ACE Conference 2026

1000th Restaurant Joins Oil-to-Fuel Program

Joanna Schroeder

The 1000th restaurant has joined the Oil-to-Fuel Program, sponsored by Genuine Bio-Fuel (GBF). The program recycles used cooking oil for cash. The idea is to help restaurants, that have to pay to have its used cooking oil picked up and properly disposed of, turn a loss center into a profit center.

With this program, GBF supplies food establishments with sealable, durable clean containers for oil collection, then sends out company representatives to pick up the oil and deliver it back to GBF where it is then processed into biodiesel. Each quarter, the restaurant receives a check.

“I’m thrilled to see so many local restaurants participating in the Oil-to-Fuel program,” said Jeff Longo, executive vice president for GBF. “The reality is we support each other, and we have to continue to support one another if we want to build our communities strong and take steps toward energy independence.”

Florida restaurants who participate in the program not only make money while doing something good for the environment, they also get a bit of free promotion through GBF’s “Save Us From Foreign Oil” website.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Clean Energy, Renewable Energy

New Clean Energy Jobs See Slowdown

Joanna Schroeder

During the third quarter of 2012, more than 10,800 jobs were announced in the clean energy sector and related industries according to the latest analysis by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). The top 10 states for clean jobs, beginning with the number one state were: California, New York, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Texas, North Carolina, Minnesota, Illinois and Nevada. Despite an improvement in the economy, the job growth was actually less than in the first and second quarters of 2012 – there were 46,000 clean energy jobs announced between January – March 2012.

The analysis, “What Clean Energy Jobs? These Clean Energy Jobs!” concludes that the slowdown was caused in part by political and policy uncertainty, including the pending sunset of the production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy. The lack of action on this tax credit, among several others has also caused a loss of jobs within the clean energy sector.

“These numbers show that policy matters,” said Judith Albert, executive director of Environmental Entrepreneurs. “With clean energy job announcements slowing down, it becomes even more important that Congress and the administration take the right steps to ensure that we don’t lose any more momentum in the clean energy sector that’s helping both our economy and our environment.”

According to the E2 report:

    • Power generation companies announced the most clean energy jobs in the July-September quarter. Solar, wind and biogas companies announced 40 projects that together are anticipated to create more than 6,000 jobs.
    • Manufacturing companies making everything from electric vehicles to solar panels announced 14 projects in the quarter that would created more than 1,600 jobs, albeit many temporary.
    • In the wind industry, manufacturing job announcements fell to zero in the third quarter, compared to eight announcements in Q1 and two in Q2.
    • Three states saw significant jumps in announcement for clean energy and related jobs between the second and third quarters: North Carolina (from No. 26 to No. 7), Washington (from No. 27 to No. 4), and Texas (from No. 15 to No. 6).

In addition to the report, E2 also unveiled its new tracking tool that aids individuals searching for clean energy jobs.

Alternative energy, Clean Energy, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

CU Offers Online Renewable Energy Certificate

Joanna Schroeder

For individuals looking to learn more about the renewable energy industry at a management level, the University of Colorado Boulder, in partnership with the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), are offering a graduate-level renewable energy certificate. The classes can be taken onsite or online and are geared toward those not seeking a full degree but rather to learn about the latest in energy technology and policy.

“Our renewable energy certificate program is an extension of CU-Boulder’s successful graduate energy certificate that we’ve been offering for several years,” said Paul Komor, Ph.D., who directs the program and teaches courses in energy technology and policy. Komor shared in the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Those completing the three three-course program will earn nine graduate level credits along with the renewable energy certificate. Students will be taught by CU-Boulder faculty who have many years of experience in the energy industry. It takes one to two years to complete the professional renewable energy certificate, and CU-Boulder is currently accepting registrations for the 2013 term.

Classes include: RSEI 5000 Energy Science and Technology, taught by Keith Stockton, Ph.D.; RSEI 5001 Renewable Energy Policy, taught by Paul Komor, Ph.D.; and RSEI 5002 The Business of Sustainable Energy, taught by Steve Lawrence, Ph.D. Each course is a full semester and there is also a summer online library course with prerecorded lectures.

Brett Landin, a current student and a principal engineer at Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, said of the program, “What sold me on the program is the mix of technology, business, and policy courses. This mix of courses provides an in-depth introduction to the three fields that are key to understanding the renewable energy landscape. I really appreciate the ability to take the class as a distance student to accommodate my work schedule, while being able to stop by office hours and work with other students in the class.”

Alternative energy, Education, Renewable Energy

A Thanks to Veterans

Joanna Schroeder

As America celebrates Veterans Day today, many around the country are thanking them for their service including the renewable fuels industry. Specifically, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is thanking veterans working in Iowa’s renewable fuels industry for decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and advancing the nation’s energy security.

