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OriginOil and Idaho National Lab Partner for Research

OriginOil has a new research agreement with the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to collaborate on establishing industry standards for algal biomass.

Under the terms of the agreement, OriginOil will provide INL with its Single Step Extraction technology and contribute its knowledge of how to stimulate oil production and pre-treat for consistent extraction of the algae and its co-products. In return, OriginOil expects to benefit from INL’s scientific and engineering expertise and its large Process Demonstration Facility which boasts advanced biofuels processing capabilities and equipment. A primary effort will be to integrate algae with terrestrial biomass sources to achieve large-scale biofuels production.

Under this agreement INL will assist OriginOil by conducting evaluations of processes and technologies that may help find solutions to converting algae into energy feedstocks more efficiently by optimizing and standardizing various formats.

“The U.S. Navy alone plans to achieve 50 percent use of alternative fuels in just eight years, a goal of eight million barrels of biofuels per year that must be blended from non-food fuels like algae,” said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil’s CEO. “But to blend, we must standardize, using the latest breakthrough technologies.”

advanced biofuels, algae, Research

Ethanol Industry Wants Cellulosic Incentives Continued

Cindy Zimmerman

Advanced biofuel producers are calling on Congress to take action now to ensure that tax incentives for cellulosic ethanol continue past 2012.

RFA AECIn a letter to Congressional leaders, the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC) asked for a multi-year extension of the Cellulosic Biofuels Producer Tax Credit (PTC) and the Special Depreciation Allowance for Cellulosic Biofuel Plant Property, both of which are set to expire December 31, 2012.

AEC Executive Director Brooke Coleman noted in the letter that the incentives “are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced ethanol industry. To ensure stability in the marketplace, and prevent unnecessary job losses, Congress should provide long‐term extensions of these provisions (5+ years).”

As new ethanol biorefineries are beginning construction, the AEC emphasized the importance of consistent federal policy to this kind of multi-billion dollar investment.

“The advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry is now in the process of building new plants, innovating existing production facilities with emerging technologies, and introducing new product streams that will allow the renewable fuels sector to become more profitable, diversified and efficient,” wrote Coleman. “Several billion dollars have been invested in advanced biofuels development with the expectation that Congress will stay the course with regard to its commitment to the industry. A tax increase on advanced biofuels at this time would curtail investment and undercut an industry just starting to close deals and break ground on first commercial plants.”

The AEC is asking Congress to extend these important tax incentives this year as part of a final tax extenders package as they are set to expire next year. “As Congress considers the extension of a number of tax provisions for the clean energy sector, we would also like to highlight the importance of timing. The mere prospect of the expiration of the PTC and Special Depreciation Allowance for cellulosic biofuels in 2012 will start to affect projects that take 18 months to build, and could drive our industry into a series of ‘fits and starts’ that has dampened investment in other domestic clean energy sectors for decades.”

advanced biofuels, AEC, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

Ethanol Groups Oppose Legislative Proposal

A number of ethanol supporting organizations recently sent a letter to the chairman and ranking members of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees urguing them to oppose a proposal by Reps. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) that would delay commercialization of next generation ethanol.

Growth EnergyThe groups, which includ Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol and the National Corn Growers Association, oppose a proposal by Sullivan and Peters to include language in the FY12 omnibus appropriations package that would prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using any appropriated funds to implement the E15 waiver.

The Sullivan-Peters proposed language — which did not receive a vote during this year’s appropriations process or a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee — is aimed at derailing and altering the long-standing process by which new fuel blends are brought into the marketplace. The EPA approved E15 after a more exhaustive study and data collection than any other of the 11 previously-approved fuel waiver petitions.

RFAThe letter from the organizations noted that “preventing the EPA from implementing the use of E15 for cars, pickups and SUVs made in model year 2001 and newer, further contributes to our nation’s reliance on foreign oil. Extensive testing has been done on E15 and it has been found to be a safe and effective fuel for use in the vehicles approved in the waiver. There has been no evidence to the contrary that would indicate problems in any vehicle regardless of vintage.”

