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

Gearing Up For A NASCAR Weekend

Chuck Zimmerman

Domestic Fuel goes NASCAR this weekend. I’ll start things off with the Nationwide Series STP 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday with support from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. Then Cindy will pick up at the Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday with support from the National Corn Growers Association. It is going to be fun. So why are we doing this? Because these speed machines are running on a fifteen percent blend of ethanol thanks to a long term sponsorship deal between NASCAR and American Ethanol.

I got my trip started off today at Marquis Energy in Hennepin, IL. The company is a major sponsor of the #09 car that Kenny Wallace will be driving in Joliet, IL on Saturday. Kenny and the actual car he’ll be driving (pictured) made an appearance today at Marquis Energy’s Appreciation Day festivities. I’ll have some interviews to share with you later from that event. In the meantime you can see photos, including more of the car and Kenny online: Marquis Energy Appreciation Day Photos.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR

Ethanol Groups Support Open Fuel Standard

Cindy Zimmerman

While one biofuels group has expressed concern about Open Fuel Standard legislation, the three main ethanol organizations in the country are in favor of it.

Renewable Fuels Association LogoRenewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says they endorse the Open Fuel Standard Act introduced by Representatives John Shimkus and Elliot Engel. Additionally, the RFA has endorsed similar legislation offered by Senators Tom Harkin and Richard Lugar. “Ethanol remains the only proven, widely available alternative to gasoline today and will so for the foreseeable future,” Dinneen said. “Investments in vehicle technologies that can accommodate a wide range of ethanol blends will necessarily expand the market for ethanol and create new opportunities for developing and nearly commercial ethanol technologies. More ethanol-ready vehicles are a critical component to the nation’s strategy to end our addiction to oil.”

ACEAmerican Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Executive Vice President Brian Jennings says the legislation offers a wide range of fuel choices for both consumers and energy independence advocates. “ACE strongly supports the Open Fuels Standard because it provides consumers with meaningful fuel choices, including American-made ethanol. With gas prices hovering at four dollars a gallon, and with oil companies unapologetic about massive profits, and refusing to even consider changes to their favored tax status, it is time for us to create real competition in the fuel marketplace, and this legislation does just that,” he said.

Growth Energy“Each additional Flex Fuel vehicle on the road gives consumers a choice in their fuels, while lowering the price at the pump and strengthening our energy security,” said Growth Energy President Jim Nussle. “Our nation’s dependence on foreign oil is unsustainable and is hurting our economy and national security. It’s time to invest in smart policies like these that will create competition in the fuels market and break the stronghold that oil companies and Middle East cartels have on our nation.”

H.R. 1687, the Open Fuel Standard Act of 2011, would require that 50 percent of new automobiles in 2014, 80 percent in 2016, and 95 percent in 2017 would be warranted to operate on non-petroleum fuels in addition to, or instead of, petroleum based fuels.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Growth Energy, RFA

Propane Green Autogas Solutions Act Proposed

Joanna Schroeder

The Open Fuel Standard is not the only piece of fuel legislation that has been proposed recently. On May 27, 2011, the Propane Green Autogas Solutions Act was introduced to the House of Representatives and Senate by House Republican Conference Secretary Representative John Carter (R-TX) along with Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). The bill aims to extend existing propane autogas tax credits through 2016 for the purchase of propane-powered vehicles as well as to the refueling infrastructure and fuel itself.

Other legislators sponsoring the Propane GAS Act include Representatives Dan Boren (D-OK) and Mike Rogers (R-AL), as well as Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

“Providing more incentives for vehicles using propane autogas can play a key role in infusing competition into the U.S. transportation fuel market, stimulating job growth and reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil,” said U.S. Congressman John Carter (R-TX). “Propane is a proven and cleaner-burning alternative fuel. This bill puts into motion the necessary steps to help solidify a place for propane autogas on the nation’s menu of fuels that insures a more cost-effective, domestically produced fuel option exists for American drivers.”

According to organizations such as CleanFUEL USA, propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world and the third most used fuel after gasoline and diesel. Today, it is primarily used in the transportation sector in fleet vehicles. More than 90 percent of the propane used in the states is produced in North America and a national infrastructure is already in place.

Curtis Donaldson, founder and CEO of CleanFUEL USA said of the proposed bill, “Our nation’s supply and demand issues for transportation fuel is teetering on a tipping point of no return – one where all viable options should be on the table. Propane autogas is the ‘right here, right now’ fuel, and we applaud Congressman Carter in initiating the Propane GAS Act. As a U.S. Representative for Texas (a global leader in the energy industry), Carter truly understands both the needs and opportunities to diversify our energy mix and his efforts on this bill is a clear indication of that.”

Legislation, Propane