Former Speaker of House on Energy Policy

Cindy Zimmerman

The 59th Speaker of the House, who played an active role in the development of current energy policy, spoke about leadership and the importance of the nation’s energy security during an appearance at the GROWMARK, FS System “Gold Rush” event in East Peoria, Illinois to introduce re-formulated Dieselex Gold.

Dennis Hastert, a native of Illinois, told the group that growing up on a farm taught him the responsibility and leadership that helped serve him well in public life. He spoke of being an “accidental Speaker” and becoming a “war-time Speaker” after 9/11.

When asked by a member of the audience about energy policy, Hastert was adamant about the importance of renewable fuels and ethanol in particular. “We need to use ethanol,” he said. “I fought for ethanol from the time that I was in Congress for 15 years and finally got through the Ways and Means Committee along with a guy named Nussle from Iowa and we got ethanol with the tax credits so it could be a viable product. If we sit back and don’t do anything about it, we’re going to lose it.”

Listen to Speaker Hastert’s address to the FS Gold Rush event: Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert

I also had the opportunity to interview Hastert after his address about his comments, energy and farm policy. Listen to that interview here: Dennis Hastert Interview
See photos from the FS Dieselex Gold Rush event

Audio, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, FS Energy, Government, GROWMARK

AEC Asks EPA Not to Grant Waiver to Oil Industry

RFA AECThe Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to grant a retroactive waiver to the oil industry for the cellulosic requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2011.

Under the 2011 RFS, the EPA required petroleum refiners and importers to blend 6.6 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels in 2011 or buy waiver credits by the end of February 2012 to make up for the difference.

In January, trade groups for refiners and oil producers asked EPA for a waiver from that requirement, because of the absence of cellulosic biofuel production last year.

In a letter to the EPA, Brooke Coleman, Advanced Ethanol Council Executive Director, made very clear that Congress anticipated potential shortfalls in cellulosic ethanol production in the early years and created a mechanism, with the blessing of petroleum interests, to address such a situation.

“We are well‐aware that the commercialization of cellulosic biofuels is behind the schedule set forth by the federal RFS. However, Congress anticipated the inevitable uncertainties and variability inherent with the commercialization of new technologies and set up a credit waiver system to account for variances from the established schedule for advanced biofuels,” wrote Coleman.

Coleman says the purpose of the RFS was to be forward-looking and drive the commercialization of new renewable fuel technology. Moreover, Coleman notes, oil interests and other obligated parties have multiple options available to them to comply with RFS mandated volumes.

Read the entire letter here.

AEC, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Oil

Marinette, Wis. Using Propane Autogas Police Cruiser

The City of Marinette, Wis. Police Department is driving a propane autogas cruiser to save taxpayer dollars and use a clean-burning fuel alternative. With an estimated savings of more than $25 each time the vehicle refills, the city will potentially save $5,000 in fuel costs annually with just one propane vehicle on the road.

Charter Fuels, a Wisconsin-based partner in the national Alliance AutoGas network, coordinated the vehicle conversion and will provide clean-burning, affordable autogas fuel as part of the Alliance AutoGas complete program for fleets. Charter also held a training session to show Marinette police how to safely, effectively operate and fuel the new autogas-powered Ford Crown Victoria.

“We are extremely pleased to help the Marinette Police Department run on the most cost-effective alternative fuel technology on the market today,” said Bill Langlois of Charter Fuels. “The city will cut fuel costs by thousands of dollars, and the savings will be even greater if gasoline prices reach the $4 mark this year as many predict.”

Autogas is historically around $1 per gallon less than gasoline, and autogas fleets also report savings from reduced vehicle maintenance needs because autogas burns cleaner. Autogas conversions from Alliance utilize the bi-fuel Prins Vapor Sequential Injection (VSI) system, which allows drivers to revert to gasoline if an autogas fueling station cannot be reached when the tank is running low. The unique ability of the vapor system to be transferred from one vehicle to another, unlike many propane-dedicated liquid systems on the market today, makes it an especially viable option for fleets.

“We were able to lock in the price of propane autogas for an entire year, and not having to worry about the fluctuating price of gasoline and what it has done to our budget in the recent past was a big plus,” said Lt. Bryan Knapp with the City of Marinette. “Autogas is also a cleaner-burning fuel, reducing emissions into the environment, as well as causing less wear and tear on the engine. The useful life of the oil, spark plugs and other engine components is extended, saving money on vehicle maintenance.”