Further, the EPA’s decision does not make E15 mandatory. Consumers are not required to use E15. Gas stations will not be required to sell E15. And the EPA will require a fuel label that clearly delineates that using E15 in model year 2000 vehicles, small engines and marine engines is illegal.

Lastly, the Sullivan-Peters language would inhibit new and innovative alternatives to fossil fuels. We are looking toward cutting-edge innovation to move to new ethanol feedstocks, like plant wastes, wood chips and switchgrass. The Sullivan-Peters language would solidify the status quo-a 90 percent mandate of our fuel supply from oil and would prevent American-made ethanol from being made available to consumers.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, Legislation, NCGA, RFA

Farmers See Biodiesel and Bioheat Use in Big Apple


About 20 U.S. soybean farmers are in New York City this week to see the how the Bioheat Industry is gaining momentum. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is hosting the group. Bioheat is biodiesel mixed with home heating oil. Starting in October, 2012, all heating oil sold within New York City will contain at least two percent biodiesel.

The group will tour CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace where energy is bought and sold. There they will have an educational session on the Bioheat market and hear from the president of the New York Oil Heating Association and a New York City Councilman.

In addition, the group will see the biodiesel facilities of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Both use biodiesel blends in their diesel vehicles as does the Department of Sanitation.

Those three agencies use about 11 million gallons of biodiesel blends a year, ranging from 5 to 50 percent biodiesel (B5 – B50), according to Steven Levy of Sprague Energy, a biodiesel supplier in that area. The farmers are also visiting the facilities of Metro Energy, one of the largest petroleum distributors in New York City and the northeast. In 2009 the company sold 10 million gallons of biodiesel to be used as Bioheat in New York City alone. They are building a 110 million gallon biodiesel production facility in Brooklyn.

The biodiesel and Bioheat Industries have been supported by farmer-led groups including NBB, the United Soybean Board and the soybean checkoff.

Biodiesel, NBB

Pacific Ethanol Raises $8 Million in Stock Sale

Cindy Zimmerman

Pacific EthanolPacific Ethanol reports that they have entered
into a “definitive purchase agreement with a group of institutional investors to raise $8.0 million in a private placement transaction.” In addition, the company has signed purchase agreements to acquire an additional 7% interest in the Pacific Ethanol production facilities, according to a company news release.

Of the net proceeds from the financing, $4.6 million will be used for the purchase of the additional 7% ownership interest in New PE Holdco LLC, the owner of the four Pacific Ethanol production facilities with a combined annual production capacity of 200 million gallons. Upon closing, the company’s total ownership interest will increase to 34%. On October 6, 2010, the company paid $23.3 million in cash for its initial 20% ownership interest, and on November 29, 2011, the company purchased an additional 7% ownership interest for $4.5 million.

The company lost those four plants in a bankruptcy case last year.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Exports Remain Strong

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest government data on exports for October shows continued strong demand overseas for U.S. ethanol.

Renewable Fuels AssociationAccording to the data, exports of denatured and undenatured ethanol which are not eligible for VEETC totaled 121.4 million gallons. That is just short of the record 127.4 million gallons of exports set in July 2011.

On the Renewable Fuels Association E-xchange Blog, RFA’s Vice President for Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper notes that Brazil continues to be the leading destination for U.S. exports, receiving a total of 50 million gallons in October. Canada and the EU continued to be other top export markets. Through the first 10 months of 2011, U.S. exports stood at 867.9 mg, more than double the 2010 export total. The U.S. is on pace to export more than 1 billion gallons in the calendar year.

Meanwhile, the U.S. imported 13.1 mg of ethanol for fuel use from Brazil in October, presumably for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) advanced biofuel requirement and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Imports of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil have picked up significantly in recent months at the same time U.S. exports of corn ethanol to Brazil have grown.

Cooper says that this “shuffling effect” will be the subject of an extensive analysis and blog post he is preparing for this week.

Read more from the E-xchange Blog here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA

GROWMARK Perspective on Energy Policy

Cindy Zimmerman

2011 has been a challenging year for getting anything done in Washington DC, including as it relates to both agriculture and energy policy.

