Growth Energy Launches Flex Fuel Finder at 2012 FEW

Jamie Johansen

Right after Growth Energy launched a new website featuring a Flex Fuel Finder application, I got to chat with Tom Buis, Growth Energy CEO, and Jeff Broin, Growth Energy Board Member and CEO of POET. They each expressed the positive impact RFS has had on the ethanol industry and the importance of keeping it implemented. Along that line they discussed what tools Growth Energy has put into place to educate the general consumer about E15 and Flex Fuel pumps.

Growth Energy launched a new user-friendly interface for EthanolRetailer.com, a website that seeks to outline the benefits of ethanol and the growing availability of Flex Fuel pumps. The website launch is part of Growth Energy’s new national campaign to increase awareness of E15.

The website is a comprehensive and easy to use resource for current and prospective ethanol retailers across the company, as well as consumers. It also features a Flex Fuel Finder application, which simplifies the process of locating ethanol blend pumps. The application is accessible from both the website and as a smartphone app, making it easier for Americans to locate cheaper, cleaner fuel while on the go.

Listen my interview with Tom Buis and Jeff Broin here: Interview with Growth Energy

2012 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, FEW, Growth Energy, POET

Bob Dinneen Gives Keynote Address at 2012 FEW

Jamie Johansen

During the opening session of the 28th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop, Bob Dinneen, President & CEO, Renewable Fuels Association, addressed producers. Bob highlighted the challenges facing the ethanol industry in the near future and also the importance of maximizing demands. Sporting a “Don’t Mess with the RFS,” button Bob stressed the importance of RFS and what he is doing in Washington, D.C. to keep it in place.

“There are marketplace challenges because margins are tight right now but those are temporary and this is a commodity market selling into a commodity market so that doubles the challenges today. But with the crop that is expected I think most of the people around this room are fairly optimistic that we will get through those.”

“You got to have a button, that’s what makes a campaign, but it also reflects the seriousness with which we take this. RFS has been a tremendous success. When the first Renewable Fuels Standard was enacted in 2005 we were 60% dependent on foreign oil and liquid transportation fuels and today we are 45% dependent. That is a consequence of the growth in ethanol, a result of Renewable Fuels Association and because the people in this room who produce ethanol day in and day out have been successful.”

Listen to my interview with Bob here: Interview with Bob Dinneen

Listen to Bob’s complete keynote address here: Bob Dinneen's Keynote Address

2012 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Audio, conferences, Ethanol, FEW, RFA

SunShot Initiative Summit Focuses on Solar

Joanna Schroeder

The solar industry will be the focus of the upcoming SunShot Initiative Summit and Technology Forum on June 13-14, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. Hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE), the forum aims to develop a plan to achieve grid-parity solar energy within the decade.  To promote development, the DOE is sponsoring a Grand Challenge series designed to address the scientific, technological, and market barriers to achieving breakthroughs in national energy challenges.

The SunShot Summit and Technology Forum will include sessions featuring industry leaders and Energy Secretary Steven Chu; offer discussions focused on key priorities and transformational ideas needed to achieve the SunShot goal of cost-competitive solar by the end of the decade; and offer a technology forum featuring exhibits from a wide range of SunShot partners and grant recipients, as well as Department of Energy National Laboratories.

Leading up to the SunShot Initiative Summit, Energy.gov is running a special series that shares personal success stories from across America’s growing solar workforce – from finance experts, to scientists, to engineers. According to the Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2011, more than 100,000 Americans are now employed in the solar industry. The kick-off, which took place yesterday, featured a solar industry slideshow, giving a look into the daily lives of the U.S. solar community at large.

conferences, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Embrace Ethanol This Summer

Joanna Schroeder

The summer driving season is in full swing and today there are more than nine million flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) on American roads according to the Department of Energy (DOE). But more vehicles than FFVs can benefit from savings at the pump provided by ethanol; E10 is available across the country and E15 is being rolled out with the Midwest in the lead. Today, there are approximately 3,000 flex fuel pumps across the U.S. with more scheduled to open throughout the next few years.

One retailer who has embraced ethanol is the Martin-Eagle Oil Company. President Stephen Martin said that his company recently opened five flex fuel pumps in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex and is planning on adding more. “We decided to install Flex Fuel pumps because there are thousands of FFVs in our surrounding cities that can fuel up. It has been a successful addition to our fuel lineup and continues to grow.”

