US and Brazil Seek Ethanol Partnership

Cindy Zimmerman

Officials from the world’s two largest ethanol producers, the United States and Brazil, have been meeting this week to discuss the possibility of a new “energy partnership.”

According to a Washington Post report, U.S. officials said they expect to sign accords within a year that would promote technology-sharing with Brazil and encourage more Latin American neighbors to become biofuel producers and consumers.

“It’s clearly in our interests — Brazil’s and the United States’s — that we expand the global market for biofuels, particularly ethanol, and that it become a global commodity of sorts,” said R. Nicholas Burns, the U.S. undersecretary of state, who led discussions with Brazilian government officials on Wednesday.

Ethanol, International, News

Making Hydrogen More Mainstream

John Davis

A deal between two companies could make the mass production of hydrogen-fueled vehicles more feasible. In a press release on their web site, Dynetek officials say they will make seven million Canadian dollars (nearly US $ 6 mil) worth of compressed hydrogen storage systems for Magna Steyr connected to DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell program. Dynetek officials say the deal will ultimately lead to storage systems that allow the compressed hydrogen to be at a pressure of 700bar… and that allows for extended driving ranges… one of the knocks on hydrogen-powered cars:

“This contract is a significant step forward in direction of mass production and it underlines Dynetek’s technical leadership in storage of compressed hydrogen”, says Chris Rasche, President and CEO.

Dynetek will deliver the storage systems for testing later this year.

Hydrogen, International

Talking AllThingsBiodiesel.com

Chuck Zimmerman

Doug WhiteheadThe National Biodiesel Board has launched a one-stop marketplace for biodiesel interests to do business over the Internet. It’s AllThingsBiodiesel.com, and was introduced at the National Biodiesel Conference.

AllThingsBiodiesel.com takes its place as the world’s largest biodiesel marketplace, focusing on products, services and industry-related companies. A variety of services assembled within it include online ads and classified ads, the biodiesel store and a biodiesel directory, in which companies can be listed for free.

Additional features on AllThingsBiodiesel.com include:

• A biodiesel store with offerings that range from apparel to books and promotional materials.
• A continually-updated biodiesel directory that is searchable various ways, including by name or category. Businesses can sign up now at www.AllThingsBiodiesel.com for a free spot in the directory.
• Services include real estate listings, business services, feedstock purchases and shows and meetings, to name a few.
• Banner ads and other levels of advertising are available. For more information, contact Doug Whitehead, NBB Project Manager (pictured), at dwhitehead@biodiesel.org. Advertising space is limited.

“AllThingsBiodiesel.com is for companies who want to get the word out on their product on a large scale,” said Whitehead, “to companies who need to know where to turn for services and products helping their biodiesel business, to consumers wanting to make biodiesel-related purchases.”

Listen to my interview with Doug here: Listen To MP3 Doug Whitehead Interview (3 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by John Deere

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Eye on Biodiesel Award – Sprague Energy – Steve Levy

Chuck Zimmerman

Rod Lawrence AwardEach year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Award for:

Impact – Sprague Energy – Steve Levy.
A progressive Northeastern petroleum distributor has become the first petroleum company in the nation to earn the status of BQ-9000 “certified marketer.” The New Hampshire-based energy wholesaler also opened the first rack-blended biodiesel terminal in New York. The terminal stores and supplies 40,000 gallons of pure biodiesel for blending in over-the-road applications and #2 heating oil (Bioheat® heating oil) in several states.

Listen to the presentation with Steve here: Listen To MP3 Sprague Energy Presentation (3 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by John Deere

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Eye on Biodiesel Award – Brie Mathews & Mike Ferry

Chuck Zimmerman

Brie Mathews & Mide Ferry AwardEach year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Award for:

Inspiration – Brie Mathews and Mike Ferry/San Francisco Fire Department.
The San Francisco Fire Department has been conducting a pilot program to use B20 in some of its fire trucks, engines and an ambulance, with plans to go department-wide. The program takes place in the southeastern section of San Francisco, an area that consistently experiences the city’s poorest air quality. Ferry’s and Mathew’s idea served as a springboard for expected citywide use of B20 by the end of 2007.

Listen to the presentation with Brie & Mike here: Listen To MP3 Brie Mathews & Mike Ferry Presentation (3 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by John Deere

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Eye on Biodiesel Award – Gene Hemphill

Chuck Zimmerman

Gene Hemphill AwardEach year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Michael Peterson is pictured in the hat. Award for:

Innovation – Gene Hemphill/New Holland Co., Manager North American Industry Affairs.
New Holland in 2006 approved the use of 20 percent biodiesel (B20) in all of its equipment using New Holland engines. It is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to announce full support of B20 in all of the diesel engines that it produces. Hemphill is a big reason for New Holland’s support; he was advocating its use in their equipment almost a decade ago. Also, in 2003, New Holland was the first large farm equipment company to join the Biodiesel Alliance that connects the widespread support base for biodiesel. New Holland also awarded use of its tractors to the nation’s two top recruiters of the Biodiesel Alliance.

