Scholarships Offered for Students to Attend NEC

Joanna Schroeder

The Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is a great place to learn the ins and outs of the ethanol industry as well as network with key industry experts. That is why RFA is offering several scholarships for current college students interested in renewable fuels to attend the 2013 event. The awards will cover the cost of registration, a $775 value, making the cost free to select students.

“Educating America’s students about America’s domestically produced biofuels is an important step in working toward an oil dependent-free future,” said Mike Jerke, General Manager of Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company and Chairman of the Renewable Fuels Foundation. “We encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to get a foot in the door of an industry that is driving forward in production and technology, and helping to support our rural communities.”

With the scholarships covering registration, recipients will only be responsible for other costs associated with travel to/from the conference, including airfare, hotel and non-conference meals. Additional financial assistance to offset travel expenses may be available at the discretion of the RFF/RFA.

Interested students will be asked to explain in detail how this scholarship will assist them in achieving their academic and/or career goals in 500 words or less. Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation, a current resume and an official school transcript. This scholarship opportunity is open only to those students attending a U.S. institution of higher learning and enrolled in an approved ethanol-related program. All applications must be submitted by November 23, 2012. To download an application, please click here.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Report Shows Ethanol Industry Resilient

Joanna Schroeder

The 2011-2012 Biofuels Benchmarking report compiled by biofuels financial experts Christianson & Associates, PLLP (C&A) shows that despite the continual challenges facing the ethanol industry, it is doing well. The ethanol industry has shown resilience while implementing greener practices and production efficiencies even as margins tighten. The annual Biofuels Benchmarking report provides analysis of changes and trends for a broad cross-section of the ethanol industry over the most recent six quarters (January 2011-June 2012).

The information contained in the report is from actual production data gathered from ethanol plants throughout the U.S. and Canada who participate in the Biofuels Benchmarking program administered by C&A. During the past year some significant changes have taken place in the industry including the expiration of the “blenders credit” or VEETC.

John Christianson, principal partner at C&A, notes that although ethanol producers saw increasing challenges in 2012, the industry continues to mature and prosper. “By aggressively seeking out additional co-product revenue streams,” commented Christianson, “plants can continue to remain profitable despite leaner margins.”

The report contains an overall analysis of a variety of factors that contribute to plant efficiency and profit ability. It also highlights ethanol plant performance by geographic region and plant production capacity.

biofuels, Ethanol, Research

Ethanol Report on RFS Waiver Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastThe comment period on a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requested by several governors is underway and was recently extended by the Environmental Protection Agency. So, between now and October 11 is the time for all interested parties to be getting their comments in to EPA to have their voices heard on the issue.

In this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Bob Dinneen talks about why it is important for ethanol interests to make comments on the waiver request and why they still believe a waiver is unnecessary.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on RFS Waiver Comments

Subscribe to “The Ethanol Report” with this link.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA, RFS

It’s an iPhone World

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Do you plan to buy an iPhone 5?”

Our poll results: 20% said yes, upgrade my old iPhone; 4% said yes, get first iPhone; 24% said no, I’m Android; 32% said no, keep old iPhone; and 21% said they don’t want a smartphone.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Have high fuel prices had an impact on your farm/business?” We’ve seen fuel prices go up quite a bit lately so we want to know – is it impacting your daily farm/business? What do you think?

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

“Ethanol’s Lost Promise” Report Disputed

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol industry is disputing the conclusions of a report titled “Ethanol’s Lost Promise” released this week by EPRINC, an oil industry-funded research group.

The report suggests a multi-year suspension of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) could reduce U.S. ethanol use by more than half. To offset this loss in ethanol supplies, officials with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) note that the report recommend “a variety of economically impractical and politically infeasible options could be pursued—ranging from ramping up gasoline imports to reducing diesel fuel and heating oil production in an attempt to extract more gasoline from crude oil.”

RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen pointed out that in attempting to tear down the RFS, the EPRINC report actually underscores the importance of the program and highlights the lack of sensible or economic options available to refiners if ethanol use is severely curtailed.

