NEC 2027

Strides Made in Converting Cassava to Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

TMO Renewables has announced they are making headway with producing pilot scale levels of ethanol from cassava stalk. The company is working with several Chinese fuel and food producers. TMO estimates that they will be able to produce a gallon of ethanol for less than two dollars, an important step for commercialization of fuels using advanced feedstocks.

The company has developed a technology platform that can break down a large number of different types of biomass into cellulosic ethanol. The per gallon prices are nearing a point of competitiveness, TMO says, due to their ability to reduce costs through savings in maintenance, production time and capital expenditures. They have also been able to reduce costs through enzyme loadings. When using cassava stalk, TMO is predicting their conversion process will yield 70 to 80 gallons of ethanol per ton of feedstock.

“The total global capacity for 2G biofuels should reach more than 4 billion gallons by 2015,” said Pavel Molchanov, energy analyst at Raymond James. “Crucial to even greater production of cellulosic ethanol is the availability of diverse feedstock options, and cassava stalk can play an important role in the Asian market.”

TMO’s bread and butter partners have been the Chinese who developed the first industrial-scale biorefinery using cassava.  TMO is currently finalizing its process design at its demonstration facility. Once achieved, the company will begin moving forward with plans to expand to commercial scale production.

advanced biofuels, Ethanol

Domestic Energy Tax Credits on Congress “To Do” List

Cindy Zimmerman

President Obama made up a “to-do list” for Congress during a stop in Albany, New York yesterday that includes renewing tax incentives for the development of new domestic energy sources.

At a speech to students at the State University of New York, the president said if Congress fails to act soon, clean energy companies will see their taxes go up and they could be forced to lay off employees. “In fact, we’re already hearing from folks who produce wind turbines and solar panels and a lot of this green energy that they’re getting worried because there’s uncertainty out there,” he said. “Congress hasn’t renewed some of the tax breaks that are so important to this industry. And since I know that the other side in Congress have promised they’ll never raise taxes as long as they live, this is a good time to keep that promise when it comes to businesses that are putting Americans to work and helping break our dependence on foreign oil. So we should extend these tax credits. That’s on the “To-Do” list.”

The Advanced Ethanol Council applauds President Obama’s remarks. “The President is right to ask for an extension of existing clean energy tax incentives, including those for cellulosic and advanced ethanol technologies, which level the playing field for clean energy investments in the face of decades-old and permanent tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry. The country will not win the race to develop and deploy clean energy technologies if the U.S. tax code continues to favor incumbents over innovators. We look forward to working with the White House and Congress to ensure that America emerges as the world leader in clean energy and biofuel development.”

advanced biofuels, AEC, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Solar, Wind

Develop Relationship With Your Local Reporters

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should raw milk be allowed for sale?” The question was prompted by one of the panelists at the 2012 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit. She is a reporter with a food safety publication who says that this issue is the one that gets the most comments and response of any other. This question generated the most comments of any ZimmPoll to date so I understand what she was saying. Actually, most comments wanted a 4th response option to allow the sale of raw milk but with sufficient regulation and testing to ensure it is safe. I saw the comments too late to make that change so I don’t know if these results would have been different. So the answer, Absolutely with no regulation received 66%; On a very limited and regulated basis received 20% and Definitely not, too many health concerns received 14%. Surprised? I’m thinking that we not only have a lot of raw milk lovers in the ZimmComm News Network community but they are very active at getting others to vote! This poll also had one of the highest number of responses we’ve had so far. Why do you think that is?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “When was the last time you talked to a journalist about agriculture?” The question is inspired by last night’s AgChat Twitter conversation and a question that had been submitted by @BASFAgro! We’re supposed to stand up for our industry and livelihoods that are threatened by lots of misinformation that gets spread by the media. Just consider how corn ethanol is portrayed so often in the media as an example. What are we doing about it? How are we speaking out? This need is why Domestic Fuel was started originally. Are we willing to develop a relationship with the reporters at our local mainstream media outlets (newspaper/radio/tv/web)? More questions I know but there is a lot we can all do to help educate the ultimate consumers of the products we produce. Keep it up. It does make a difference!

Let your friends and neighbors know they can participate by sharing this link.

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

ZimmPoll

Corn Utilization Agenda Includes Biofuels and Refineries

Cindy Zimmerman

Since it is an even-numbered year, that means the National Corn Growers Association’s Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) will be held this year.

cutcThe 2012 CUTC agenda features cutting-edge technologies and new uses that are positioned change the corn industry. Among the session topics is Advance Biofuels, which will highlight some of the most recent research on advanced biofuels. Speakers will cover thermochemical and biochemical and biomimetic routes to the pretreatment and hydrolysis of lignocellulosics (such as corn fiber hulls, corn stover, etc.) to produce sugar and phenolic monomers that can be further upgraded to synthetic fuels, bioethanol, and/or chemicals.

