ACE Conference 2026

General Motors Seeks to Reassure Volt Owners

Cindy Zimmerman

General Motors is working to offer assurances and incentives to owners of Chevy Volts in the wake of concerns about the potential of damaged batteries in the electric cars catching fire, and may ultimately have to take the car of the future back to the drawing board.

Earlier this week, GM announced initiatives for customer satisfaction and battery safety research to ensure ongoing confidence in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported last week that electrical fires that occurred up to three weeks after lithium-ion battery packs were damaged in crash testing on some of the vehicles.

GM has established a program offering free GM vehicle loan to any Volt owner and vowed to work closely with NHTSA, suppliers, dealers and manufacturing teams to initiate any necessary changes in the vehicles as soon as possible.

An Associated Press report today quoted General Motors CEO Dan Akerson as taking that even further, saying they would buy the cars back from owners who are worried about the issue, and that the company is ready to do a total recall of the more than 6,000 Volts on the road and repair them once the cause of the three post-crash fires in tested vehicles is determined.

Car Makers, Electric Vehicles

Corn Grower’s Viewpoint on VEETC – It’s Over

Cindy Zimmerman

National Corn Growers Association president Garry Niemeyer, a farmer from Illinois, penned an editorial this week in an effort to let those still complaining about the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) know that the game is over. Read that commentary below.

Back in August, the Green Scissors Project identified ways the federal government could shave $380 billion from the federal budget over five years. But their $380 billion in proposed cuts included a major error that accounts for more that 10 percent of their suggested cuts – $38.8 billion that they argued the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit would otherwise cost between 2012 and 2016. They conveniently ignored the important fact that there will be no VEETC between those years. VEETC expires about a month from now, and corn growers and the ethanol industry have long agreed to let it expire and have since stopped fighting for its renewal.

Regardless, we are quite amused that ethanol opponents continue to attack VEETC, even though no one on our side is fighting for its renewal. We stressed this point as long ago as last September.

On Thanksgiving, it was the Washington Times’ turn to take up the cudgel and beat the already-dead tax credit. In an editorial full of grievous factual errors, they claimed yet again that VEETC must go.

It’s kind of like when one football team leaves the field and the other team scores a game-winning victory four plays later. Frankly, we left this game last quarter because there are other, smarter ways to support ethanol, especially in today’s deficit-prone political world. That was part of the reason we and the industry asked for a one-year extension in 2010 – to have time to seek alternatives. We won the game and left the field … not the guys who will pound their chests and claim victory in a few weeks.Read More

Commentary, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

USDA Announces Insurance Program for Biofuel Crop

Cindy Zimmerman

USDAThe U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a new pilot program of insurance for camelina beginning with the 2012 crop year.

According to a release from USDA, “Camelina is an oilseed crop with the potential to create new renewable energy markets in the United States, generate rural jobs here at home, and decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil. The new pilot program will be available in selected counties in Montana and North Dakota for the 2012 crop year, with a sales closing date of February 1, 2012.”

biofuelsCamelina, an oilseed, is a rotation crop for wheat that can be established on marginally productive land. It is an annual, short season plant. Biofuel from camelina is an ideal jet fuel substitute. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have long-term studies underway to examine ways to use camelina as a bioenergy crop for producing jet fuel for the military and the aviation industry. In addition, earlier this year USDA announced two Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project areas devoted to developing camelina as biofuel in several states, including Montana. USDA is also part of several partnerships to develop oilseeds and native and perennial grasses as a biofuels.

Find out details of the program from USDA.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biojet fuel, feedstocks, USDA

Cobalt Technologies Appoints New CEO

Former Genencor head Bob Mayer has been appointed chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Cobalt Technologies, a leading developer of next generation bio n-butanol.

Mayer, who has more than 30 years of experience in the chemicals and biotech sectors, will lead Cobalt as it focuses on developing commercial facilities globally. For the past 30 years, Mayer has honed his biotech expertise holding executive leadership positions at multi-national companies. Most recently he was the CEO of Genencor International, Inc., a leading global industrial enzyme company wholly owned by Danisco A/S.

Cobalt’s bio n-butanol technology converts biomass and non-food waste sugars into bio n-butanol at a cost that is 40-60 percent lower than current petrochemical technology. N-butanol is currently sold into a multi-billion dollar market and Cobalt’s low-cost process enables the use of n-butanol as a chemical feedstock for conversion into a wide variety of chemicals and fuels, greatly expanding the addressable market.

biobutanol, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa Corn Caucus Grades Candidates on Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

ICGAThe Iowa Corn Caucus released its report card for presidential candidates today, giving grades for different policy areas related to agriculture, including energy and biofuels, and an overall grade for each candidate.

The highest overall grade went to Newt Gingrich, who scored straight As on every single policy issue. Second in the class was Rick Santorum, who received straight As on energy policies, but faltered under farm programs in the areas of crop insurance and conservation. President Obama received a grade of B, as did Mitt Romney, but the rest of the four major Republican candidates got no more than a C minus. Rick Perry received that grade, while Michelle Bachmann was close behind with a D+ and both Herman Cain and Ron Paul got Ds. Cain in particular failed miserably in the energy policy category and farm programs – getting straight Fs in all those areas. The energy category included three specific areas – Ethanol and Energy Policy Generally; Renewable Fuels Standard; and Ethanol Infrastructure.

