ACE Conference 2026

Rupert Loves Home Grown Fuel

Chuck Zimmerman

His name is Rupert Boneham but everyone knows him as Rupert, winner of Survivor. Rupert is one of the folks I’ve had the pleasure to meet here at the 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. In the photo he’s being interviewed on the street before the Legends Ride. I ran into him again out here where I’m staying at the Buffalo Chip Campground.

Rupert has a charitable organization called, “Rupert’s Kids” which is “dedicated to serving an easily overlooked population of youth: those that have become too old for the youth social service system, but are not old enough for the adult social service system. We teach these youth valuable skills and trades, while also empowering them to discover their inner strengths, passions and interests.” I heard him speak about the work his organization is doing and the fact that they’ve never taken any government money. That message alone was well worth bringing to your attention. With donations lagging due to the economy he’s turned to some very creative ways to create funding that includes his own branded video games.

Rupert is from Indiana and is also a big supporter of home grown fuel like ethanol!

Listen to my interview with Rupert here: Interview with Rupert

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association
Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sturgis

Safety Issues at a Biorefinery

Chuck Zimmerman

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think the biggest safety issue is at a biorefinery?” Here’s what you said. 43% said interaction with chemicals, 34% said, slips, grips and falls, 14% chose equipment and 9% other. We’ll be delving into this issue more in a series of stories that are in production now. Thanks for your input!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What do you like best about farm radio?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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

ZimmPoll

Butamax Awarded Patent

Joanna Schroeder

Butamax has been granted another patent – number 7,993,889. This patent protects foundational methods for low-cost production of biobutanol. Currently, Butamax has over a hundred patent applications pending in addition to those already granted and several of the applications are under accelerated review in the USPTO Green Technology Pilot Program. The company says its intellectual property encompasses advances in technology across the renewables value chain including the production, purification and use of biobutanol as a renewable fuel component.

“The strength of Butamax’s patent portfolio is a testament to our company’s innovation capability and is a critical asset as we commercialize the most significant new fuel molecule since ethanol,” said Paul Beckwith, CEO of Butamax.

Peter Matrai, COO of Butamax added, “Butamax’s comprehensive intellectual property estate offers licensees a unique commercial opportunity underpinned by a fully proprietary technology package.”

In other Butamax news, they announced the filing of a second patent infringement against Gevo, Inc. for its unlawful use of Butamax biobutanol technology. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S District Court in the District of Delaware and is based on Gevo’s infringement of U.S. patent no. 7,993,889 that was granted to Butamax just this week.

Beckwith said of the patent infringement, “The success of any new technology start-up is dependent on protection of innovation. It is our obligation to assert our intellectual property rights in order to defend value for our partners and to protect the viability of this emerging industry.”

biobutanol, biofuels, Company Announcement

Sturgis Legends Ride

Chuck Zimmerman

Each year at the Legends Ride, now in its 4th year, photographer Michael Lichter, takes a photo of the participants in front of the famous Franklin Hotel in Deadwood, SD. He gets a little higher angle than I did but these are the folks that were about to take off on their bikes for the ride yesterday.

Rfa’s Robert White has his bike here and took part in the ride. At the end of this video clip you’ll see him wave as he rides by me on the street.

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association
Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sturgis, Video

Sturgis Legends Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

During the Legends Ride activities here at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally a press conference was held. The lineup of speakers included personalities like Rupert, one of the winners of Survivor. Also on the list was Robert White, Renewable Fuels Association.

I recorded Robert speaking to the standing room only filled room of media. You can listen to Robert’s statement here: Robert White Press Conference

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association
Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sturgis

Sturgis Rally Ethanol Street Interview

Chuck Zimmerman

The opening event for the 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is the Legends Ride that starts in Deadwood, SD and ends at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis. Here’s RFA’s Robert White (right) being interviewed on the street over the Legends event PA.

I recorded him describing the importance of this renewable fuel to America. You can listen to the interview here: Robert White Interview

2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association
Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sturgis

Ethanol Fueling 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from the Buffalo Chip Campground in Sturgis, SD. It’s the heart and home of a lot of the activities that make up the 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Thanks to the Renewable Fuels Association I’m getting my first up front and personal look at this world renowned event. I will attempt to describe it over the next several days.

