, the concept car that runs on 100% biodiesel. In the picture he’s being shown the car’s jet engine by Ricky “Skip” Tyler who travels with the car. Also with the Secretary are Alan Kemper, VP of the American Soybean Association and Harold Boyanovsky, CEO of CNH.

I asked Sec. Johanns what he thinks of a company like New Holland working with an entertainer like Jay Leno to promote biodiesel.

You can listen to Secretary Johanns reply here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fp-07-johanns-quote.mp3]

I also asked him to make a statement about USDA’s commitment to the development of rural America and biofuels.

You can listen to his reply here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-progress/fp-07-johanns-fuel.mp3]

Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Agribusiness, Audio, Biodiesel

Production Starts at 50 MGY Biodiesel Plant in Kentucky

John Davis

Owensboro GrainOwensboro Grain is the latest company to join the ranks of biodiesel producers with the opening of its 50-million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant.

This article on Grainnet.com says the biodiesel operation is a natural progression for the 101-year-old company that started out as a small grain merchant:

The company started out shipping corn on barges, according to John Wright, vice president of strategic planning and development, and a fourth-generation family operator of Owensboro Grain.

He says in the 1950s, his grandfather evolved the company into soybean processing, recognizing early on that soybeans would play a significant role in the economy.

“In 1995, we evolved again by getting into vegetable oil-refining, so opening a biodiesel plant is the next progression for us,” Wright said.

“I believe my great-grandfather and grandfather would be extremely proud.”

The company produces 75 million gallons of soybean oil a year, so its feedstock supply seems to be in good shape right now.

The National Biodiesel Board says there are now 151 biodiesel plants across the country pumping $24 million into the U.S. economy.

Biodiesel