Pioneer Presenting Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s what the hood of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 official pace car looks like. It’s proudly displaying the Pioneer logo as the presenting sponsor.

Todd says the relationship with the Iowa Corn Growers in sponsoring the Iowa Corn Indy 250 has been very beneficial. As he puts it, “It’s a great event for the state of Iowa. It’s great for agriculture.” All of the cars racing this evening will be running on 100% corn ethanol showing how well the fuel performs in an engine. Pioneer brings in a lot of their customers for the event. In fact, I’ve heard that there will be approximately 2,500 farmers at the race track today. I’ll be out on location this afternoon in advance of tonight’s race. Let’s hope the weather improves. Todd Frazier Interview

2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

Danica Patrick Says Ethanol Is Great

Chuck Zimmerman

After practice runs for the Iowa Corn Indy 250 Indy Car driver Danica Patrick held a press conference.

I asked her for a comment on having Iowa corn growers supporting this race again and what she thinks about racing with ethanol. She said, “I think that we’re in definitely in an age where everybody is doing what they can to take care of this wonderful world we live in. Ethanol is definitely something that has been a real presence in IndyCar years ago to NASCAR now. It’s really great.” Danica Patrick Ethanol Remark

You can listen to the full press conference with Danica here: Danica Patrick Press Conference

2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

Iowa Corn Growers Going Green With Indy

Chuck Zimmerman

The Iowa Corn Growers are going green this weekend at the Iowa Corn Indy 250. In fact, there will be lots of green shirts out here at Iowa Speedway. Here are some of the leadership team that was on hand this morning to talk with the media.

I spoke first with Iowa Corn Promotion Board Chair, Dick Gallagher. Dick is also a corn grower. He says that this weekend is special because it’s all about going green. That shows that this renewable fuel is a green fuel. To the naysayers he says, “Ethanol is renewable, good for the Iowa economy and more environmentally friendly.” Dick Gallagher Interview

Next up was Iowa Corn Growers CEO, Craig Floss. Craig agrees with me that the weather is perfect for racing and we hope it stays that way. He says he visited with Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti last night and he was reminded about how much the drivers like ethanol as a fuel for a variety of reasons. Craig Floss Interview

And I also spoke with incoming President for the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Kevin Ross. Kevin is from southwest Iowa and says he’s near the flooding area but hasn’t been affected. However, he notes how much that situation is affecting farm families right now and our prayers and thoughts go out to them. From his perspective as a grower the Iowa Corn Indy 250 “it’s been a huge event.” He’s just thrilled with the showcase to promote their product. Kevin Ross Interview

2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

Pre-Promotion For Iowa Corn Indy 250

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s time for the running of the fifth Iowa Corn Indy 250 presented by Pioneer Hi-Bred. One of our drivers will be Marco Andretti. Marco is seen here on a break from practice laps today out at Iowa Speedway. Yesterday he was signing autographs at the Urbandale Kum & Go. The Kum & Go chain has been a proponent of ethanol for a long time and was conducting a promotion with the Iowa Corn Growers.

I spoke with Marco and asked him about racing on ethanol fuel and his thoughts on the race which will be under the lights on Saturday evening for the first time. Marco Andretti Interview

Representing Kum & Go at the promotional event was the Chief Operating Officer, Dennis Folden, seen here with Marco. Dennis says they now have 74 stores serving E85!

During the two hour promotion at the store you could purchase E85 for just 85 cents and regular unleaded containing ten percent ethanol was lowered by 25 cents/gallon. There was no lack of cars pulling in to fill up. Dennis Folden Interview

Also on hand pumping ethanol into cars during the promotion was Vachel White, a corn grower who servers on the Industrial Uses Committee of the Iowa Corn Growers. He says people like “cheap” gasoline and ethanol is making that happen. As a corn grower he says this promotion means a lot to him. Vachel White Interview

I am collecting photos from all the activities going on here in Iowa. You can find them here: 2011 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Photo Album

Audio, corn, Ethanol News, IA Corn Indy, Indy Racing

Isuzu Commercial Trucks Support Biodiesel Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has become the latest Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to support the use of B20 biodiesel blends.

According to the National Biodiesel Board, Isuzu confirmed that all of its new 2011 and forward model year diesel engines, including its four popular N-Series truck models as well as the new Isuzu Reach commercial van, are compatible with use of up to 20 percent biodiesel blends (B20). This is especially significant as Isuzu Commercial Truck is the first Asian manufacturer to approve B20 for U.S. market spec engines.

According to Isuzu Commercial Truck’s Retail Marketing Manager Brian Tabel, Isuzu’s announcement of B20 support is the result of three key factors: growing consumer demand for the fuel, an extensive and cooperative research project on B20 biodiesel blends by Isuzu engineers in the U.S. and Japan, and improved biodiesel fuel quality and industry support in the U.S. under the assurances of ASTM D7467, the American Society of Testing and Materials specifications for B6-B20 biodiesel blends.