“Our purpose wasn’t to endorse any candidate, but instead to give farmers a tool that they could take with them to the caucuses in January,” said Iowa Corn Growers senior policy advisor Amanda Taylor. The survey for candidates was developed in conjunction with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to include ten questions directly related to agricultural issues.

ICGA president Kevin Ross noted that only half of candidates responded to the survey, so the Corn Caucus used other methods to determine the grades. “We tracked interviews, speeches, media quotes and all things related to agriculture, including voting records of candidates who held office,” he said. The candidates who did return the survey were Obama, Cain, Gingrich and Santorum.

Find out more about the Corn Caucus project results from the ICGA website, and listen to a press conference this morning about it here: Iowa Corn Caucus Results

Audio, corn, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farming, Government

Amyris and Total Partner for Renewable Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

French energy company Total and California-based renewable products firm Amyris have announced a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize a range of renewable fuels and products.

The two companies agreed to expand their ongoing research and development collaboration to accelerate the deployment of Biofene® and develop renewable diesel based on this molecule produced from plant sugars. The program launched in 2010 aims to develop the necessary stages to bring the next generation renewable fuels to market at commercial scale. Total has committed to contribute $105 million in funding for an existing $180 million program.

The 50-50 joint venture company formed between Amyris and Total will have exclusive rights to produce and market renewable diesel and jet fuel worldwide, as well as non-exclusive rights to other renewable products such as drilling fluids, solvents, polymers and specific biolubricants. The venture aims to begin operations in the first quarter of 2012.

Read more from Total press release.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biojet fuel, Ethanol, Ethanol News

IRFA Expands Summit and Trade Show

A larger trade show at a new venue will highlight the 6th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA).  The Summit will be Tues., Jan. 24, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines. The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required and online registration is now open.

Four star General Paul J. Kern (U.S. Army Ret.) will headline the Summit, addressing the dangers of foreign oil dependence to U.S. military operations. General Kern served in numerous positions during his prestigious 37-year career. He led the 24th Infantry Division’s attack into Iraq in 1991, served two tours of duty in Vietnam and is the recipient of three Purple Hearts. General Kern currently serves as the Chairman of the CNA Military Advisory Board.

The Summit also will feature information on the national outlook for biodiesel, the newest ethanol blend – E15, and the balance between ethanol and livestock production.

Find more details and additional links and information, visit the summit website.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, feedstocks

Google+ Has Some Catching Up To Do

Chuck Zimmerman

It looks like Facebook is still the big dog with this community. In our latest ZimmPoll we asked the question, “Do you use Facebook or Google+?” 50% of you said Facebook while only 7% said Google+. However, 20% said Both while 23% said Neither. Interesting. Looks like Google+ has a ways to go.

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “With net farm income up this year, how is your income?” USDA’s Economic Research Service released it’s Net Farm Income Forecast update yesterday showing a 28% increase over 2010. The report also states, “Net cash income, at $109.8 billion, is forecast up $17.5 billion (18.9 percent) from 2010, and $34.2 billion above its 10-year average (2001-2010) of $75.6 billion.” Wow. How about you? How’s your income doing this year compared to last?

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

ZimmPoll

RFA Responds to EU Ethanol Probe

Cindy Zimmerman

The European Union (EU) has initiated anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations regarding U.S. exports of ethanol to Europe and current U.S. policies surrounding ethanol production and use. Allegations by EU ethanol producers, represented by the organization ePure, suggest that U.S. ethanol exports to Europe are taking advantage of the expiring volumetric ethanol excise tax credit, or VEETC, prior to export resulting in a lower price and harming EU ethanol producers.

RFAThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) responded to these allegations when the first complaint was filed. “In fact, the tax incentive is going away,” said RFA president Bob Dinneen. “That’s not going to be an issue any longer (after Dec. 31).”

Listen to Dinneen’s comments here: RFA CEO Bob Dinneen

The RFA is working with other industry groups to encourage all U.S. ethanol producers to cooperate with the EU investigations and will continue to monitor the status of these investigations to ensure the U.S. ethanol industry is not unjustly penalized.

RFA notes that domestic ethanol producers are not eligible for VEETC which is specifically for gasoline blenders, marketers, and other end users.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

Solar Decathlon May Move

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is looking for a new location for Solar Decathlon 2013. DOE hopes to provide other communities with the opportunity to host the competition and share the economic and education and outreach benefits of the event.

Since 2002, the Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., where it has successfully showcased energy-efficient housing and clean energy technologies. For Solar Decathlon 2013, DOE is seeking a new venue. The event will promote the outreach, education, and economic benefits of energy security, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

The winners of Solar Decathlon 2011 were announced last month with the University of Maryland getting first place honors for its WaterShed entry that proposes solutions to water and energy shortages. Purdue University took second place in the competition, and New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) received the third-place award. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

Appalachian State University won the Decathlon 2011 People’s Choice Award for its Solar Homestead entry – a self-sustaining net zero-energy house inspired by the pioneer spirit of the early settlers to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Appalachian State also won second place in the Communications Contest and third place in the Architecture Contest.

The Solar Decathlon’s influence has expanded around the work in recent years, with international teams from Belgium, Canada, China, and New Zealand that bring different perspectives and add to the debate about how to design sustainable homes.

Government, Solar