“With Veterans Day just around the corner, the IRFA wants to thank all service men and women for protecting this country by highlighting a few of the veterans now working to advance our energy independence,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “It was clear from the interviews that veterans working to produce American-made fuels here in Iowa believe it’s another way to serve their country by decreasing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”

IRFA created a video featuring some of the veterans involved in renewable fuels production to thank both thank them and highlight their views on renewable fuels and energy security. Veterans participating in the web video include: Bill Horan (Western Iowa Energy), Daniel Baker (Golden Grain Energy), Daryl Haack (Little Sioux Corn Processors), Grant Gemberling (Plymouth Energy), Jarrod Patterson (Golden Grain Energy), Jeremy Schmidt (Golden Grain Energy), Matt Dutka (Golden Grain Energy), and Michael Wood (Plymouth Energy).

Alternative energy, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Renewable Energy

Say Thanks to the Military

Joanna Schroeder

Fuels America is asking people to take time to thank a veteran for everything they have done or do to keep us safe. The organization supports the greening of the military with efforts such as helping the military source their fuel from home, make the military leaner, more efficient and safer using renewable fuel.

The organization is asking Americans to continue to support renewable fuel and send a note of thanks and support to those in the military for everything that they do: http://www.fuelsamerica.org/send-a-message-now.

biofuels, Renewable Energy

RFA Discusses Ethanol Issues at NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association was at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting in Kansas City this week to discuss ethanol issues with reporters in light of the election and the upcoming lame duck session.

“Ethanol was going to turn out just fine in this election no matter what because we were in the enviable position of both candidates supporting ethanol generally and the RFS specifically,” said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen, who added that the oil industry was probably a loser in the election.

Addressing when the Environmental Protection Agency will rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) waiver request and how that ruling might go, Dinneen said he has the day after Thanksgiving in the office pool for when it will happen. “The calendar is a funny thing at EPA – they don’t always meet their deadlines,” said Dinneen. “More importantly, I’m pretty confident it’s denied because the conditions for a waiver are just not there.”

Dinneen says maintaining the RFS is critical for the development of cellulosic ethanol and next generation biofuels, as is Congress extending the cellulosic tax incentives.

Listen to an interview with Dinneen from NAFB here: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen at NAFB

Listen to a conference call with Dinneen here: Bob Dinneen Conference Call

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Election Insight 2012

Joanna Schroeder

An “Election Insight 2012” report was issued shortly following the elections on November 7, 2012 by SNR Denton, and provides interesting insights into what political issues will take the forefront in the next four years. The report highlights winners and losers both at the federal and local levels as well as provides a short list of who could take over several key appointed positions. It also gives a top level discussion of what key issues will be addressed during the upcoming lame duck session, as well as over the next four years.

Of interest to our readers is the overview of several areas: renewable energy, environment and the tax extenders package. Here is a samling of the highlights:

  • The 112th Congress returns for a lame duck session beginning next week and the major topic of discussion will be the combination of expiring tax provisions and across-the-board spending cuts (sequestration) including discussion of retroactive extension of expired provisions including research and development tax credit, the production tax credit for wind energy, and other “tax extenders”.
  • Several major policy areas that will be on the agenda for the next Congress: debate on the future of American energy; and job creation and economic growth. The issues above are forecast to become part of the broader debate over the economy.
  • The energy sector also will draw attention in the context of tax reform, with debate continuing on tax policy affecting both oil and gas companies and renewable generators.
  • President Obama’s corporate tax reform plan calls for a lowering of the corporate tax rate from 35%to 28%, and reducing the manufacturing income rate to 25%. To pay for these proposals, the president would eliminate several business tax breaks, most notably subsidies for oil companies.
  • Obama’s plan would make the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit permanent and the tax credit for renewable electricity production permanent.
  • Obama’s plan would require companies to pay minimum tax on overseas profits and remove tax deductions for moving production overseas, while giving a 20% income tax credit for the expenses of moving back to the U.S.
  • The next terms will bring continued debate on the future development of American energy resources, Read More
Alternative energy, Clean Energy, politics, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Generation 1.5 Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new Issue Brief: Generation 1.5 Ethanol: The Bridge to Cellulosic Biofuels,” the shortfall of cellulosic biofuel production in the U.S. is threatening the existence of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2). Authored by Philip W. Madson, P.E., president of KATZEN International for Ethanol Across America, the growth of the biofuels industry will be facilitated by modifying RFS2 to shift away from the singular focus on cellulosic biofuels by implementing policies to promote a wider range of advanced biofuels.