Today the average family spends 8 perent of its household income for a nationwide total near $470 billion in 2011. As consumers look for ways to save at the pump, many are doing just this with ethanol.

“Americans are standing up against years and years of price gouging and financial abuse by the likes of foreign oil to embrace an affordable solution that is home-grown and distributed in communities across the U.S,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, an association that is working with retailers across the country to install flex fuel pumps.

Need some help finding ethanol near you? Look no further than EthanolRetailer.com, a website that features a Flex Fuel mapping tool along with a smartphone app for drivers. To promote the site, Growth Energy is encouraging Americans to embrace ethanol.

“This campaign comes at a critical time as Americans will soon be able to enjoy higher blends of ethanol fuels as the EPA recently approved provisions allowing E15 to be used in all vehicles made after 2001. Thanks to ethanol, fuel can and should be affordable for all motorists,” added Buis.

biofuels, E85, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Biofuels Take to the Skies in Brazil

Joanna Schroeder

Renewable jet fuel will be taking flight during the upcoming Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil on June 19, 2012. Azul Airlines, powered with renewable fuel produced from sugarcane by Amyris, has scheduled a demonstration flight on an Azul E195 aircraft powered by GE’s CF34-10E engines. The flight is being coined “Azul+Verde,” which means “a greener blue”.

Amyris’s renewable jet fuel offers lower greenhouse gas emissions including a reduction of carbon dioxide. The fuel is being developed to be compliant with Jet A/A-1 fuel specifications and should provide equal performance to traditional jet fuel. Sugarcane is a major crop in Brazil and supplies the biofuels industry with feedstock.

Additional flight plans will be released once the demonstration test is approved by Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel

REG to Open Biodiesel Terminal in New Mexico

Joanna Schroeder

New Mexico is set for biodiesel with the soon to open B100 biodiesel terminal in July. Once online, this will be the state’s largest biodiesel terminal, which is owned and operated by the Renewable Energy Group (REG), the country’s largest biodiesel producer. Product will be available from the Clovis, New Mexico facility in July.

“Renewable Energy Group believes this new terminal infrastructure demonstrates our commitment to offering our customers better access to biodiesel blending locations throughout the Southwest and West,” said REG President and CEO, Daniel J. Oh. “We intend to complete construction of REG Clovis as a biodiesel production site, the timing of which depends on a variety of factors. Using the location as a terminal is an important initial step in the process to meet local market demand.”

REG Clovis is set to produce 15 million gallons per year and is nearly 40 percent complete. The company is converting the site’s liquid storage and truck load-out into a wholesale terminal for REG-9000® branded biodiesel sales via truck and rail.

Biodiesel, biofuels, REG

Propel Fuels to Install 100 Flex Fuel E85 Stations

Joanna Schroeder

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded Propel Fuels a $10.1 million grant to install more than 100 Flex Fuel E85 stations over the next four years. This will more than double the number of E85 stations across the state that has nearly one million flex fuel vehicle drivers. The award is funded through the State of California’s AB 118 Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program and will aid in the state’s goal of moving toward more clean energy transportation fuels.

“With America’s largest base of alternative fuel-capable vehicles, California’s drivers are rapidly embracing new fuel choices,” said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels. “This funding will enable us to provide greater access to E85 in the state’s most underserved markets and provide a critical link to the next generation of low carbon fuels coming into production.”

Over the next four years with completion scheduled for 2016, more than 600 jobs will be created. Once complete, the use of E85 has the capacity to displace 145 million gallons of petroleum and 470,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

Propel is matching the grant with more than $24 million in private investment. The company will manage construction, operations and maintenance of the fueling structure that will exceed 200 Flex Fuel E85 stations by 2016.

“These awards support a diversity of alternative fuel and vehicle types, including biodiesel production, natural gas vehicle technologies and incentives, and E85 fueling stations, which together provide a crucial boost to the development of clean energy transportation in the state,” said Energy Commissioner Carla Peterman.

She concluded, “They will enable the deployment of more advanced technology vehicles on the roadways – and support the development of the fueling infrastructure needed to keep them rolling. Investing in these innovative projects will benefit all Californians by improving our air quality, creating jobs, and providing the diverse transportation options that we need today and in the future.”

biofuels, E85, Ethanol

Marco Andretti Pumps Ethanol Across Iowa Today

Fans of Marco Andretti, the 2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 winner, have the opportunity to meet him today (Mon., June 4) at E85 pump promotions across Iowa. Andretti will be pumping fuel and signing autographs with fans at the locations listed below. E85 will also be sold for 85 cents per gallon during the promotional times. Limit 30 gallons per customer.

