Ethanol Part of New Mike Rowe Series

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol has a role to play a new series on the Discovery Channel hosted by Mike “Dirty Jobs” Rowe.

The three-part series is called “How Booze Built America” and it premiers this Wednesday evening September 19th at 10pm ET/PT, repeating at the same day and time for the following two weeks. The series examines the critical role alcohol has played in our nation’s history, according to a Discovery Channel press release:

Did you know that the Puritans landed the Mayflower early on Plymouth Rock… because they ran out of beer? Or that Johnny Appleseed was actually creating farms to sell hard apple cider? Mike Rowe does, and he’ll walk you through all of this and more. He’s proven that Dirty Jobs can be fun. He’s ready to do the same for history.

In HOW BOOZE BUILT AMERICA, Mike Rowe will crisscross the country, stiff drink in hand and beer goggles firmly strapped on, to take an in depth and slightly unusual look at the story of our nation. Between reenactments of actual historical events, and current day interviews with historians and experts, Rowe will make the case that alcohol is clearly one of the key ingredients that formed our culture and our country.

In one of the series’ promos on the Discovery Channel, Rowe takes a look at “Energetic Ethanol.” Watch it below:

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Video

Offshore Wind Part of Europe’s Blue Growth

Joanna Schroeder

The European Commission is looking at the marine and maritime industry to help Europe’s economic recovery. The European Commission has released its ‘Blue Growth‘ strategy and included in areas of growth is the offshore wind energy industry.

The European Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is predicting the offshore wind energy industry will have a five-fold increase in offshore wind jobs within the decade. In support of this, ‘Blue Growth’ includes offshore wind as a key element of current and future economic growth. The industry contributes to Europe’s competitiveness while also benefiting other industrial sectors such as the manufacturers of the wind turbines and its components.

“EWEA has estimated 35,000 people were employed in jobs related to the offshore wind sector in 2010,” said Anne-Bénédicte Genachte, EWEA’s regulatory affairs advisor for offshore wind, “and this will increase to 170,000 by 2020. EWEA welcomes the Commission’s strategy for the maritime sector and hopes concrete policy initiatives will follow. More specifically, EWEA looks forward to the legislative proposal on Maritime Spatial Planning the Commission should publish soon. Maritime Spatial Planning is key to Blue Growth and should not be further delayed.”

EWEA says to achieve the industry’s expected growth the offshore wind sector requires a policy framework that provides long term regulatory certainty.

Electricity, Energy, Wind

Don’t Miss Advanced Biofuels Markets

Joanna Schroeder

Today is the last day to register for the Advanced Biofuels Markets conference at the discounted rate in San Francisco taking place on October 29-31, 2012. There are more than 30 CEOs of advanced biofuels companies from around the world scheduled to speak. The focus will be on how to scale up to commercial production levels while tapping into the multi-billion dollar oil market.

Topics of discussion include scaling from pilot to commercial level, how to secure investments, how to identify strategic partnerships, how to improve feedstock economics and the logistics of integrated supply chain delivery networks.

Here is a sampling of speakers:

  • Fred Cannon, President and Chief Executive Officer, KiOR
  • Patrick R. Gruber, Chief Executive Officer, Gevo
  • Jonathan Wolfson, Chief Executive Officer, Solazyme
  • Guido Ghisolfi, Chief Executive Officer, Beta Renewables
  • Daniel J Oh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Energy Group
  • John Nichols, President and Chief Executive Officer, Codexis
  • Philippe Lavielle, Chief Executive Officer, Virdia
  • Ed Dineen, Chief Executive Officer, LS9
  • Richard Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer, Ceres
  • Dan Simon, Chief Executive Officer, Heliae  
  • Tom Buis, Chief Executive Officer, Growth Energy
Click here to get more information and to register.
advanced biofuels, conferences

Vilsack Tours AGP Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

AGP Biodiesel based in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, hosted Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack last week who is highlighting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) action to increase the biodiesel amount required in 2013 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS was established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and specifies a one billion gallon minimum volume requirement for biomass-based diesel. Next year the volume will increase to 1.28 billion gallons. Biodiesel is the first and only biomass-based diesel considered an advanced biofuel under RFS.

