Energy Tax Breaks Wiki

Cindy Zimmerman

A new wiki was launched recently to provide information about tax breaks for different sectors of the energy industry – from coal, oil and gas to wind, solar and biofuels.

The Energy Tax Breaks Wiki is designed to gather the collective knowledge of lawyers, economists and tax professionals to provide a more accurate picture of all energy-related subsidies, according to the Institute for Policy Integrity, (IPI) which developed the site. The wiki already includes tax code sections divided up by sector, such as oil, gas, ethanol, wind, etc.

Over the next few months, the developers will be inviting contributions to the site, which is the main characteristic of a wiki – which is a web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content, like Wikipedia. Once they feel they have acquired enough information, IPI intends to compile the data as a way to provide policymakers with a clear overview of energy subsidies with links to specific tax code that they can then use in making policy decisions.

The Institute for Policy Integrity is a non-partisan advocacy organization and think tank dedicated to improving the quality of governmental decision making.

Energy, Government

Pioneer Studies Residue Removal for Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

DuPont businesses Pioneer Hi-Bred and DuPont Industrial Biosciences are collaborating with Iowa State University in performing studies on residue to establish best practices in harvesting, storage and transportation, with an eye toward its use in cellulosic ethanol production in the near future.

Agronomic benefits of residue removal include preventing stand establishment concerns in the following crop and avoiding nitrogen tie-up to reduce additional applications. Good residue management practices are crucial to overcoming some of the challenges associated with reduced-tillage systems.

While these best management practices can help growers today, DuPont Industrial Biosciences is developing solutions for tomorrow that address the residue itself, planning to build one of the world’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol biorefineries in Nevada, Iowa, which will require thousands of tons of stover from Iowa fields.

“Currently, the most plentiful agricultural source of ligno-cellulosic biomass for ethanol production in the U.S. is corn stover,” says Steve Mirshak, business director for DuPont’s cellulosic ethanol program. “We’re currently working with an exclusive group of growers in a pilot program to collect stover in support of the biorefinery. When completed, the plant will be fueled almost exclusively by cornstalks.”

University research suggests that at a high yield level of 200 bushels per acre or more, growers can remove up to 40 percent of stover without negatively impacting soil organic matter. DuPont officials believe that cellulosic ethanol production could become a common form of residue management in the future while providing additional value to growers for their crops.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Aventine Resumes Work on Illinois Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Aventine Renewable Energy plans to resume work next month on its ethanol plant located in Canton, Illinois.

AventineIn September 2011, Aventine announced it was delaying work on the plant due to uncertainty surrounding its ability to secure critical third-party technical and engineering support. Since that time, the company has secured the support necessary to move the project forward and now anticipates resuming work in early March 2012 with production expected to start this summer.

“Now is the time to move forward with this project. We have secured the critical third-party support necessary for the commissioning process. Additionally, we currently have approximately $50 million of combined cash and availability under our revolver,” said John Castle, Chief Executive Officer.

The Pekin, Illinois-based ethanol producer emerged from Chapter 11 restructuring in March 2010 after filing in February of the previous year.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Australia Ethanol Firm Gets Sustainable Certification

Cindy Zimmerman

An Australian ethanol producer has received the first completed commercial certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB).

The Manildra Group, through its subsidiary Shoalhaven Starches Pty Ltd, produces bioethanol from starchy wastewater generated by their wheat processing facility in New South Wales, Australia. The RSB certification means that “Manildra offers tangible evidence that sustainable biofuels may be efficiently and economically produced at a large scale while adhering to ambitious social and environmental standards.”

The RSB Certification System allows farmers, feedstock processors and biofuel producers to demonstrate that their operations comply with ambitious yet practical safeguards, including, but not limited to, the protection of natural or rare ecosystems, food security, and the respect of human rights
to land, water and decent work conditions, and the management of water resources.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels is a multi‐stakeholder initiative launched and hosted by the Energy Center of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Breakthrough Could Make Fuel Cells More Efficient

Cindy Zimmerman

A breakthrough by chemists at the University of California-Berkeley could have a profound impact on the growing market for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

In an article appearing this week in the journal Science, UC Berkeley chemists show how to construct a catalyst composed only of edges and demonstrate that it can catalyze the production of hydrogen from water as readily as the edges and defects in regular catalysts.

“This is a conceptual advance in the way we think about generating hydrogen, a clean burning fuel, from water, a sustainable source,” said Christopher Chang, associate professor of chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at UC Berkeley. “Our new catalyst is just first generation, but the research gives us and the community a path forward to thinking about how to increase the density of functional active sites so that molecules and materials can be more effective catalysts.”

At the moment, creating these catalysts in the lab is not cheaper than using traditional catalysts, but efforts by Chang and others to simplify the process and create materials with billions of active sites on a ridged wafer much like a Ruffles potato chip could allow cheaper, commercially viable fuel cell catalysts.

Read more from Berkeley news service.

Hydrogen, Research

Corn Grower Ethanol Committee Explores Future

Cindy Zimmerman

The Ethanol Committee of the National Corn Growers Association met in Kansas City this past week week to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

“The market for ethanol has grown exponentially over the past decade, thus utilizing an abundance of corn to meet the already-present need for a renewable, domestic biofuel,” said Chad Willis, a Minnesota corn grower who serves as chairman of the committee. “Now, we face a myriad of challenges and opportunities as those in the industry continue to innovate while some outside of it continue attempts to deny ethanol’s incredible value to our nation.”