“Our customers at Isuzu Commercial Truck of America have been asking for approval to use B20 in our products in the U.S. for many years,” Tabel said. “We are really happy to now turn that request into a reality and bring B20 biodiesel capability to the U.S. market.”

Isuzu Commercial Truck commands an impressive 73 -75 percent market share of the low cab-forward medium-duty truck market in the U.S. Through its network of 293 dealers in the U.S., Isuzu expects to sell 10,000 – 11,000 diesel units in 2011, all of which are capable to use with B20 biodiesel blends.

Biodiesel, NBB

Biodiesel Tax Incentive Extension Introduced

Cindy Zimmerman

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in both the House and Senate this week introduced legislation to extend the biodiesel tax incentive for three years.

The Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act would extend the $1 per gallon tax credit from 2012 through 2014 and would reform the biodiesel tax incentive from a blenders excise tax credit to a production excise tax credit. “Biodiesel development and production is an important job creator for this country,” said House co-sponsor Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL), who notes that biodiesel is an important industry for soybean producers and the rural economy of his home state.

“Illinois soybean farmers have a great interest in the development and expansion of the U.S. biodiesel industry. Biodiesel has provided a significant market opportunity for soybean farmers, and jobs and economic development for rural communities,” said American Soybean Association Vice President Ron Kindred of Atlanta, Ill.

Schock says that extending the credit will also help develop other crops for the production of biodiesel, such as Pennycress, which has an exceptionally high oil content. Initial research indicates that an acre of pennycress can yield up to 110 gallons of biodiesel, twice what can be produced from an equal amount of soybeans.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is pleased that extension legislation has been introduced, now that the industry is getting back up to speed after losing the tax incentive for an entire year. “Unfortunately, we don’t have to speculate about what would happen to our industry if this tax incentive goes away. We saw the fallout last year when the incentive temporarily expired. Plants closed and thousands of people were laid off. It would be a terrible mistake if Congress allowed that to happen again,” said NBB Chairman Gary Haer. “We are poised for a record year of production this year, and this bill would provide the market and investor certainty that the industry needs to continue building on that progress.”

Biodiesel, NBB, Soybeans

New Initiative Launched to Spur Aviation Biofuels in Europe

Joanna Schroeder

The Paris air show is taking place this week and biofuels have taken to the air in a dramatic fashion. Today, the European Commission and Airbus, along with several leading European airlines and European biofuel producers, have launched a new industry wide initiative to try and speed up the commercialization of aviation biofuels throughout the country. “Biofuel Flightpath,” is a roadmap with precise actions to achieve the goal of two million tonnes of biofuel used each year by the aviation industry by 2020. As part of the plan, the biofuels will be produced using biomass from Europe. The plan has the backing of the European Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, Airbus CEO Tom Enders, and other key industry players.

“This is a unique opportunity to create the first industrial venture ever introducing sustainable biofuels for commercially competitive operations. The Commission therefore fully supports all efforts in this direction and will actively contribute to their success. They are fully in line with our European Strategic Energy Technology Plan,” said Mr Günter H. Oettinger, European Commissioner for Energy.

The Biofuel Flightplan also lays out a plan to establish much needed financing to bring aviation biofuel technology to market at commercial scale biorefineries. More specifically the Biofuel Flightpath aims to:

  • • Facilitate the development of standards for drop-in biofuels and for their certification
  • • Work together with the full supply chain to further develop worldwide accepted sustainability certification.
  • • Facilitate dedicated aviation biofuel production at a reasonable cost by agreeing to tangible biofuel supply and purchase commitments.
  • • Promote appropriate legislative measures to ensure the market uptake of paraffinic biofuels by the aviation sector.
  • • Accelerate research and innovation into advanced biofuel technologies, including algae.
  • • Establish financing structures to facilitate sustainable biofuel projects.
  • • Publicly promote the benefits of replacing kerosene by sustainable biofuels.

Marcell Ulrichs, CEO of CHOREN Industries who is in the process of building an advanced biofuels plant in Germany, added, “Aviation biofuels are today technically possible and our biofuels sector is ready to help meet the Flightpath targets towards its commercialisation. Together with airlines and public stakeholders, we will create viable and cost competitive business cases for the production and utilisation of sustainably produced aviation biofuels. We are committed to enabling the global aviation community to reduce its carbon footprint and its dependence on crude.”

biofuels, biojet fuel, International

E85 Station Opens in Magnolia, North Carolina

Joanna Schroeder

Magnolia, North Carolina is the newest home of an E85 station, just off of Interstate 40. This marks the state’s 16th E85 station, but the first one funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act via the Carolina Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative. The official grand opening took place on June 17 and 90 guests from the local community and throughout the state were on hand for the event. Special guests included Gwendolyn Vann, Mayor of Magnolia; Zettie Williams, Duplin County Commissioner; Steven Burke, CEO and President of the Biofuels Center of N.C.; and Howard Isley, Assistant Commissioner for Agriculture and Consumer Services.