“President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy plan is working – today, we are importing less foreign oil than we have in nearly two decades and we are creating jobs by producing more of our energy here at home,” said Vilsack. “A key part of the President’s strategy is the development and promotion of biofuels and bio-based products, which are helping us fuel our cars and trucks and displacing petroleum used in the manufacturing of household products. Over the past three years, we have doubled generation from renewable energy and today’s announcement by EPA will ensure that we are continuing to utilize biodiesel to help meet our energy needs, create jobs and strengthen the rural economy.”

In March 2011, the Obama Administration released its “Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future,” laying out an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy plan to reduce the need for foreign sources of oil while also increasing energy efficiency and reducing the impact on the environment. Since Obama took office, domestic oil and gas production has increased each year and renewable energy generation from wind, solar, and geothermal has doubled.

Another Obama initiative is to create new and expanded markets for U.S. grown and manufactured agricultural products. Since August 2011, the White House Rural Council has supported a broad spectrum of rural initiatives including a Presidential Memorandum to create jobs in rural America through biobased and sustainable product procurement, a $350 million commitment in small business (SBA) funding to rural small businesses over the next 5 years, launching a series of conferences to connect investors with rural start-ups, and creating capital marketing teams to pitch federal funding opportunities to private investors.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, RFS

NEC Moves to New Date

Joanna Schroeder

The 18th Annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC): Driving Forward is moving to a new date – February 5-7, 2013 at the Wynn in Las Vegas. The conference will cover key, timely issues within the ethanol industry including regulatory, marketing and policy issues. Experts will speak to the current market situation. In addition, a key focus will be on how the ethanol industry can continue to grow through innovation, new technologies and feedstocks, and developing more diverse and global markets.

You can get more information about NEC online. Registration is also open.

biofuels, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

American Ethanol Car Driver Austin Dillon

Chuck Zimmerman

This morning at Chicagoland Speedway the driver of the American Ethanol car, Austin Dillon, paid a visit to the Family Farmers exhibit in Champions Park outside the track. He made some remarks to the people who had gathered around to see him before signing autographs.

I was able to get a moment with Austin. He says he’s always excited to come to the midwestern tracks in the heart of corn country where a majority of the feedstock that’s making the Sunoco Green E15 he’s racing on is grown. He’s glad that corn growers can come out to see him race and have a good time at the track.

Listen to my interview with Austin here: Interview with Austin Dillon

Listen to Austin’s remarks to the crowd here: Austin Dillon Remarks

I just updated my photos from here at the track and you can find them here: 2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

American Ethanol, Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, NASCAR

AWEA Wants New 2030 Renewable Energy Target

Joanna Schroeder

Several Ministers met earlier this week at an informal Energy Council meeting in Nicosia. In response, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) warned that their credibility was at risk if they debated future renewable energy policy without considering a new 2030 European Union (EU) Renewable Energy target. The discussion was not on the group’s agenda.

“There is no point debating future renewable energy policy without discussing a 2030 target,” warned Stephane Bourgeois, Head of Regulatory Affairs at EWEA in Brussels. “It makes no sense to ignore the one policy that has worked most successfully up to now. Ministers should recognise the benefits of such a target.”

The European Commission has released information about its Renewable Energy Strategy. The accompanying impact assessment was believed to support a 2030 Renewable energy target. This, the strategy outlined, would create more economic activity, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and create more innovation and competition across the European technology sector.

Bourgeois added, “an EU renewables policy cannot be based only on emission reductions and decarbonisation, as some ministers might wish. Only by enabling investment in renewables can the EU cut the cost of fuel imports and be sure to create European jobs.”

Energy, International, Wind

NASCAR Race Weekend in Chicago

Chuck Zimmerman

At the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council® meeting in Chicago, New Holland became the Official Agricultural Equipment of NASCAR®. Here’s New Holland on display outside of Chicagoland Speedway for this weekend’s NASCAR races. I’ll be covering the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300. In fact, I’m out at the track working with Illinois Family Farmers and the Illinois Corn Growers. You know these cars will be racing on Sunoco Green E15, a 15-percent ethanol blend fuel made with corn grown in the United States!