Technical sessions will also focus on the future of Biorefineries, which will be critical in replacing products that have traditionally been produced using fossil fuels. Recent technical and engineering advances in the production of renewable fuels and bio-based chemicals will be discussed as well as the development of next generation biofuels such as Biobutanol.

“We are proud of CUTC’s position as the premier corn technology conference in the United States and of the many learning opportunities that we will offer,” said NCGA Research and Business Development Action Team Chair DeVonna Zeug. “But the conference offers much more including incredibly important networking opportunities. By exchanging ideas with people who have common interests, we create the hybrid of new technology and new ideas.”

Registration is now open for CUTC, which will be held this year at the Westin Indianapolis in downtown Indianapolis, Ind., June 4-6.

advanced biofuels, corn, CUTC, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, Research

Corn Progress Running Ahead of Normal

Cindy Zimmerman

Nationwide, over 70% of the corn crop is planted now, well ahead of the less than half average for this time of year, according to the latest report from USDA.

“In spite of the wettest weather of the spring, producers in the Midwest still managed to plant a significant acreage of corn and soybeans” last week, says USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey. “Corn emergence was greatly benefited by the rain and continuing warm weather.” Nearly a third of the crop is emerged nationwide, compared to the average of 13%. Last year, just six percent was emerged by this time.

All of the major corn-growing states are well ahead of average in both planting and emergence. Illinois, Indiana and Missouri all have more than 80% planted and over half emerged already. Iowa has caught up and surpassed the average for the state and progress now stands at 64%, compared to the five year average of 58%. Emergence of 23% in Iowa is more than twice the normal pace for this time of year. Only Texas remains behind the average, with 75% planted compared to 80% normal. Emergence-wise, three states are behind schedule – Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, along with Texas.

“What growers optimistically viewed as a potentially optimal planting season has become a reality in many areas,” said National Corn Growers Association President Garry Niemeyer. “Conditions could still change, but either way, farmers will meet the challenge and produce an affordable, abundant supply of corn.”

This Thursday, the USDA will release the first estimate of the 2012 corn supply and demand and there is speculation that it may include adjustments to the estimate of U.S. carry-out stocks as well as including the first USDA projection of the 2012-2013 U.S. corn crop.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Ethanol Blend Wall Still There

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol blend wall is still a reality for the industry, according to the chief economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“For the time being, I think we are at a blend wall and it’s a pretty hard wall,” said USDA’s Joe Glauber during a recent gathering of farm broadcasters in Washington DC. Glauber says the general feeling now is that the blend wall is about 13.5 billion gallons. “What gets produced in excess of that has to go out through the export market,” he said. “Last year we had a spectacular year, exporting more than a billion gallons, but most people think that won’t happen this year.” He expects Brazil in particular will not import as much ethanol this year.

While the industry is moving steadily toward the 15 billion gallon corn ethanol cap under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2), Glauber says right now the market is steady at about 10 percent of ethanol blended fuel and getting E15 in the marketplace is moving slowly toward reality. “But you still have the underlying economics of whether or not a gas station is going to change over equipment to be able to sell E15,” he said. “The likely thing would be so-called blender pumps, which are expensive propositions.”

The expense of putting in blender pumps for stations can be offset by numerous federal, state and industry programs that offer grants and incentives to stations, but the oil companies are still putting up walls to discourage station owners from doing so. Last week, the American Petroleum Institute (API) proclaimed that EPA approval of E15 poses “serious safety and environmental concerns for consumers” because “an estimated half of all gasoline station equipment is not compatible with E15.”

Listen to Glauber’s comments here: USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber

While there are some legitimate concerns with infrastructure, the industry is actively working with all stakeholders to address any safety issues regarding E15. “The nation didn’t have the infrastructure in place for a transcontinental railroad, but that didn’t stop us from moving forward because it was in the best interest of the nation. The same is true with America’s fueling infrastructure,” said Matt Hartwig with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). “Because some upgrades may be needed is no reason to accept the status quo as the best we can do.”

RFA has a website dedicated to E15 information (www.E15fuel.org), a misfueling mitigation plan to help retailers avoid confusion, and an E15 Retailer Handbook for gas station owners seeking to offer E15.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, USDA

NCGA Ethanol Rocks Video Contest

Chuck Zimmerman

A little ethanol on the rocks kind of rocks my world sometimes. But Ethanol Rocks is actually a National Corn Growers Association video contest :).