In five years, 16 stations in the state have installed E85 pumps. Isley noted that, “Ethanol is one way to become energy independent. We need new agricultural markets and ethanol is one way to create one here in North Carolina.” He finds the growing number of E85 pumps in the state encouraging and believes that ethanol can help grow North Carolina’s economy.

Lounell Mainor, owner of the Magnolia Marketplace station, said having the dispenser open to the public is a 5-year dream come true. She sees the environmental and air quality benefits of using ethanol a boon for her community.

“There’s a lot of potential (for ethanol). There’s never going to be potential that we’ll produce petroleum in this county but there’s great potential that we’ll be able to grow the crops that make this fuel and that’s what’s exciting,” said Tazewell, with NC Solar Center/ N.C. State University and also the project manager for the Blue Skies and Green Jobs Initiative.

Burke added, “On one end of the gas nozzle for this E85 pump is fuel that is 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. On the other end of that nozzle is North Carolina’s commitment to gain and grow biofuels. We have a whole new world in agriculture and it’s ‘biofuels’. We can’t continue to depend on oil.”

biofuels, E85, Ethanol

Biofuels Survive G20 Ag Ministers Meeting

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels survived a challenge on the international level this week as agriculture ministers meeting in France declined to recommend countries limit production to avoid impacting food prices.

The agreement reached by the ministers mainly focuses on creation of an agricultural market information system and removing barriers to food exports for humanitarian purposes. The ministers did call for further analysis of the impact of biofuels on food availability, price volatility and sustainability. “We also recognize the importance of research and development on biofuels, including those produced through new processes or new feedstocks, non-food feedstocks and other vegetable materials,” they said in their declaration.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted that biofuels development can help alleviate spikes in oil prices that impact food prices. “Furthermore, our work to support innovation in the development of non-food feedstocks and next generation renewable fuels will continue to help offset instability in the energy market, which accounts for the bulk of food and commodity price fluctuations in the past decade,” he said.

The European ethanol trade group ePURE said the ministers’ decision “recognizes the vital role of biofuels in reduction of greenhouse gases, energy security and rural development and said that there was not enough evidence to link biofuels to food price volatility. The European ethanol industry welcomes the decision by the G20 to vanquish the myth that biofuels are responsible for food price volatility.”

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Genencor Releases Next Gen Cellulosic Enzyme

Joanna Schroeder

Genencor has announced its next generation cellulosic ethanol enzyme, Accellerase TRIO. The enzyme will help biofuel producers more cost-effectively produce cellulosic ethanol from a wide-range of renewable feedstocks including switchgrass, wheat straw, corn stover and municipal waste. In essence, this enzyme improves the effectiveness of converting biomass into sugars, one of the critical steps in the production process.

Accellerase TRIO can be thought of as an enzyme cocktail that combines into one product the ability to breakdown the glucan (C6) and xylan (C5) in the biomass feedstock into fermentable sugars. This solution increases ethanol yield per unit of feedstock and also helps to boost total production by lowering viscosity and enabling producers to process more biomass.

I spoke with Dr. Aaron Kelley, Director of Business Development for Genencor, via Skype to learn more about their new product. He noted that there are three main points he wants to drive home about Accellerase TRIO.

“One, we think it is a very significant improvement for the industry and a significant improvement for Genencor over Accellerase DUET, our last Accellerase product. So as we look across the spectrum of biomass feedstocks and pretreatments we’re seeing a two-fold reduction in the amount of enzymes needed to reach the same level of production. That’s very significant for the industry.”

Kelley continued, “We also think Accellerase TRIO is one of the most easy to use and complete products out there in the market today. It really combines all the necessary cellulase and hemi-cellulase activities to get conversion to monomeric sugars and that’s what the yeast and other things need to produce cellulosic ethanol.”

You can listen to my full interview with Aaron Kelley, where he also discusses the recent lowering of the advanced biofuels requirement in the Renewable Fuels Standard, here: Accellerase TRIO Launched

The enzyme has shown significant results across the board in feedstocks ranging from stovers to dedicated energy crops to municipal solid waste. Several companies have already been using the enzyme with great success. However, Kelley notes that while Accellerase is effective among the suite of feedstocks today, in the future, they may look at tailoring the enzyme for specific feedstocks.

The announcement has come on the cusp of the Fuel Ethanol Workshop that will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana beginning on Monday, June 27th. Kelley, who will be at the show, expects a lot of interest in the product from producers.

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News