New Holland, the latest NASCAR Official Partner, has served the needs of farmers and ranchers across North America for more than 110 years, and its equipment plays a critical role in the production of ethanol.

“We are proud of our newly expanded alliance with NASCAR and the role our equipment plays in helping power the sport,” said Abe Hughes, vice president of New Holland, North America. “We are the agricultural industry’s Clean Energy Leader, and are looking forward to further enhancing our 30-year relationship with a sport that is pushing the bar on clean and efficient fuel that is not only helping to restore America’s energy independence, but also serves to strengthen American farmers and the rural economy. New Holland stands 100% behind this impact.”

While I was out at the track yesterday I ran into Mark Schneidewind, farmer and manager of Will County Farm Bureau. He was helping set up the exhibit area for Illinois Family farmers. Listen to my interview with Mark to get a preview of the action for race fans when they come out to the track: Interview with Mark Schneidewind

I’ll be taking photos through tomorrow’s Dollar General 300 race and you can find them here: 2012 NASCAR Dollar General 300 Race Photos

Agribusiness, Audio, biofuels, NASCAR, New Holland

Biodiesel Requirement in RFS Increases

Joanna Schroeder

The Obama Administration has announced that there will be an increase in the biodiesel volume requirement for next year under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision was released today in a draft proposal that would increase the requirement for biomass-based diesel to 1.28 billion gallons. This represents a modest increase from the industry’s record production last year of nearly 1.1 billion gallons and puts the industry on course for steady, sustainable growth in the coming years.

“This was an incredibly important decision, and the Obama Administration got it right,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), the industry trade association. “It will allow biodiesel plants across the country to invest and expand, creating thousands of jobs. At the same time, it sends a strong signal that the U.S. is standing firm behind its commitment to producing clean, American-made energy to strengthen our energy security and break our dependence on petroleum.”

According to a recent economic study, the 2013 volume increase will support more than 10,000 new jobs. Already, the industry supports more than 39,000 jobs, with plants in nearly every U.S. state with Iowa leading the pack.

Biodiesel is the first and only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel being produced on a commercial scale across the country. The “advanced biofuel” designation means that the fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent as compared to traditional fuels. The EPA estimates that biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 57 percent to 86 percent depending on the feedstock and production technology.

“We applaud President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for supporting an ‘all of the above’ energy approach. We also want to thank Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for his strong advocacy,” added Jobe. “This decision will continue to diversify our fuel supplies so that we’re not so vulnerable to global petroleum markets and this endless cycle of price spikes. The Renewable Fuel Standard is clearly working to do that, and the benefits of doing so are clear: We’ll continue to create good jobs, expand our economy and reduce harmful emissions. It’s just smart energy policy.”

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, NBB, RFS

Ag Energy Coalition Urges Passage of Farm Bill

Joanna Schroeder

The 2012 Farm Bill has been big news this week as the agricultural industry, along with dozens of other groups, call for Congress to pass the bill before it sunsets on September 30, 2012.  Earlier this week the Farm Bill Now coalition held a rally in Washington, D.C. that included participation of all Iowa legislators.  The Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) participated in the rally calling on Congress to pass the five-year Farm Bill that includes mandatory funding for a strong Energy Title.

To date, the Senate has passed a version of the bill and the House Agriculture Committee has also passed its a version of the Bill. Yet Congress is not taking action. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) participated in the Farm Bill Now rally urging Congress to pass the 2012 Farm Bill.

Lloyd Ritter, co-director of the AgEC, said, “Both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have worked hard this year to move forward with fiscally responsible Farm Bills, and final passage is within reach. Passage of a five-year Farm Bill will provide necessary economic stability and confidence to agricultural producers and rural communities across the country. Inclusion of a strong Energy Title with mandatory funding will increase the economic opportunities in those rural communities.”

Ritter continued, “Farm Bill energy programs have helped the renewable energy industry create thousands of jobs across the country in rural communities where they are very much needed. They have also helped farmers put more than 160,000 acres of underutilized farmland across 12 states back into production. And they have helped hundreds of new American businesses generate 100,000 jobs producing home-grown biobased products. These effective programs are a vital part of the overall Farm Bill.”

Agribusiness, biofuels, Energy, farm bill