Contract Awarded for Florida Waste to Fuel Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Vogelbusch USA has been awarded a contract to supply the ethanol distillation and dehydration equipment for the INEOS Bio waste-to-bioenergy facility near Vero Beach, Florida.

“We chose Vogelbusch’s distillation and dehydration systems for their proven capabilities, which are vital as we commercialize our advanced bioenergy technology,” said Mark Niederschulte, COO of INEOS Bio. “Our project is on schedule, and we look forward to working closely with Vogelbusch as we bring this advanced biorefinery online in 2012.”

The project will use INEOS Bio’s feedstock-flexible BioEnergy technology, which combines gasification and fermentation technologies, to turn different types of waste materials, including municipal solid waste, into advanced biofuels and renewable power. When completed, the BioEnergy Center will be the first commercial facility in the world to use this advanced technology with the capacity to manufacture eight million gallons of cellulosic ethanol and provide power for 1400 homes in the area.

The plant is scheduled to begin operations in the second quarter of 2012.

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Waste-to-Energy

College Seeks Bioenergy Program

Cindy Zimmerman

A community college in Florida is seeking a grant to start a bioenergy education program.

Highlands Today reports that South Florida Community College (SFCC) in Avon Park is working with biofuels companies in the region on the effort to create a program that will prepare individuals to enter the field of advanced biofuels production. The main industry partners are BP Biofuels’ Tampa-based Vercipia Biofuels, along with U.S. EnviroFuels and Southeast Renewable Fuels. All three companies are involved in the development of advanced ethanol production facilities in south Florida.

advanced biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa RFA Now on Facebook

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa RFAThe Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is now on Facebook.

IRFA announced the launch of its Facebook page today as part of an ongoing effort to provide Iowans with news and information on renewable fuels. IRFA’s Facebook page will feature news, announcements, press releases, photos, and videos.

“The IRFA Facebook page gives our organization another effective outlet to communicate the positive impacts of renewable fuels on job creation, air quality, and national security,” said IRFA Biofuels Manager Grant Menke. “The Facebook page will improve our outreach, especially to younger consumers who demand instant information and value efficient, renewable products.”

Connect to the Iowa RFA Facebook page here.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa Renewable Fuel Marketing Nominees Sought

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey is asking Iowa fuel retailers and gas stations to submit nominations for his annual Renewable Fuels Marketing Awards, which recognize fuel retailers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to sell renewable fuels. The Iowa Department of Agriculture awards are presented for both the marketing of ethanol and biodiesel.

“Fuel retailers continue to take steps to make ethanol and biodiesel more available to Iowa customers and this award is an opportunity to recognize those who have shown leadership in promoting these renewable fuels and making them more available to customers,” Northey said.

Qualifying entities will be those that market the renewable fuels they have available through creative efforts including, but not limited to: hosting special events highlighting their renewable fuels, development of creative signage, initiation of new advertisements or marketing efforts, and efforts dramatically increase renewable fuel availability.

The winners will be recognized during a meeting of the Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Stores of Iowa in Des Moines on January 10th. This is the fifth year for the award which was won last year by Kyle Krause of Kum & Go and Roger Baschke of Green Plains Energy Company.

Nominations must be submitted by January 1 and nomination forms can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Hawaiian Electric Renews With REG

Cindy Zimmerman

Hawaiian Electric Company has again selected Renewable Energy Group® (REG) to supply their sustainable biodiesel needs.

Under the new contract, REG will continue to supply 3-7 million gallons of high quality biodiesel annually for Hawaiian Electric’s 110-megawatt combustion turbine generator at Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station for three additional years. Like the current supply contract, the biodiesel will be processed from used cooking oil and waste animal fats. The new contract was awarded as a result of a request for competitive bids issued in February 2011.

“We are committed to beating the legal requirement of 40 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030,” said Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric executive vice president. “We need to bring as much clean energy online as soon as possible.”

The Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station is the first utility-scale combustion turbine run entirely on biodiesel.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Hawaiian Electric Company, a progressive, sustainable leader in the electric utility generation business,” said Daniel J. Oh, REG president & CEO. “The state should be commended for its leadership in creating a model for other utility companies across the country to follow.”

Biodiesel, Electricity

USDA Announces More Funding for Advanced Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

USDAAgriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $44.6 million in payments for 156 advanced biofuel producers across the country to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels.

“This funding will help local producers increase the production and availability of renewable energy and thus help our nation begin to reduce its reliance on foreign oil,” Vilsack said. “Just as importantly, USDA’s support will help to further develop the nation’s growing biofuels industry and generate green jobs and economic growth.”

The funding is being provided through USDA’s Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels program, the same program that provided $80 million in payments last month. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of biofuels a recipient produces from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch – including cellulose; crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; biogas (landfill and sewage waste treatment gas); vegetable oil, and animal fat.

Eighteen companies will receive over $1 million, four of them are over $2 million – including Renewable Energy Group of Iowa with $3.7 million; White Energy in Kansas at $3.1 million; Louis Dreyfus in Indiana with $2.4 million and Ag Processing of Nebraska at almost $2.1 million. The majority of the highest payments are for Biodiesel Trans Esterification, with a good percentage for advanced ethanol production, biofuel from waste and anaerobic digesters.

