Florida Farm to Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Gov Crist Government and industry leaders addressed a sold-out crowd at the second annual Farm to Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg on Thursday. Florida governor Charlie Crist told the group that fuels made from agricultural commodities have reached the tipping point in terms of public acceptance.

“It’s finally registered with everybody that this is something that is not only good for the environment, its good for our country, it gets us off of foreign oil, it is simply the right thing to do for America,” said Crist. “And as governor of Florida, I think we have a wonderful opportunity to lead in this regard, more than anybody else.”

“I love corn, it’s great,” Crist added. “But we have sugar cane here, and citrus waste, and one of the most amazing agricultural industries in America – in the world, really.”

Crist admitted that it is hard to find ethanol in Florida right now, but he hopes that will change soon. “The promise in this area is just limitless,” he says.

Crist also announced that he would be going to Brazil in November on a trade mission that will include discussions about how Florida can work with Brazil in biofuels production.

Listen to the governor’s remarks here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/f2f-crist-speech.mp3]

Cellulosic, conferences, EPIC, Ethanol, News, RFA

Ryan Hunter-Reay New Team Ethanol Indy Car Driver

Chuck Zimmerman

Rahal-Letterman RacingRahal Letterman Racing announced today that Ryan Hunter-Reay will be taking over driving duties with the team’s #17 Team Ethanol car effective immediately. I look forward to meeting him soon and I’m sad to see Jeff Simmons replaced. As Bobby Rahal explains in the announcement which I’ve posted below, Jeff stepped into a difficult situation last season. I think Jeff is a class act and was doing a great job as a spokesperson for the team and Team Ethanol. We’ll miss him and wish him and his fiance, Stephanie, all the best.

So let’s all welcome new Team Ethanol car driver Ryan and hope he has an awesome start at the upcoming Honda Mid-Ohio 200 in Lexington, Ohio.

Rahal Letterman Racing today announces that American open-wheel and sports car race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay will take over as the driver of the team’s #17 Ethanol-sponsored car in the IndyCar Series, effective immediately.

“We have made important strides in our IndyCar program this year and we feel like this is something that we needed to do to maintain that pattern of improvement and growth,” said RLR co-owner Bobby Rahal. “Jeff stepped into a difficult situation last season and did a lot for our team and our sponsors, but we feel at this time, that this is the right move for the long-term future of Rahal Letterman Racing.”

Hunter-Reay worked his way up the American open-wheel ladder, having great success at every level. He began his career by winning six national karting championships before moving onto the Skip Barber program, where he was rookie-of-the-year in the Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2000. He moved to Toyota Atlantic competition in 2002, and led the series with three race wins and three poles, while also pacing the championship in laps led. The performance caught the attention of road-racing ace Stefan Johansson, who hired Ryan to drive for his first-year Champ Car World Series squad in 2003.Read More

Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

USDA: Half of Livestock Producers Feeding Ethanol Co-products

John Davis

USDA logoA new USDA report says that about half of the cattle and hog operations in a 12-state Midwest region either fed ethanol co-products or considered feeding them to their livestock last year.

This story from Cattle Network.com says about 9,400 livestock operations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin were surveyed.

Among dairy operations, 38 percent indicated that they fed co-products during 2006 and another 22 percent considered doing so. Among cattle on feed operations, 36 percent fed co-products and 34 percent more considered it. Among beef cattle operations, 13 percent reported that they fed co-products and 30 percent considered it. For hog operations, 12 percent fed co-products and 35 percent considered it.

Of the various types of co-products available to operations for feeding, corn gluten feed was used by 46 percent of beef cow operations and 38 percent of cattle on feed operations, while distillers dried grains were used by 45 percent of dairy cattle operations and 44 percent of hog operations Other co-products that the survey looked at included distillers dried grains with solubles, condensed distillers solubles, brewers grains and distillers wet grains.

The report goes on to say that for those who don’t use the ethanol co-products, the main reason is a lack of availability.

