NASCAR Family Farmers/Marquis Energy Car Update

Chuck Zimmerman

This is why we’re out here at NASCAR this weekend. Every car on the track here at Chicagoland Speedway and tomorrow at Kansas Speedway will be sporting the American Ethanol name around their gas cap. A fifteen percent blend of ethanol will be fueling these cars to help show consumers that the fuel is perfectly safe in their cars and is also good for performance.

It’s race day here in Joliet. I’ll be attending the Illinois Corn Growers/Iowa Soybean Association hospitality area midday and then back inside the track for the afternoon’s activities. I’ll be posting some interviews and final results too. The STP 300 doesn’t start until 7pm tonight!

Although ethanol is in all these cars I’m paying special attention to Kenny Wallace in the #09 Family Farmers/Marquis Energy car. In the final practice last night he had the best 10 consecutive lap average speed of 169.577 mph. Not bad Kenny. We wish you and all the drivers a safe race today.

STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos

American Ethanol, Ethanol, NASCAR, Racing

Cosan and Shell Partner Form Raizen

Joanna Schroeder

Regulatory approvals have come through for Shell and Cosan’s partnership to called Raizen. The new company’s goal is to produce low-carbon biofuels from sugarcane. This Brazil-based multi-billion dollar venture is one of the largest to date. Raizen will produce and sell over 2 billion litres per year of ethanol produced from Brazilian sugarcane through the more than 4,500 Shell stations throughout the country. As part of this new venture, Shell has transferred its shares in biofuel company Codexis to the new company Raizen.

“We are building a leading position in the most efficient ethanol-producing country in the world,” said Peter Voser, Shell Chief Executive Officer. “Low-carbon, sustainable biofuels will be increasingly important in the global transport fuel mix.”

While Shell has invested in biofuel development and sells biofuels at the pump, this announcement marks the first time the company will be active in producing biofuels. Shell says this venture is part of a larger strategy for growth in the fuels business. Right out of the gate Raizen is the third largest fuels company in Brazil and long-term plans to export ethanol. Today, Raizen’s 24 mills can process up to 62 million tonnes of cane into sugar or ethanol with the flexibility to increase production based on demand.

“This is a turning point in the search for alternative energy sources. Raizen is one of Brazil’s largest companies and is ready to offer international markets a clean, renewable and economically viable solution,” concluded Rubens Ometto Silveira Mello, Cosan’s Chairman of the Board.

biofuels, Brazil, Ethanol

Corn On Display At Chicagoland Speedway

Chuck Zimmerman

I have now shifted my location and focus to Chicagoland Speedway. It’s set up and practice day for the Nationwide Series drivers. I’ll be meeting with Kenny Wallace who will be driving the Family Farmers car in his garage in a few minutes.

Earlier today I stopped by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board display that is being set up in Champions Park. Two of the guys working there are (l-r) Jim Tarmann, Field Services Director, and Mark Schneidewind, Will County Farm Bureau and a corn grower. I asked them to tell me what race goers will find when they come out to the Speedway and what they hope to accomplish.

Jim Tarmann Interview Mark Schneidewind Interview

STP 300 Nationwide Series NASCAR Weekend Photos

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR

Perdue AgriBusiness Assures Producers Barley Contracts Intact

Joanna Schroeder

Last month Osage Bio Energy announced that is would be selling its plant without going into production. Had the plant gone online, it would have been the country’s largest biorefinery using barley as its main feedstock. In light of this announcement, Perdue AgriBusiness is assuring its customers that it will honor all contracts for the 2011 barley crop.

Perdue AgriBusiness had an exclusive agreement with Osage Bio Energy to source barley for the Hopewell plant. “Perdue AgriBusiness will honor all barley contracts with producers and Osage Bio Energy’s decision to sell its plant will have no impact on those agreements,” said John Ade, vice president of grain. “In addition, we maintain our long standing ‘you-grow-and-we’ll-buy-it’ policy. Our grain elevators are prepared to receive the local barley harvest.”

Perdue AgriBusiness, a global merchandiser of grains and agricultural commodities, is working with Osage to determine other markets for the barley crop. Ade added, “We will be able to minimize the impact on our company while protecting the local farmers.”

biofuels, Ethanol, feedstocks

Illinois Corn Grower Advocates NASCAR Promotion

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the Illinois corn growers who send his product into Marquis Energy is Jim Rapp, Princeton, pictured on the far right next to NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace and Jim’s sons, Nick and Ben. Jim says that the NASCAR promotional opportunity that the industry has become involved in proves that a fifteen percent blend of ethanol works. He’s a major advocate for the renewable fuel that’s good for our country! As a family farmer he’s thrilled to have Family Farmers emblazoned on the #09 car that will be driven in the STP 300 Nationwide Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.