Locations include:
Cedar Rapids- Kum & Go, 30 SW Four Oaks Drive,
from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Mason City- Kum & Go, 1920 Federal,
from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Sioux City- Kum & Go, 1925 South Lakeport, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Council Bluffs- Kum & Go, 4443 S. 84th St., from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The pay it forward statewide pump promotions are a way to celebrate the IZOD IndyCar shift to E85, a fuel that Iowans can find at more than 170 flex fuel pumps across the state. Plus, Iowa Corn is partnering with Marco Andretti and Andretti Autosport™ in advance of the 2012 Iowa Corn Indy 250 race that will be held on Saturday, June 23 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton.

“It’s an awesome track and an awesome event,” said Marco Andretti. “Last year, I started 17th and was able to work my way to the front, which was a lot of fun. This year, we have one goal at Iowa: win again. This time, we’ll do it with the Iowa Corn logo on the No. 26 RC Cola car.”

In 2012, the Series will be showcasing E-85 at top-notch speeds and at professional venues across the world.

E85, Ethanol, IA Corn Indy, Promotion, Racing

“Proud History, Bright Future” Theme for Ethanol Event

Joanna Schroeder

“Proud History, Bright Future” is the theme for the upcoming 25th annual ACE Ethanol Conference to be held August 8-10th in Omaha, Nebraska. The conference will cover topics such as an outlook on markets and policies that will impact ethanol plant profitability; the role octane and vehicle technology innovations will play for ethanol demand; an update on E15 implementation; product and technology process innovations at ethanol plants; an update on cellulosic and advanced ethanol technologies; and more.

“Our 25th anniversary conference will provide forward-looking previews on the policy and market development opportunities and challenges facing the U.S. ethanol industry,” said Brian Jennings, ACE’s executive vice president. “Ethanol producers are feeling the effects of the E10 blend wall; we are in the midst of introducing E15 to the market; and expectations are high for progress on the advanced and cellulosic ethanol front.”

Jennings said the conference is a mix of general sessions and breakout sessions and many of them will be very useful for ethanol plant board members and management. Session titles include:

  • ABC’s of E15
  • Quality Assurance for Distillers Grain
  • Fiduciary and Governance Responsibilities for Ethanol Plant Board Directors
  • Feedstock Quality and Its Impact on Profitability
  • Energy Market Price Outlook

Jennings added, “As we celebrate ACE’s 25th year, the conference will show how far we’ve come as an industry and how we as a grassroots organization are positioned to help the industry evolve, innovate, and succeed well into the future.”

Speakers will be announced soon. Click here for more information about the conference and to register.

ACE, advanced biofuels, biofuels, Cellulosic, conferences, Ethanol

LS9 Announces Grand Opening Ceremony

Joanna Schroeder

The Florida Opportunity Fund’s (FOF) Clean Energy Investment Program has awarded funds to LS9 to aid in the company’s grand opening plans for its biorefinery in Okeechobee, Florida. Earlier this year, FOF awarded LS9 $4.5 million to help fund the retrofit of their demonstration facility that when in operation will produce biodiesel and renewable chemical products. With the retrofit complete, the company will begin scaling up its technology to commercial production levels.

LS9 will be hosting a grand opening event on Tuesday, June 12th at its facility to showcase its technology and products. U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) will be on hand along with other notable persons and company representatives. The company anticipates production will begin this summer.

“LS9 has been working diligently to complete the retrofit of our Okeechobee facility, and we greatly appreciate the support of the Florida Opportunity Fund on this project,” said Ed Dineen, LS9 President and CEO. “We are honored to have the support of Congressman Rooney for our Grand Opening event and believe this facility can be a magnet for attracting other advanced agricultural and bio-product technologies to the state. Our Florida location is ideal as it allows for prime access to the feedstocks required to produce our renewable products.”

The company plans on producing biodiesel as its first product. In addition, the demonstration biorefinery will produce commercial samples for testing and product qualification by key partners and potential customers. The plant will also test and optimize new process conditions – all in preparation for commercial scale production.

Jennifer Dunham with Florida First Partners, the manager of the FOF Clean Energy Investment Program added, “The State of Florida recognizes the need for adoption of renewable energy products and remains committed to supporting companies, such as LS9, striving to produce these technologies.”

advanced biofuels, biochemicals, Biodiesel, biomaterials