See the full list of recipients here.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biodigester, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA, Waste-to-Energy

Keynoters for National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Keynote speakers at the 17th Annual National Ethanol Conference will offer “Insider Perspectives on Election 2012 – The Presidency and Congress.”

Karl Rove will speak from the Republican perspective. Rove served as Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000–2007 and Deputy Chief of Staff from 2004–2007. He is known as “The Architect” of President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns.

From the Democrat angle, NEC participants will hear from Robert Gibbs, who has been an advisor and strategist to President Obama from the early days of Obama’s 2004 Senate race on to the White House. Most recently, Gibbs has served as President Obama’s Press Secretary.

Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association National Ethanol Conference – Accelerating Industry Innovation. The conference will be held February 22-24 in Orlando, Florida at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.

More information can be found on the conference website – NationalEthanolConference.com.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Advanced Ethanol Wants Energy in Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Advanced ethanol companies are urging Congressional leaders to include an energy title in any new farm legislation that is developed.

RFA AECIn a letter to Senate and House ag leaders this week, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) urged them to include important rural energy initiatives currently being administered by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) in .

Specifically, AEC would like to see the USDA Loan Guarantee program for biorefinery projects extended while improving some provisions to increase participation by lending institutions. Also, reform of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) to increase cost effectiveness, encourage energy crop production and include efforts to preserve the environmental benefits of land coming out of conservation programs. Finally, AEC encourages lawmakers to support USDA’s efforts to build out ethanol refueling infrastructure under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to facilitate market access that is critical to the ongoing development and deployment of advanced ethanol fuels.

“The next generation of the U.S. ethanol industry is just beginning to break ground on first commercial projects across the country, and while the Energy Title currently accounts for less than 1 percent of total budgetary outlays for the 2008 Farm Bill, many of these programs will be critical to existing and future advanced ethanol development projects,” wrote AEC Executive Director Brooke Coleman in the letter. “We are aware that the funding available for the new Farm Bill will be reduced significantly …. and look forward to thinking creatively with you about comprehensive solutions that cut cost but continue to provide meaningful value to an emerging advanced ethanol industry.”

Additionally, members of the AEC expressed interest in working with lawmakers to modify the Repowering Assistance program to help existing biorefining operations deploy advanced ethanol technologies and feedstock utilization. Many emerging advanced ethanol technologies will provide value to existing ethanol production facilities by diversifying feedstocks and improving efficiencies as well as creating new opportunities as stand alone facilities.

The AEC is made up of leading companies in the world’s advanced ethanol industry in conjunction with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Growth Energy Excited About American Ethanol Race

Cindy Zimmerman

Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis is looking forward to seeing black, silver and green Sunday at the Martinsville (Virginia) Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. The No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet race car will feature the American Ethanol paint design and Clint Bowyer, just coming off a win last weekend at Talladega, will be at the wheel.

“Glad to see him in the American Ethanol paint out for the second time this year,” said Buis, pictured here with Bowyer at the Sprint Cup Series STP 400 race in June at the Kansas Speedway.

Under the American Ethanol partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association all NASCAR series races this year have been powered by 15% ethanol. “These cars can go around for several hours at speeds around 200 miles per hour and they haven’t had any problems with the fuel,” Buis said. “NASCAR is a third party validator to those legions of NASCAR fans who’ve heard all the misinformation about ethanol. Every week, in all three NASCAR series, the winning car in victory lane got there successfully with E15 in their tank.”

The Martinsville Speedway Sprint Cup Series race will be on ESPN beginning at 1:30 Eastern at Martinsville (Virginia) Speedway.’

Listen to an interview with Tom Buis where we talk about not only the upcoming race this weekend, but other issues facing the ethanol industry – everything from getting the E15 waiver implemented to whether there will be an energy title in the next farm bill. Tom Buis Interview

American Ethanol, Audio, Ethanol, Growth Energy, NASCAR

Winterizing Diesel Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

There’s a chill in the air and winter weather is just around the corner. After last winter’s extremely cold temperatures, it’s especially important for diesel fuel users to make sure they are ready.

That means winter treatment for diesel fuel, according to GROWMARK marketing manager for refined and renewable fuels Mark Dehner. “Diesel fuel is impacted by cold temperatures. There are paraffins, or wax, in diesel fuel and as the temperature decreases these paraffins start to precipitate out of the fuel and may get large enough so they’ll plug filters or fuel lines,” Dehner says.

As a diesel fuel supplier, GROWMARK takes pains to make sure that doesn’t happen for their customers by blending number one diesel fuel into number two to dilute the wax, or they will use chemical treatments. “Chemistry usually involves wax modifiers that will not allow them to conglomerate,” he explains.

GROWMARK also sells biodiesel blends in the winter. “A lot of our customers use biodiesel throughout the wintertime, but we have to manage it differently,” Dehner says. “We may use a combination of cold flow chemistry along with some blending of number one.”

Dehner says it all comes down to fuel quality maintenance.

Listen to my interview with Mark Dehner here: Mark Dehner with GROWMARK

Audio, Biodiesel, GROWMARK