Jim Rapp Interview

Marquis Energy Appreciation Day Photos

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR

Marquis Energy Feeding and Fueling Local Economy

Chuck Zimmerman

One of the dignitaries attending the Marquis Energy Appreciation Day was Darin LaHood, Illinois Sen. 37th Dist., pictured (left) with NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace. Darin represents ten counties and agriculture is the number one industry. He says that the economic impact that ethanol makes on their communities is tremendous. He says that Marquis Energy talks about feeding and fueling the world and the reality is they feed and fuel the local economy too. He going to continue to advocate for what they’re doing at every opportunity in the state legislature.

Darin LaHood Interview

Marquis Energy Appreciation Day Photos

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR

SunPower Biodiesel Goes Into Production

Joanna Schroeder

SunPower Biodiesel is official producing biodiesel at its plant located in Cumberland Wisconsin. The plant is using locally grown canola oil to produce the biodiesel. To celebrate, SunPower held a grand opening event that included a biodiesel workshop, plant tours and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Sun Power is very unique in our region,” said Laura Richard, Wisconsin Clean Cities, Southeast Area. “It’s a full circle. The canola is grown here in Wisconsin, the oil is processed into biodiesel, and they sell it right back to fuel users. They have a huge positive impact on their community and the state of Wisconsin.”

The SunPower Biodiesel plant was the pillar for the creation of an International Biofuels Research and Development Park. To aid in the success of the project, the plant received funds from the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program (WCTP) to help with the purchase of equipment as well as for operating capital. WCTP is administered jointly by the Wisconsin Department of Administration – Office of Energy Independence and Wisconsin Clean Cities—Southeast Area.

Biodiesel, biofuels

Propel Offers Sacramento, CA Drivers B20

Joanna Schroeder

Biodiesel is gaining traction in California. This week Propel Fuels began selling B20 biodiesel at two of its Sacramento area fuel stations. Propel says its B20 is a blend of 20 percent American made biodiesel and 80 percent petro-diesel, and provides motorists increased performance, longer engine life and reduced emissions. Next, Propel added B20 to its Roseville stations as well as its station in Sacramento on Folsom Boulevard in response to customer demand. In addition to biodiesel, Propel also sells E85 and you can find their biodiesel and E85 stations in its biofuel station locator.

“As high fuel prices force drivers to think about what they put in their tanks, we are proud to offer a higher blend of biodiesel that provides premium performance and guaranteed quality at no additional cost,” said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel. “By providing a new choice at the pump, we are enabling Sacramento’s drivers to be part of the solution, making progress towards reducing carbon emissions and our nation’s dependence on imported oil.”

Propel is using biodiesel sourced from recycled vegetable oils. Biodiesel is safe to use in current diesel vehicles and serves to reduce harmful tailpipe emissions while improving performance and efficiency. While not all vehicles are manufactured to use B20 blends, more and more auto companies are producing diesel vehicles designed to operate using B20 including all 2011 GM and Ford diesel vehicles and Cummins engines.

In addition to offering B20 in ares of California, Propel has sold B20 in Washington State since 2007, with a very positive response from consumers. More information on Propel’s B20 can be found here.

Biodiesel, biofuels, E85

Nebraska Ethanol Fuel Promotion at Tractor Museum

Cindy Zimmerman

Gas powered tractors can get free ethanol blended fuel from the Nebraska Ethanol Board at an antique tractor show this weekend.

The Nebraska Ethanol Board is offering three gallons of free E10 to the first 25 registered gas powered tractors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Larsen Tractor Museum’s open house Saturday, June 4th from 10 am to 2 pm. Registered entrants can pick up their coupon for three free gallons of E10 from the Nebraska Ethanol Board at the 1920 Model T Ford on display at the Museum.

The promotion calls attention to the fact that many older vehicles, including the Model-T and several antique tractors, were originally designed to run on ethanol fuels.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Marquis Energy and NASCAR

Chuck Zimmerman

The President of Marquis Energy is Mark Marquis, seen here introducing NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace to the crowd attending yesterday’s event held at the Hennepin ethanol plant. I spoke with Mark and learned that Marquis Energy is a real family type business that he had built after growing up on a family farm in this area and branching out into the grain business. In my interview with him you’ll hear him talk about plans to double the size of the Hennepin plant.

Mark is a Growth Energy board member. He says the organization saw the long term agreement with NASCAR as a great opportunity to help get in front of American consumers who will feel more confident about putting higher blends of ethanol in their cars after seeing how well it performs in the race cars. They’ve accomplished that through American Ethanol, a partnership with the National Corn Growers Association. The local NASCAR Nationwide Series STP 300 race on Saturday provided his company with an opportunity to make a special contribution to the effort. He says NASCAR is very popular with his employees and the farmers who send in about 150 trucks of corn a day to the plant. Mark Marquis Interview

You can hear Mark’s introduction of Kenny and Kenny’s remarks in this video clip:

Marquis Energy Appreciation Day Photos

American Ethanol, Audio, corn, Ethanol, NASCAR, Video