“In agriculture, when it comes to energy, we want reliable, economically competitive sources,” says GROWMARK government affairs director Chuck Spencer. “As a country, what we are looking for is energy security and that’s going to come from a mix of both domestic production and allies like Canada.”

growmarkWhen it comes to domestically-produced ethanol, Spencer says the expiration of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) at the end of this year provides new opportunities for the industry. “The domestic ethanol industry has been preparing for this moment for some time,” he said. “The energy table is rather large and there’s plenty of chairs at the table, particularly biofuels of all types. We’re going to see our fuel sources continue to diversify and in that diversity is going to come strength.”

Since the GROWMARK system is a cooperative that represents farmers throughout the Midwest and Ontario, Spencer says they are looking forward to the challenge of agriculture being able to supply more of our energy needs. “We’re all looking forward to more corn and soybean acres being planted. Farmers are responding to market signals to meet the demand for food products, renewable products, fiber and proteins for the livestock industry,” he said.

Spencer notes that the Renewable Fuels Standard is the corner stone of domestic renewable fuel policy and it should continue. “Considering that biodiesel is an advanced biofuel and ethanol can certainly become one as well, we have continued promise as far as our ability to produce renewable fuels and what that means to local economies,” he added.

Spencer also discusses what lies ahead in 2012 with the need to come up with a new Farm Bill during an election year with a huge federal deficit.
Listen to my conversation with Chuck Spencer here: Chuck Spencer Interview

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, GROWMARK

Life Cycle Analysis Favorable for Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

Comparing the life cycle analysis of soy products to petroleum products shows clear environmental advantages on the soybean side.

Early last year, the United Soybean Board released the findings of a life cycle analysis report that compared several different soy-based products with the same products made from petroleum sources, including soy biodiesel. The peer-reviewed study was done by Omni Tech International, a consulting firm specializing in renewable and biobased products. The study included a review of soy-based biofuels, plastics, lubricants and coatings.

Omni Tech consultant Jim Pollack says they found out that soybean yields increase 12% in the last ten years, energy to grow soybeans was down 20%, soybean crushing plants were using 45% less energy to make soybean oil. “When the oil was sent over to the biodiesel plants, they were using 35% less energy,” Pollack said. “So, collectively, all of these improvements have resulted in a very favorable life cycle profile for soy biodiesel.”

Pollack was telling that story at the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting. Listen to my interview with him here: Jim Pollack with Omni Tech International

Audio, Biodiesel, Soybeans

REPREVE Renewables Hosts Field Day

repreveREPREVE Renewables, LLC, a leader in biomass energy solutions, will hold its second annual Freedom Giant Miscanthus Field Day, at their farm operations in Soperton, GA on Jan. 10-11, 2012. This year, it is a two-day event.

With an exclusive license to commercialize Freedom giant miscanthus, the company will have live field demonstrations and presentations by industry experts for growers, landowners and end-users.

A tentative itenerary includes industry speakers, research presentations, equipment displays and more. The Freedom Field Day is open to the public but advance registration is required.

biomass

Iowa Biodiesel Interests Plan Radio Ads for Basketball

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa’s biodiesel leaders are unveiling new radio ads for Iowa State/Iowa men’s basketball games to promote biodiesel to consumers.

“These radio ads are designed to encourage Iowans to learn more about the industry’s starting line-up of performance, quality, support for Iowa agriculture, green-job creation, as well as price and availability,” said Jon Scharingson, Director, Sales and Marketing at Renewable Energy Group® (REG), part of the group coordinating the ads. “Whether you’re a Hawkeye or a Cyclone, we want Iowa diesel engine operators to ask for biodiesel blends from their local petroleum marketer whether it is at the retail pump or for delivery to their business, fleet, or farm.”

In addition to REG, the radio ads are being sponsored by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, the Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Biodiesel Board to encourage consumers to ask for biodiesel blends from their local fuel retailer, coop or petroleum marketer. The ads are partially funded by the soybean check-off.

According to the Iowa Department of Weight and Measures, a five percent biodiesel blend (B5) has the same performance and quality attributes as straight diesel fuel. “B5 biodiesel blends can perform in any diesel engine in any season,” said Scharingson. “We urge consumers to ask for this home-grown, Iowa-made fuel from any petroleum marketer in Iowa.”

Biodiesel, REG, Soybeans