Today, there are only two pathways approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brazilian ethanol produced from sugarcane and grain sorghum to ethanol produced at plants using biogas in combinate with heat and power (CHP) technology. The paper argues that developing additional advanced biofuels, or Generation 1.5 ethanol, will be the bridge to Generation 2.0 biofuels, or cellulosic biofuels.

“Unfortunately, RFS has been implemented in a manner that has led the biofuels industry to its current no-growth predicament,” Madson writes in the Issue Brief. He also notes that requiring 16 billion gallons of biofuels to be “cellulosic” and thus reduce greenhouse gas emission by 60 percent, ignores the benefits that could be realized from “non-cellulosic” advanced biofuels.

Madson continues, “By mandating growth to principally cellulosic biofuels, the RFS2 effectively handcuffs the biofuels industry and forces it to put its limited resources into the development of Gen 2 biofuels, which simply cannot be commercially deployed on the prescribed schedule.”

Generation 1.5 Ethanol offers several steps to be taken to encourage the development of advanced biofuels. First, solidify market demand; mandates and requirements alone are not going to be enough. This can be done through increased production of flex fuel vehicles and more choice of higher biofuel blends at the pump. Second, current RFS programs could be amended to allow any feedstock that can demonstrate compliance with the true intent of the RFS to quality as an Advanced Biofuel and essentially do away with the narrowly focused cellulosic requirement.

Ultimately, the paper argues, while working within the framework of RFS2, all the benefits can be realized by simply removing the requirements for cellulosic biofuels and removing the cap on advanced biofuels from other feedstocks.

Click here to download Generation 1.5 Ethanol.

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, RFS

SuperShuttle Celebrates 75th Propane Shuttle

Joanna Schroeder

SuperShuttle celebrated the addition of its 75th propane autogas shuttle  in Phoenix, Arizona during the “Shuttling Arizona to a Cleaner Future” event. In attendance were area council members, Michael Johnson and Jim Waring; Valley of the Sun Clean Cities envoys; and industry representatives from the National Propane Gas Association and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The company has been using propane autogas shuttles with ROUSH CleanTech autogas engine fuel systems since 2009 and demonstrated during the event that propane is a clean, cost-effective alternative fuel. The event also featured a refueling demonstration and ride and drive.

“SuperShuttle is the largest national shared-ride organization in the U.S. Sharing rides is considered environmentally friendly, because combining rides reduces our carbon footprint and reduces the congestion on our roadways,” said Dave Bird, executive vice president of operations for SuperShuttle International. “It makes sense to step up our game with alternative fuels like propane, particularly in markets where air pollution is a major concern, such as Phoenix.”

During its lifecycle, each SuperShuttle propane autogas shuttle is estimated to release 175,000 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than it would have operating on gasoline. SuperShuttle, as a whole, will emit 13 million less pounds of carbon dioxide into the skies of Phoenix over the next five years using these 75 vehicles. Unit franchisees operating propane fueled shuttles are said to be saving an average of $200 per week or $10,400 per year.

Alternative energy, Propane

Delaware Offshore Wind Project Gets Green Light

Joanna Schroeder

The first lease for commercial wind energy development in federal waters has been given to an offshore wind energy project approximately 11 nautical miles off the coast of Delaware. This is the first lease awarded under the Department of Interior’s “Smart from the Start” program to ensure environmentally responsible offshore wind energy development along the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.

“Delaware has remarkable offshore wind potential, and harnessing this clean, domestic energy resource will create jobs, increase our energy security and strengthen our nation’s economic competitiveness,” said Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior. “The Administration has implemented a true all of the above approach to American energy, with renewable energy from sources like wind and solar doubling since the President took office, while at the same time domestic oil and gas production has increased each year, with domestic oil production currently higher than any time in almost a decade and domestic natural gas production at its highest level ever.”

The lease grants NRG Bluewater Wind Delaware LLC the exclusive right to submit one or more plans to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to conduct activities in support of wind energy development in the lease area. The company may submit a Site Assessment Plan (SAP) with a proposal to conduct site assessment activities, such as the installation of a meteorological tower or meteorological buoy, and/or submit a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to propose construction of the actual wind facility and cabling to shore.

“This lease is the result of many months of hard work and collaboration among BOEM, our Federal partners, the Delaware Renewable Energy Task Force, and other stakeholders,” said BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau. “I congratulate NRG Bluewater Wind and we look forward to their progress in standing up offshore wind energy generation under this lease.”

In its original project proposal, NRG Bluewater proposed a 450-megawatt project offshore Delaware, with estimates that the project could generate enough power to supply electricity for over 100,000 homes.  The lease area, composed of 11 full OCS blocks and 16 partial blocks, has been located to avoid interfering with current coastline activities including major shipping lanes into and out of Delaware Bay, a proposed vessel anchorage ground and a munitions disposal area.

Alternative energy, Clean Energy, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Wind