Fleet, Propane

Ethanol Report Previews National Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The The 17th annual National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is upon us already. It will be held this week, February 22-24, at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center in Orlando.

Last year, more than 1,250 industry leaders attended the NEC, representing 42 states and 19 countries and at least as many, likely more, will be there this year at the preeminent conference for delivering accurate, timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the ethanol industry.

Ethanol Report PodcastIn this edition of “The Ethanol Report,” Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen gives us a preview of what to expect at the conference this year – including speakers, panels, topics and networking opportunities.

The event starts Tuesday with the annual golf tournament and a networking trip to Kennedy Space Center, with the welcome reception that evening. More information about the program can be found on-line at NationalEthanolConference.com. On-site registration for the event will be open starting Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm.

Domestic Fuel will be at the National Ethanol Conference providing start to finish coverage, including live webcast of Bob Dinneen’s State of the Industry address at 8:10 am Eastern on Thursday, February 23, and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s address at 8:20 am on Friday, February 24.

Listen to or download the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on National Ethanol Conference

Subscribe to the Ethanol Report here.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Genome Map May Lead Miscanthus to Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

A genome map for miscanthus could point the way to a source for better biofuels production.

According to Science Daily, researchers at the University of Georgia have mapped the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus, a large perennial grass with promise as a source of ethanol and bioenergy.

Changsoo Kim, a postdoctoral research associate in the UGA Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory, identified a set of approximately 600 bits of Miscanthus DNA that can serve as diagnostic tools. The next step is to determine which pieces of DNA are diagnostic of genes that can make the plant an even better biofuel crop.

Kim’s work-and the Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory-is led by Andrew Paterson, a Distinguished Research Professor who falls under the UGA departments of genetics and plant biology in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and crop and soil sciences in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

“What we are doing right now is taking the same individual plants that were used in the genetic map and measuring their height, flowering time, the size of their stalks, the dimensions of their leaves and how far they have spread from where they were planted,” said Paterson, who is also a member of the Bioenergy Systems Research Institute. “And then one can use pretty straightforward statistics to look for correlations between bits of DNA and a trait.”

Miscanthus is a natural candidate for biomass farming. Its sugarcane-like stalks grow to more than 12 feet in height in soil of marginal quality; it requires very little fertilizer; it grows well in moist temperate climates across the United States, Europe and Asia; and in the eastern U.S. it can produce more biomass on less acreage than other candidate biofuel crops.

Read more from Science Daily.

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Research

Biofuels in Focus at First Farm Bill Hearing

Cindy Zimmerman

The importance of biofuels to rural development was a focus of the first Farm Bill hearing by the Senate Committee on Agriculture this week.

“In the last Farm Bill, this Committee wisely focused on energy policy,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the panel. “Renewable energy – including biofuels, biomass, wind and solar – are an important source of jobs and economic growth in rural communities across the country. Biofuels and biomass in particular offer exciting new opportunities for entrepreneurs, farmers, ranchers and growers.”

Vilsack recommended three areas for the energy title of the farm bill – more efficient production of biofuels developed through research, increasing co-products and by-products from biofuels production, and partnerships to produce biofuels for military aviation and jet fuel.

In addition, Vilsack told the committee that one way to maintain continued growth in rural areas is keeping the Renewable Fuel Standard. “That basically mandates a certain percentage of fuel mixture being bio-based, so we will continue to advocate for that,” he said.

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, USDA

EPA Approval Moves E15 Closer to the Market

Cindy Zimmerman

Fifteen percent ethanol blended motor fuel has gotten one step closer to commercial availability with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval of health effects testing submitted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy.

EPA concluded, “Our evaluation therefore concludes that RFA/Growth Energy has submitted data and analysis that would satisfy the Tier 1 and Tier 2 testing requirements for registration.”

“EPA’s action today puts E15 on the precipice of commercialization and means that consumers may be able to choose a more affordable E15 option in time for the expensive summer driving season,” RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “This is huge step toward meaningful market expansion for domestically-produced ethanol.”