Ethanol, News

Virgin Music Festival Goes Green

John Davis

Virgin FestivalThe second annual Virgin Festival sponsored by Virgin Mobile will try to be as environmentally conscious as possible during the two-day concert, August 4-5th at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

Organizers of the event featuring bands such as The Police, Smashing Pumpkins, and Amy Winehouse are encouraging festival attendees to “green it like they mean it.” This press release details some of the plans, including, of course, biodiesel and solar power:

— Clean energy: Where possible, clean energy such as biodiesel and solar power is being used. All on-site power, generators and light towers will run on B99 biodiesel [B99 is 99% biodiesel, 1% diesel; the 1% diesel eliminates a tax on the fuel].

— Green power for plug-ins: Recharging stations for mobile phones and other devices will be powered by biodiesel energy.

The festival will also be featuring earth-friendly food packaging and recycling. Attendees will be able to purchase “carbon credits” to offset any unavoidable use of carbon-based fuels.

Biodiesel, Miscellaneous

Report: World Biodiesel Sales at 4.7 bil gallons by 2010

John Davis

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.A report from Global Industry Analysts, Inc. says rising crude oil prices, and much of the world’s desire to find alternatives to fossil-based fuels, will push world biodiesel sales to 4.7 billion gallons a year by 2010.

This story posted on PRWeb.com says the rise of biofuels, including biodiesel and ethanol, are being driven by the need to replace the finite oil supply and the economic benefits the fuels produce for local communities:

World Biodiesel market is forecast to reach in excess of 4.7 billion gallons by 2010 with a high CAGR of 33.79% over the 2000-2010 analysis period. Though Europe, with a share estimated at 84.16% in 2006, constitutes the largest market, and will continue to do so for the coming years, major growth is expected to emanate from the United States that is projected to maintain a CAGR of 74.53% over 2000-2010.

Automobile Applications market for biodiesel, with an estimated share of 55.73% in 2006 and a CAGR of 33.88% over 2000-2010, constitutes the largest as well as the fastest growing end use application. Other applications independently analyzed include Mining Applications market and Marine Applications market. Both these applications are also expected to register CAGRs in excess of 33% over the aforementioned period.

The report goes on to say that government incentives and mandatory standards are helping drive the increase as well.

Biodiesel

Idaho Moves Forward on Wind Power

John Davis

Idaho is one of the windiest states in America, but it’s wind power generating capabilities have been all but nil… but that could soon change.

This story in the Idaho Statesman says a couple of regulatory cases at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission are finally being settled, ending a two-year moratorium on most new wind energy development in the state. Experts believe this could open the door to a power source with more potential than all of Idaho’s current energy resources combined:

“This is huge,” said Gerald Fleischman, an engineer with the Energy Division of the Idaho Department of Water Resources. “This is not a small, side alternative energy source that it’s nice to talk about and it’s going to help us out a little bit. That is not what it is. It is a big, monster resource.”

Fleischman calculates that Idaho could produce twice as much energy from wind as it produces and uses from all sources. “That’s the potential from identified sites. The real potential is probably bigger than that,” he said.

Idaho has just three commercial wind farms right now. But with the nearly finalized change in the commission’s rules and with the spiraling cost of natural gas to fire more conventional power plants, that number could grow dramatically.

Wind

Iowa’s Biodiesel Appreciation Day

John Davis

Kum & GoTomorrow morning, Wednesday, July 18th between 8 and noon, Kum & Go gas stations in 17 locations in Iowa will hold “Biodiesel Appreciation Day”… offering B2 biodiesel for 10 cents a gallon off the regular price.

This article from EarthTimes.org says it is the biggest biodiesel promotion in the Upper Midwest and has gained the praise of politicians, environmentalists, and some folks concerned about your breathing: the American Lung Association:

ALA Iowa“While ethanol makes a lot of headlines, especially here in Iowa, biodiesel has become the sleeping giant of biofuels,” said Jessica Zopf, environmental health coordinator for the American Lung Association of Iowa. “Iowa produces 225 million gallons of cleaner-burning biodiesel a year, which can significantly reduce harmful tailpipe emissions when used in higher concentrations. Buying a two percent blend biodiesel may be a small step, but it is a vital beginning on a path toward cleaner air, greener fuels and less dependence on petroleum.”