“If you do away with the RFS over the long term and less ethanol is available, as EPRINC is suggesting, you leave a gaping hole in the gasoline supply,” said Dinneen. “The options available to fill that hole just don’t make economic sense and would further increase fuel prices for consumers. Ironically, the EPRINC report actually underscores why the RFS is so important; it highlights the fact that cutting ethanol out of our gasoline supply would result in increased dependence on imported oil and refined products, or would force refiners to make a choice between maximizing gasoline or diesel production. Consumers lose in either case. Clearly, the best option is not to tinker with the RFS and let it continue to work as intended.”

Both Dinneen and Brent Erickson of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) point to multiple flaws in the EPRINC study. “Not least of which is the fact that EPA’s authority allows only a one-year waiver of the RFS,” said Erickson. “Moreover, the study assumes a scenario in which the petroleum refining industry circumvents the law’s intent to increase domestic production and use of renewable fuels by gaming the RFS’ system of Renewable Identification Numbers.”

Dinneen says there are internal inconsistencies regarding the report’s characterization of the flexibility of the RFS. On one hand, the report states that the RFS has “created inelastic demand for ethanol,” but then on the other hand, it acknowledges that ethanol production has plummeted by about 15% since the beginning of the year “…as high corn prices have caused many ethanol producers to idle production.”

Read the EPRINC report here.

BIO, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Promoting Ethanol at Chicagoland Speedway

Chuck Zimmerman

The President of the Chicagoland Speedway believes that Illinois Farmers and American Ethanol have been great partners for NASCAR.

“NASCAR’s a great platform for them to get their important message out there about the role that farmers play in our overall well being,” said Scott Paddock during an interview at Saturday’s Dollar General 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. “And also the value of American ethanol and that blend. If it’s good enough for the world’s best stock car drivers, it’s certainly good enough for American consumers,” Paddock added, noting that ethanol is a cleaner burning fuel and helps the country be less dependent on foreign oil.

The Chicagoland race featured an Illinois Family Farmers exhibit in Champions Park outside the track that featured lots of information about agriculture, corn and ethanol, as well as a farm equipment display by New Holland, the Official Agricultural Equipment of NASCAR®.

Listen to an interview with Scott here: Interview with Scott Paddock

2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR

Diatoms Could Lead to Biofuel Breakthrough

Joanna Schroeder

Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) are looking back to life during the dinosaur age and studying the role diatoms could play in algae-based biofuel production. Diatoms are tiny marine pre-historic life forms and can simultaneously produce biofuels as well as semiconductors, biomedical products and health foods. The technology has moved out of a science fiction movie and landed in a fast-paced drama, and with the help of a $2 million, four-year grant from the National Science Foundation, hopefully will become an everyday reality.

Researchers believe, in theory, that the microscopic algae will be able to utilize some of the most abundant and affordable materials on Earth, such as silicon and nitrates, add a bit of sunshine, a few drops of water and carbon dioxide and you have the recipe for affordable products. Using a similar concept as the “biorefinery, this process is called the “photosynthetic biorefinery.”

“This NSF program is intended to support long-range concepts for a sustainable future, but in fact we’re demonstrating much of the science behind these technologies right now,” said Greg Rorrer, an OSU professor and head of the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering. Rorrer has studied the remarkable power of diatoms for more than a decade.

Rorrer continued, “We have shown how diatoms can be used to produce semiconductor materials, chitin fibers for biomedical applications, or the lipids needed to make biofuels. We believe that we can produce all of these products in one facility at the same time and move easily from one product to the other.”

While researchers already know that biofuels and other products can be made from algae, often times the cost is prohibitive. OSU researchers believe that this process could significantly reduce cost allowing biofuels to make more economic sense. As part of the work at OSU, researchers plan to develop mathematical models so that various options can be tested and computers used to perfect the technology before actually building it.