RFA is a major sponsor of the rally with the theme, “Ethanol, Fueled with Pride.” Here are two happy campers with their new ethanol t-shirts. So, I’m tagging along with RFA’s Robert White this week as he and several other folks spread the word about ethanol to these bikers.

I’ve got a photo album started which you can find here: 2011 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Domestic Fuel coverage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is sponsored by The Renewable Fuels Association
Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

2011 Florida Energy Summit Dates Set

Joanna Schroeder

The 2011 Florida Energy Summit has been moved to October 26-28 in Orlando, Florida. The official announcement came today from the Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam who made the announcement during a visit to the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa where he learned about the research and development of energy technologies to advanced the production of hydrogen, fuel cell, solar energy and biomass.

“The Florida Energy Summit will advance the expansion of the production of renewable energy in Florida by bringing together leaders in energy development, agriculture production, government, academic research, technology and finance,” said Commissioner Putnam. “By taking a more comprehensive look at prospective energy resources, we will gain a better understanding of Florida’s energy potential to not only capture, but also capitalize on the rich resources available.”

The Florida Energy Summit replaces the Farm to Fuel Summit, and will be hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS). The change in focus came from the 2011 Legislative Session where they transferred the responsibilities of the Florida Energy and Climate Commission to DACS and thus creating the Department’s Office of Energy. The new summit will broaden the energy focus from “biofuels” to all forms of renewable energy.

Information about the Florida Energy Summit can be found at www.floridaenergysummit.com.

biofuels, conferences, Energy, Hydrogen, Solar

JBI Partners to Produce Waste Into Fuel

Joanna Schroeder

Thorold, Ontario – based JBI has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Rock-Tenn Company to covert mill by-product waste into fuel. The process will feature JBI’s Plastic2Oil technology. As part of the agreement, JBI has an exclusive 10 year license with a renewal option to build and operate Plastic2Oil processors at RockTenn’s facilities. The plan is to convert waste plastic at paper mills and material recovery facilities to biofuels. In addition, JBI will mine and process plastic from RockTenn’s plastic-filled monofill sites.

RockTenn has been producing thousands of tons per day. For many years, the company has been storing the plastic in company-owned plastic-only landfills. Now, rather than disposing of the plastics, JBI will mine it for biofuels.

“We are honored that RockTenn has chosen JBI to be its long-term partner in this venture and believe this provides further validation that we have a viable commercial process to handle not only the critical issue of waste by-product but also rising energy costs,” said JBI’s Founder & CEO John Bordynuik. “RockTenn has the industrial relationship and feedstock to support hundreds of Plastic2Oil™ processors. We anticipate a mutually beneficial relationship for both parties and intend to expand as quickly as possible.

Bordynuik continued, “RockTenn currently has sites that can support clusters of processors. In preparation for this agreement, we have designed our processors to be modular ’plug and play’ to allow rapid deployment across RockTenn’s locations.”

biofuels, Cellulosic, Waste-to-Energy

Continuous Algae Harvesting Network Developed

Joanna Schroeder

OriginOil has announced that it has developed a real-time control network to supervise continuous algae harvesting operations aimed for large scale algae production sites. The network, code named “Green Stick,” will be installed at Australian algae producer MDB Energy’s power plant test site. In this configuration, the system will interface with MBD’s own growth control system and integrate its operations with the Single Step Extraction and downstream concentration and separation processes.

“Anyone harvesting algae at large scale has to deal with literally hundreds of variables in real time,” said Paul Reep, OriginOil’s Senior VP of Technology. “That’s why we built this dynamic system that can adjust harvest settings on the fly.”

The company says that there are hundreds of interactions that are critical to automate and scale large production operations including algae growth, detwatering, flocculation, cell lysing and oil recovery and have been primarily done manually. Their technology automates the entire process. The system is managed by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) that connects the biology and engineering with high throughput process control.

OriginOil recently filed for a patent of the new control technology; this is its 16th patent application. Inventors include Reep and Gavin Grey, senior director of engineering.

algae, biofuels