Here’s a list of the stations participating:

* 2801 E. 13th, Ames * 1950 Princeton Drive, Grimes * 4510 Mortensen Road, Ames * 715 Lang Creek Avenue, Grinnell * 2108 Isaac Newton Drive, Ames * 1116 E. Nevada St., Marshalltown * 1920 White Birch, Ankeny * 1453 Co. Highway G76, New Virginia * 1825 N. Ankeny Road, Ankeny * 5970 Morning Star Court, Pleasant Hill * 101 E. Highway 92, Bevington * 209 E. Main St., St. Charles * 1725 NW 86th Street, Clive * 4585 156th St., Urbandale * 3400 SE 14th Street, Des Moines * 5308 University, West Des Moines * 801 N. 1st, Grimes

Biodiesel

Saab: Minnesota Tops in E85

John Davis

Sweden and Minnesota have a lot in common: Both are full of Swedes (OK, one more than the other), and both use a high percntage of E-85 ethanol.

This article from the Saab (another Swedish product) web site makes a comparison between the country and the state that saw massive Swedish immigration in the late 19th century:

SaabWhere Sweden is the leader in the Ethanol movement in Europe, Minnesota is clearly designated as the leader in the United States with over 300 stations strong and growing, totalling roughly one third of Sweden’s entire nationwide coverage. In Sweden, there are almost 900 E-85 filling stations covering the entire country according to the Swedish Ethanol Development Foundation. In Minnesota, this works out to about one E-85 pump per every 17,000 persons in Minnesota that has a population at just over 5 million people. In Sweden, there is roughly one E-85 pump per every 10,000 persons with their total country’s population totalling around 9 million people.

The author of the article goes on to wonder if when Saab’s BioPower vehicles, that run on more biofuels than traditional vehicles, do come to America in the near future whether Minnesota would be used as the test bed for those vehicles.

Ethanol, News

Renewable Energy Investment

Cindy Zimmerman

Total global investment in renewable energy technologies was 25% higher last year compared to 2005, topping $100 billion, according to a United Nations Environment Programme analysis.

UNEPThe report attributes the sector’s boom to a range of global concerns – climate change, increasing energy demand and energy security foremost among them.

It credits as well the November 2006 U.S. mid-term elections, which confirmed renewable energy as “a mainstream issue,” moving it up the political agenda.

Also spurring the sector’s growth has been the persistently high price of oil – averaging more than $60 a barrel in 2006 (although one report conclusion is that the sector is becoming more independent of the price of oil).

The majority of that money – $71 billion – was invested in companies and new sector opportunities, 43% more than the year before. Another $30 billion came from mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, and asset refinancing.

Most of the investments are going towards wind power, solar energy, and biofuels, with $28 billion invested in new generating capacity.

Energy, News

NCERC Teams up with Siemens

John Davis

NCERCThe National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville has teamed up with Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc., the Georgia-based electrical, engineering, and automation giant, to speed up the development of alternative fuel technology.

This story from the Chemical Online web site says a 10-year agreement between the two will involve hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment, software, and on-site simulation training at the unique NCERC:

The SIMATIC PCS 7 distributed control system and instrumentation from Siemens is now being used by the NCERC to help validate near-term technologies that are enhancing the economics and sustainability of renewable fuel production.

“Our clients come to this facility for best-in-class, cutting edge technology,” says John Caupert, director of the NCERC. “They are looking for the newest and most efficient ways to convert grain-based feedstock to ethanol. Through our partnership with Siemens, the center will maintain that level of technology.”

According to the NCERC, there is a growing demand for new workers in the alternative fuels industry. Center statistics show there are 110 ethanol plants in operation in the U.S. and approximately 80 new plants are under construction.

“We are the only organization in the world that offers both classroom training and hands on instruction to anyone,” Caupert says. “By collaborating with Siemens, we will be able to offer one-hour seminars and five-day process training sessions on the control system as well as training for the executives who will run the plants.”

Earlier this year, the center trained 45 recently-out-of-work autoworkers from Michigan.

The NCERC is the only facility of its kind anywhere in the world and works to help thecommercial development of ethanol, as well as training people to work in the bio-fuels fields.

Ethanol, News