Participants got a first-hand look at the LifeLine Foods business model in St. Joseph, Mo., exploring the possibilities for creating even more food and fuel from every kernel of corn. The company, which produces products for both domestic and international markets, is unique in creating both ethanol and corn-based food products by using the separate components of corn to their fullest capacity.

“After years of hearing rehashed iterations of the food-and-fuel debate, we found the tour of LifeLIne to be both interesting and inspiring,” Willis said. “Companies such as this demonstrate that, through a mixture of creative thought and hard work, we can find new ways to use corn even more productively and solve an array of societal needs.”

The committee of farmer leaders from around the Corn Belt also had the opportunity to meet the NCGA’s new Director of Biofuel Programs and Business Development Pam Keck, who is a scientist and educator with more than 20 years of experience in the agricultural and biofuels industry, academia and not-for-profit research.

Keck most recently contracted with Monsanto, coordinating an outreach program that brought together schools and scientists. She has previously taught chemistry at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and at Lewis and Clark Community College. She has also served as assistant director of workforce development and scientific projects at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

RFA Calls E15 Bill Another Stall Tactic

Cindy Zimmerman

The president of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is calling a bill approved by a House subcommittee Tuesday yet another stall tactic to the use of higher ethanol blends in fuel.

RFARFA’s Bob Dinneen says the legislation sponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) injects “parochial politics into the scientifically established process of approving new fuels.”

“In approving E15, the Department of Energy tested vehicles over millions of driving miles – the equivalent of some 4,700 round trips from Washington to Milwaukee,” said Dinneen in a statement. “To suggest more testing is needed is nothing more than a stall tactic that has but one outcome – our continued addiction to oil.”

Dinneen adds that the concerns raised in the bill are “largely superficial and do not require the intervention of Congress to resolve. America’s ethanol industry has been working with auto companies and fuel suppliers for over a year to address any concerns and misconceptions that persist. This bill would reverse the progress private industry has already achieved and threaten the job creation that would stem from an increased use of domestic renewable fuels.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

NBB Chairman Talks About Biodiesel Industry Economic Benefits

Chuck Zimmerman

National Biodiesel Chairman, Gary Haer, took to the stage at the National Biodiesel Conference to address attendees during a general session. He commented on the Presidential campaign in his state of Iowa and how nice it would be if they could get out and visit biodiesel plants on their campaign stops. A key focus of his remarks was how the growth of the RFS would create new jobs in America.

On our national biodiesel campaign tour, I’d introduce Americans to green-collar workers who are our boots on the ground. The people who put on work shirts, coveralls, and hardhats day-in and day-out to produce energy security one gallon at a time.

And while the Presidential campaigns continue to move across the country, the recent State of the Union address spurred a renewed dialogue about American energy policy and green jobs.

I am here to tell you today: Biodiesel must continue to advance policies that position our industry as a fundamental part of the U.S. energy complex.

If we can work together to grow the Renewable Fuels Standard, the biodiesel industry could create 26 new jobs every day over two years. 26 new pairs of work boots to be filled every day. 26 work shirts which will be put on every morning by hard working Americans.

RFS2 can create 26 new green collar jobs every day, some of which will be in the oil and agriculture industries. That’s 26 new skilled, family-wage positions every day. 26 more domestic jobs producing our nation’s energy security in just two years with the growth of the RFS2.

Listen to Gary’s remarks here: Gary Haer Speech

You can find a lot more stories on the National Biodiesel Conference Blog. I’ve had the pleasure of being the Biodiesel Blogger for the 7th year this year!

2012 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, National Biodiesel Conference

Will Farm Equipment Sales Increase This Year?

Chuck Zimmerman

In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “What do you think about the proposed Egg Products Inspection legislation?”. I was surprised to find that although 59% said Dangerous precedent for livestock production, 41% said Necessary to save egg farming industry. Kind of a divided reaction. Does this surprise you?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How do you think farm equipment sales will do this year compared to last?” Let us know what you think. Will there be more new equipment sales this year? Is it time to replace a worn out piece of equipment?

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

ZimmPoll

Biodiesel Bike Built by Orange County Choppers

Chuck Zimmerman

The big news today at the National Biodiesel Conference was the unveiling of the biodiesel bike built by Paul Teutul, Sr., Orange County Choppers. The bike was built in partnership with CIMA Green. Today the bike debuted on stage driven by former NBB Chairman, Ed Hegland. Then Paul Sr. himself drove it onto the biodiesel vehicle showcase floor where he talked about the project with attendees. CIMA Green actually had two bikes built and donated one to the National Biodiesel Board along with a check for $50,000 to use for transportation expenses to showcase the bike at various events around the country.

I spoke with Paul Sr. just prior to his entry into the exhibit hall and he says the bike was a tough one to build. He says it’s not a speed demon but it won’t break down, “It’s just made to go.” The bike has affectionately been named Susie, btw.

Listen to my interview with Paul Sr. here: Interview with Paul Sr.

Listen to Paul Sr. describe the biodiesel bike here: Paul Sr. Remarks

Here’s video of Paul, Sr. driving into the exhibit hall.

Remember that you can follow what the Twitterverse is saying about the conference using the hashtag #NBB12.

2012 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference, NBB