NCGA is conducting a nationwide competition to promote the advantages of ethanol in motor vehicles. The NCGA “Ethanol Rocks” Video Contest invites high school and college students to produce a promotional video that highlights the benefits of this fuel. NCGA acknowledges the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association for sharing its success with the “Fuel the Future” video competition.

Eligibility

Active high school (grades 9-12) and college students, individually or collectively, are eligible to submit entries. One $1,500 first place award and one $500 second place award will be issued in both the high school and the college level categories. Each award will be issued as one lump-sum payment, i.e., no multiple distributions of winnings. Students from all scholastic backgrounds/majors are eligible to enter, individually or through organizations, e.g., A/V classes, Ag Clubs, FFA, Science Clubs, Art Classes. Appropriate tax on the awards will be the responsibility of the winners.

Get more information here and entry form/rules here.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Solar Thermal Gains Momentum

Joanna Schroeder

When many of us think of solar energy the first thing that comes to mind is a solar panel. But there are other solar technologies that can generate renewable energy. Solar thermal hot water and space heating systems are gaining in popularity here in the U.S. and have already become widespread in countries such as China. A solar thermal system uses the sun to directly heat water and air that circulates in their processess, buildings, offices and homes.

“Business owners are sometimes concerned that solar thermal may not provide enough energy for their needs,” said Nigel Cotton, OEM Team Leader for the International Copper Association and founder of Solarthermalworld.org. “But there are many ways to combine solar thermal with other types of renewable energy that will allow it to provide more energy while continuing to refrain from adding carbon emissions to the environment.”

One way to stretch the sun further is to combine solar thermal with geothermal pumps.  Geothermal heat pumps bring heat up from under the ground to combine with the heat of the solar thermal system.  In addition, the geothermal exchanger can serve as a storage tank for excess heat from the solar thermal system. These kinds of innovations in solar thermal systems can be used in settings where hot water is either essential or secondary to the operations of the organization or home.

The technology is already being tested successfully at Brown University located in Providence, Rhode Island.  They are testing a hybrid system of solar thermal and PV to provide heat for the building and hot water for its swimming pool.  Combining the two energy sources have helped each successful technology become even more powerful.

Cotton added, “Solar thermal is an extremely versatile technology. Combination systems are the next step in the application of solar thermal as a leading renewable energy technology.”

Electricity, Energy, Geothermal, Solar

EnergyTrends 2012 Renewable Energy Grades

Joanna Schroeder

Did you know that California, Colorado and Massachusetts are the top three states in the U.S. for renewable energy? You can learn all this and more from a new data analysis by EnergyTrends.org, a project of Lexington Institute. The organization has assigned grades to each U.S. state based on its use and development of renewable energy.

The grading system considers both the amount of energy generated from renewable sources as well as the growth rate over a three-year period. It also takes into account savings achieved in electricity use, renewable energy state incentive programs and other factors. States were given extra bonus points for grid-connected renewable installations, dynamic pricing for power utility consumers and integrated of electric vehicles.

“Renewable energy is really still in its infancy here in the United States,” said Lexington Executive Vice President Don Soifer. “So we felt it essential to grade based on a growth model, with plenty of room to reflect future improvements in the integration of renewable. We worked to create a new resource that will be useful for everyone from schools to elected officials to keep track of their state’s critical patterns for energy consumption and generation.”

The scoring is based on data from 2003-2010, the most recent year for which confirmed information is available. Resources included the Department of Energy as well as other state-specific energy information. Data used also included per-capita consumption of energy from various fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and gasoline, as well as renewable sources. All states are ranked in each category, along with indicators for important trends and summaries of important recent developments.

So what grade does my current state, Iowa, receive? A “C”.  It looks like Iowa has some work to do….

bioenergy, Education, Energy

Growth Energy Announces New Communications Team

Joanna Schroeder

Two new team members have been added to Growth Energy’s communications team. Michael Frohlich joins Growth Energy as its new press secretary and will serve as the primary spokesperson and media contact for the organization. Michael Lewan joins the organization as its new public affairs associate and will be responsible for general outreach and strategic communication initiatives. Together, the two bring multiple years of communications experience to the organization.

“We are thrilled to have these two talented communicators join our growing team,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Both will provide valuable services to our membership’s needs and our overall operations, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a strong sense of understanding of our industry and a commitment to achieving our goals. They both are great additions to the Growth Energy team.”

Frohlich and Lewan will join a team focused on working with media and other key audiences to create awareness and educate the public about the benefits of ethanol.

Company Announcement, Ethanol, Growth Energy