The acceptance of the health effects testing clears the way for the final steps in registering E15 as a fuel and offering it in the marketplace. With EPA’s acceptance of the results of the testing submitted by the ethanol groups, suppliers of ethanol and E15 are now able to register with EPA to offer the fuel.

“Now it is up to the retailers and individual fuel companies to register for approval to sell E15,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “With ethanol selling an average of 76 cents a gallon cheaper than gasoline and $4 a gallon gasoline on the horizon, we’d encourage all Americans to ask their local filling station how soon they will see more-affordable E15.”

The next step in getting E15 to consumers is the formulation of a misfueling mitigation plan. As the E15 waiver extends only to MY2001 and newer vehicles, and excludes a number of non-road, marine, and vehicle engines, helping ensure consumers are legally and appropriately using E15 is critical. Once this plan is completed, and companies register with EPA, E15 can be sold to the EPA-approved vehicles in states and at stations that are prepared to do so.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Growth Energy, RFA

2012 Youngerberg Biodiesel Essay Scholarship Offered

High school seniors in Minnesota are encouraged to apply for the 2012 Reuben Youngerberg Memorial Biodiesel Essay Scholarship.

The scholarship is given in memory of Reuben Youngerberg, and in honor of his son, Mike Youngerberg, senior director of field services at Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and huge supporter of biodiesel.

The scholarship is sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, with special thanks to the National Biodiesel Board, MEG Corp, and Renewable Energy Group, Inc. for their added support.

To submit your essay for the 2012 scholarship online, please fill out the form. Do not place your name or high school name anywhere on the essay you submit to ensure fairness of judging.

If you prefer to submit your essay via U.S. mail or FAX, please download, print and complete the 2012 Entry Form.

Review the Biodiesel Essay Scholarship Contest Rules before submitting your application.

Biodiesel, Education

Company Developing Drop-In Fuel From Biomass

Cindy Zimmerman

A New Jersey-based company is developing renewable drop-in gasoline from biomass.

primusPrimus Green Energy reports that the first sample of renewable drop-in gasoline has been produced through the company’s proprietary combination of biomass conversion technologies. The technique “transforms herbaceous and woody biomass, in conjunction with natural gas, into high-octane gasoline.”

According to Primus, the gasoline produced from the technology is virtually indistinguishable from gasoline produced from fossil fuel and can be used directly in engines as a component of standard fuel formulas without engine modifications.

The gasoline produced is a high quality product, with a higher-octane level (93) and a lower level of benzene than gasoline produced from petroleum. Primus Green Energy has produced fuel samples from a test plant, recently broke ground on an automated demonstration plant and is planning to break ground next year on a commercial plant in eastern Pennsylvania that will be designed to produce 4.8 million gallons per year of gasoline from wood pellets and non-food, herbaceous crops.

IC Green Energy, the green arm of Israel Corp., has invested $40m in Primus since 2008.

biomass, Energy

Higher Blends of Ethanol Would Reduce Prices at Pump

Oil prices have reached a new six-month high as Iran’s reduction of oil shipments to Europe is forcing American motorists to pay more for gasoline. In reaction, the American ethanol industry is telling consumers that higher blends of ethanol in motor fuel would reduce prices at the pump and reduce OPEC’s influence over our nation’s economy.

Growth Energy“American motorists are looking down the barrel of $5 a gallon gasoline this summer, all while foreign strongmen and dictators threaten to drive prices up even more by shutting down oil supplies. And yet we have the answer to this right here in front of us with American ethanol,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “Ethanol is trading at about 75 cents a gallon cheaper than gasoline. We ought to be giving motorists here at home more choices at the pump. The choices are simple — stay chained to the whims of an Iranian strongman,or invest in clean, renewable, American-made energy with ethanol.”

Growth Energy petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to permit blends of up to E15, from the current level of E10. After rigorous testing of engine drivability and emissions testing and found that every car tested – from model year 2001 and newer – met standards for E15.

While minor steps remain before E15 can be brought to market, there are some in Congress who continue to slow the advance of alternatives to gasoline. In a House Science Committee vote last week, Rep. James Sensenbrenner’s (R – WI) legislation to delay E15 even further won approval.

“That’s a last desperate step to keep consumers from having a choice at the pump and keep us addicted to the most unstable region in the world,” Buis said of the Sensenbrenner bill.

Read more facts and information on ethanol and prices.

Ethanol, Growth Energy, Oil