Listen to the presentation with Gene here: Listen To MP3 Gene Hemphill Presentation (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference sponsored by John Deere

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Eye on Biodiesel Award – Bill & Cindy Mack

Chuck Zimmerman

Bill & Cindy Mack AwardEach year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Award for:

Influencer – Bill and Cindy Mack.
Bill and Cindy Mack, known and admired by U.S. truckers, have significantly increased the awareness of biodiesel in that large market. Bill Mack, XM Radio’s “Satellite Cowboy,” not only recently helped kick off the Biodiesel Hotline, 866-BIODIESEL, but he and Cindy have spoken about biodiesel on “Open Road” the past few years. “Truckers are committed to using biodiesel and we get a lot of calls from truckers looking for biodiesel on the road,” said Bill. “We want to do whatever we can to help them find biodiesel. We believe it is the right thing for America.” They often send listeners to NBB’s Web site, biodiesel.org, as well as to NBB’s “Biotrucker” information; and they have regularly spent entire shows discussing only biodiesel, often with guest Willie Nelson.

Listen to the presentation with Cindy & Bill here: Listen To MP3 Cindy & Bill Mack Presentation (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by John Deere

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Eye on Biodiesel Award – Rod Lawrence

Chuck Zimmerman

Rod Lawrence AwardEach year the National Biodiesel Board bestows the “Eye on Biodiesel” awards, designed to recognize individuals and groups who have advanced the board’s mission of public education and industry growth. The awards were presented by NBB Chairman Darryl Brinkmann (left) and NBB CEO Joe Jobe (right). Award for:

Industry Partnership – Rod Lawrence/Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Manager of Quality and Analytical Services.
Under Rod Lawrence’s direction, Magellan Analytical Laboratories has been closely involved in biodiesel testing and analytical method development for more than 15 years. Lawrence’s Magellan lab, then Williams Pipeline, was the first host of the biodiesel industry’s Technical Brainstorming Workshop a decade ago. Lawrence has played a leadership role in developing the industry’s BQ-9000 program, as well as the ASTM specifications. Lawrence and Magellan have given of their own resources, working with other petroleum and biodiesel companies to understand and help prevent quality control issues. Biodiesel blends are now available at nine Magellan terminals which handle over 600 million gallons of diesel fuel annually.

Listen to the presentation with Rod here: Listen To MP3 Rod Lawrence Award Presentation (3 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the
National Biodiesel Conference is sponsored by John Deere

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

First Wood-Based Ethanol Plant Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

PerdueGeorgia Governor Sonny Perdue has announced that Range Fuels, Inc., a Colorado-based cellulosic ethanol company, will build Georgia’s first wood-based cellulosic ethanol plant in Treutlen County.

“Georgia will be a national leader in cellulosic ethanol, and Range Fuel’s investments here will be a major step forward helping us address our state’s long-term energy issues,” said Governor Perdue at the Georgia Agribusiness Council’s annual State Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday.

Range Fuels CEO Mitch Mandich said, “Thanks to Georgia’s environmentally sensitive stewardship of its forests for the past 50 years, Range Fuels can take what is traditionally considered a waste product, and turn it into a source of transportation fuel.”

Southeast Agnet’s
Lee McCoy was at that breakfast in Atlanta and he interviewed Mandich right after the announcement was made.

Listen to that interview here. Listen To MP3 Mandich Interview (2:00 min MP3)

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

American Le Mans Goes With Ethanol Blend

Cindy Zimmerman

New ELe MansThe American Le Mans Series has partnered with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council to make E10, “the official ethanol-enriched fuel” of the series.

Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series, considers this a perfect fit for the platform that is the American Le Mans Series.

“We’ve often described the American Le Mans Series providing a direct link for our manufacturers, the link from the race track to the show room,” Atherton said. “Today, we’ve established another direct link and that is from the race track to the fuel station.”

The American Le Mans Series was founded in 1999 by Georgia-based entrepreneur Don Panoz. It features top manufacturers such as Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Corvette, Ferrari, Mazda, Panoz, Porsche, and Saleen.
Epic LeMans

The American Le Mans Series features 12 races in 2007, including the prestigious season opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, which will be held on March 17, and the 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans. This will be the first time that ethanol-enriched fuel will be used in a 12 hour endurance race.

Atherton held a press conference with EPIC Executive Director Tom Slunecka and Bobby Rahal of Rahal Letterman Racing to make the announcement. A portion of that press conference can be heard here.
Listen To MP3 Le Mans Press Conference (24:00 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, News