“Regular algae don’t make everything that diatoms can make,” Rorrer added. “This is the only organism we know of that can create organized structures at the nano-level and naturally produce such high-value products. With the right components, they will make what you want them to make.”

advanced biofuels, algae, Research

FuelMule Helps Expand Natural Gas Vehicles

Joanna Schroeder

Natural gas vehicles took the stage as part of both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. It is in the news again today with the launch of the FuelMule, a mobile fast-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station. Developed by Gas Technology Institute (GTI), the station allows fleets fueling capability at their home base, or anywhere, without the need to build a fueling station.  GTI worked with Ultimate CNG to bring the technology to the marketplace.

Tony Lindsay, R&D Director at GTI said, “This technology helps to overcome the capital investment issues associated with building new fueling infrastructure. In the past, there haven’t been enough NGVs to justify the high investment in building many fueling stations, and there are too few stations to allow widespread growth and adoption of NGVs in various fleets. This new innovation can work to balance things out with its ability to bring fueling capability to where it’s most needed.”

In Tampa, NGV buses transported convention participants to several hotels and local attractions. Peoples Gas partnered with Ultimate CNG to provide CNG fuel for the buses. A better showcase of the technology, though, may be that the NGV buses were driven 1,372 miles from Janesville, Wisconsin to Tampa, Florida without one single fuel stop. When the buses then headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, Piedmont Natural Gas Company keep the buses rolling.

“With FuelMule CNG fueling services, no longer must fleets choose between the convenience of diesel and clean natural gas. They can have access to CNG with no capital investment required and no fueling infrastructure maintenance,” said Dennis Pick, President of Ultimate CNG.

According to GTI, CNG fuel costs about $1.69 less per gallon equivalent compared to diesel.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Natural Gas

Eisenhower Corporate Campus Goes Solar

Joanna Schroeder

The Eastman Companies’ Eisenhower Corporate Campus in Livingston, NJ has flipped the switch on a 500 kW solar PV system. New Jersey is one of the leading states for solar installations. A portion of the solar system, 68kW, was installed on a hillside near the campus allowing those passing by to see the solar array. The solar system is just one aspect of the company’s sustainability initiatives.

The project was funded by a power purchase agreement (PPA) through Smart Energy Capital and was designed and installed by RGS Energy, a division of Real Goods Solar. A portion of the system is owned by Hudson Energy Solar who will also operate the system.

“As an Energy Star partner and a U.S. green building council member, this solar installation is the latest improvement undertaken by Eastman Companies as part of its ongoing commitment to going green,” said Peter E. Schofel, President of Eastman Companies. “Eighty percent of our improvements have been installed following LEED guidelines, and this complex is a LEED candidate.”

Abe Grohman, Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Energy Solar, added, “The Eastman commitment to solar power will help to significantly lower CO2 emissions over the course of 25 years, which is equivalent to planting over 10,000 trees, and reducing the consumption of 47,813 gallons of gasoline each year.”

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Linn Co-op is Iowa’s First Retailer to Offer E15

Cindy Zimmerman

History was made today when the first gallon of E15 was sold in Iowa. Linn Co-op Oil Company in Marion is the state’s first retailer to give customers with 2001 or newer vehicles the choice of filling up with 15% ethanol blended fuel.

“We are honored to be Iowa’s first retailer to offer E15 to our customers who have been asking for it,” said Jim Becthold, Service Manager for Linn Co-op Oil Company. “We anticipate that E15 could account for up to 50 percent of our total fuel sales.” Bechtold wanted to offer the fuel when it first received final approval from EPA in June, but was unable to do so until now because of EPA’s summer volatility standards that prevented him from being able to get the proper blendstock to use.

As part of the introduction of E15, Linn Co-op will hold an open house this Friday, September 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. E15 will be discounted 15 cents per gallon during the open house. To introduce E15 to Marion residents, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), Iowa Corn Growers and the Iowa Power Fund Community Grant Program are sponsoring a media campaign that includes radio and print ads, billboards and direct mail. The campaign will run throughout September.

IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton says this type of campaign is available to any Iowa retailer who wants to offer E15 for 2001 and newer vehicle owners, noted Norton. Retailers preparing to offer E15 in the future are urged to contact the IRFA for promotional assistance.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA