NEC 2027

Book Review – Life Without Oil

Joanna Schroeder

Woe is a country who can’t break its dependence on foreign oil. But how do you make such a bold move when our entire society is built upon its wares? And even more so, how do you break the chains when there are no other alternatives? This are some of the topics discussed in this week’s book, “Life Without Oil: Why We Must Shift To A New Energy Future,” by Steve Hallett with John Wright. Hallett is a professor in the department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue and Wright is an energy and environmental journalist.

The premise of the book is that the world is running out of oil while at the same time depleting itself of its natural resources. These two issues can combine to cause destruction and complete collapse of a society. The book begins by highlighting some of the societies that have disappeared due to lack of resources whether it be water or trees or others. One of the most famous case studies he uses is that of Easter Island, now owned by Chile, and the irony that although the people knew their future was in jeopardy due to diminished resources, they used them all anyway. Will this be society today?

Hallett is not a fan of biofuels as a solution to our problems. He also believes renewable energy, such as wind or solar, will only become mainstream when it is the only option. He also doesn’t think we will be laughing 30, 40, 50 years from now about how peak oil and climate change were myths.

In terms of the future energy sources, Hallett believes it will be one in which nuclear and hydrogen play major roles. Read More

biofuels, book reviews, Environment, Oil, Solar, Wind

Blaming Biofuels for Higher Food Prices One-Sided

Joanna Schroeder

In an effort to curb global rising food prices and food insecurity concerns, members of G20 nations will be meeting in Paris this week. A major focal point of discussion is set to be biofuels and earlier this month a report from Oxfam concluded that biofuels were part of the reason food prices are rising. The ethanol industry deems this view one-sided and has pointed out on numerous occasions, including today, that the report along with most arguments, fail to take into account the role global oil prices and market speculation play in the issue.

“It may be vogue for certain groups to blame biofuels for global hunger issues as though they didn’t exist before biofuel production, but that doesn’t mean eliminating biofuels policies will somehow put more food on the plates in developing nations,” said Renewable Fuels Association Vice President for Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper.

Cooper continued, “Exorbitant oil prices, excessive speculation in commodities markets, recent weather events, and host of other issues all play more significant roles in determining the price and availability of food than does biofuel production. As numerous reports have noted, bioenergy production can provide the catalyst many nations need to invest in agricultural technology, thus improving productivity, food security and their own energy stability.”

RFA considers the report incomplete and unbalanced and is asking G20 to “reject its findings” and request a revision of the report that takes into account a broader range of factors that contribute to food price swings. RFA would also like the report to include comments from stakeholders as well as consider other literature available on the subject. Finally, Cooper says that the call to abandon biofuel production is shortsighted and ignores the contributions it can offer including food and energy security.

biofuels, Ethanol, RFA

Self Powered Cellulosic Refinery Launched

Joanna Schroeder

Back in 2009, Allard Research and Development debuted its small ethanol and biodiesel refineries. This month, they have released the first self-powered modular cellulose ethanol refinery that uses cellulose feedstock grown as part of the system in hydroponic shipping containers. The system can produce 20 gallons per hour and fits into 3,600 square feet and can be attached together to create larger scale systems.

“The ability to grow the cellulose feedstock as part of the system is a game-changer,” said Adam Allard, Founder and Chairman. “Historically, the big limiting factor for people wanting to make their own ethanol fuel has been a lack of abundant feedstock.  Now it comes with the system. This process also provides an answer to an ongoing debate in this industry… it stops the food vs. fuel debate and does not take farmland that could be used to produce food crops.”

The patent pending system integrates an engine generator and distillation system in one. The waste heat from the engine is used for the distillation process and creates enough electricity to also power the entire mini biorefinery. The engine uses the gasified waste from the cellulose process as its fuel. In addition, the water is cleaned and reused in the system. Together, the ethanol is produced in a closed-loop system that minimizes waste and uses all feedstock components.

The company believes that its mini-biorefinery is a good option because it can be sited next to the feed source, needs only a fraction of the costs of a full-scale plant and the fuel can be sold to fuel retailers for use as E85 or any other ethanol fuel blends. The company expects to go into production during the 1st Quarter of 2012 but is currently taking orders.

Cellulosic, Ethanol

Hall Wines Installs EV Charger

Joanna Schroeder

Napa, California-based Hall Wines has paid for and installed an ECOTality electric vehicle charging station. “We are pleased to be working with an organization that is as passionate and supportive of the environment, as ECOTality,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOTality, Inc. “In addition to enriching the successful execution and continued maintenance of rich electric vehicle charging infrastructures in California, the installment of EV Charging Stations in Napa Valley and Sonoma is an exciting opportunity. HALL Wines’ support of the EV Project further allows us to expand our outlets of data collection, enabling us to evaluate the effectiveness of charging infrastructure, ultimately leading to our goal of widespread EV use throughout the United States.”

Hall Wines installed a Blink Level 2 Commercial Pedestal Charger. According to EcoTality, their design is easy and safe to use and provides user-friendly features to charge electric vehicles. The system is integrated with the Blink Network and offers easy payment options. Hall Wines will also be able to access informational delivery data flow, AMI interface capability, internal meter to monitor energy and demand usage as well as energy usage data evaluation.

“Since launching HALL Wines, we have been dedicated to preservation of the environment and bringing innovation to Napa Valley,” said Ambassador Kathryn Hall, HALL Wines Owner and Vintner. “HALL Wines is always looking for new ways to provide support and dedication to the sustainable living movement. We continue to reinforce our commitment to the health of the land, as well as that of the greater Napa Valley ecosystem. The latest initiative to install EV charging stations at HALL St. Helena and Roessler Cellars, is an expansion of our sustainability efforts and is our way of not only encouraging health of the land in wine country, but everywhere.”

Electric Vehicles, Electricity, Energy

Green Jet Fuel Powers Transatlantic Biofuel Flight

Joanna Schroeder

Over the weekend, a transatlantic flight, flying with biofuels, landed at the Paris-Le Bourget Airport. The plane was fueled with Honeywell’s Green Jet Fuel. The Honeywell-operated Gulfstream G450, powered by a Rolls-Royce engine, is the first flight from North America to Europe using the 50/50 biofuel blend derived from camelina grown and harvested by Sustainable Oils.

The flight departed at 9:00 pm on Friday, June 17th from Morristown, New Jersey and arrived in Paris approximately 7 hours later, on Saturday, June 18. The flight followed the route taken by Charles Lindbergh’s first flight across the Atlantic. According to Honeywell, using lifecycle analysis, its Green Jet Fuel eliminated 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide as compared to the same flight if using petroluem-only based jet fuel.

“This first biofuel trip across the Atlantic, along with more than a dozen other commercial and military test flights conducted to date, demonstrates that Honeywell Green Jet Fuel more than meets the demanding requirements for air travel,” said Jim Rekoske, vice president and general manager of Renewable Energy and Chemicals for Honeywell’s UOP. “Now that the initial ASTM International approval is in place, we are one step closer to commercial use that will help the aviation community reduce its carbon footprint and dependence on crude.”

Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test for Gulfstream added, “Gulfstream is committed to achieving business aviation’s ambitious goals on emissions reductions. These include carbon neutral growth by 2020 and a reduction in total carbon emissions of 50 percent by 2050 relative to 2005. We are working with engine companies and other innovators, such as Honeywell, to ensure we can meet these initiatives. We are very proud to participate in this historic demonstration.”

Honeywell has produced more than 700,000 gallons of Honeywell Green Jet Fuel for use in commercial and military testing. In each of the 16 biofuel flights conducted to date, Honeywell Green Jet Fuel proved that it meets all specifications for flight on military and commercial platforms without any modification to the aircraft or engines.

biofuels, biojet fuel

New Energy & Commodities Investment Team Formed

Joanna Schroeder

Cary Street Partners has formed a new Energy & Commodities Investment banking team focused on energy and its related sectors including traditional and alternative energy as well as agriculture services. Joining the new group is Craig Shealy who was formerly the founder of Osage Bio Energy, currently up for sale. Shealy will serve as managing director and group head.

“We are delighted Craig has joined Cary Street Partners and will be leading our Energy and Commodities team,” said Mark Gambill, chairman. “Over the past decade we have experienced a growing demand for investment banking services from our energy clients. Craig’s hire is yet another step in the on-going expansion of Cary Street Partners’ investment banking business. We welcome his deep industry knowledge, extensive client relationships and successful track record. His breadth of experience, including most recently as the founder of Osage Bio Energy, will provide a unique perspective in serving the needs of our energy industry clients.”

Shealy will begin growing the groups’ portfolio in the ethanol, biodiesel and biomass industries and he says there is enormous opportunities for consolidation in the ethanol and biodiesel markets. He also notes that there is growth capital available for innovative and viable development projects and he believes Cary Street Partners will provide an excellent platform to serve companies in the energy and ag sectors.

“I am extremely excited about helping meet clients’ needs for capital and strategic advice as the energy and commodity-based industries continue to grow and entities seek out consolidation and liquidity opportunities,” added Shealy.

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, bioenergy, biofuels, Ethanol

UNICA Launches Sugarcane Website

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) recently launched a new website to promote “clean solutions from sugarcane.”

SugarCane.org was launched during the 2011 Ethanol Summit in São Paulo, Brazil. “We decided to launch this new site to share knowledge and information with a growing global community of people who want to know how their food and energy choices affect our environment and people worldwide,” said UNICA’s President and CEO, Marcos Jank. “Today, sugarcane is the basic input for a diverse and growing range of value-added products, including sugar, ethanol, bioelectricity, bioplastics, bio-hydrocarbons, among others being developed. Sugarcane by-products are efficient and sustainable solutions that can replace gasoline, diesel, plastics and beyond that. Just imagine. Solutions from sugarcane,” Jank said.

Brazil, Ethanol, UNICA

Electric and Ethanol Power Win EcoCAR Competition

Cindy Zimmerman

Cars designed to run on electricity and 85 percent ethanol took top honors in a competition to engineer a more fuel efficient and environmentally-friendly vehicle.

A team from Virginia Tech University designed an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) using 85 percent ethanol (E85) to win first place in the three-year EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge competition sponsored by the Department of Energy and General Motors. The competition challenged participating engineering students to re-engineer a GM-donated vehicle to minimize the vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions, while maintaining its utility, safety and performance. The Virginia Tech team hit incremental goals throughout the challenge that helped the vehicle achieve the equivalent of nearly 82 miles per gallon, a 70 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the stock vehicle.

Taking second place, also with an E85 EREV, was Ohio State University. The University of Waterloo took third place with a hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

“With the experience and skills these innovative students have gained through the EcoCAR competition, they will help reduce our nation’s reliance on oil imports and keep U.S. industries competitive in the global marketplace,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

Florida-based Protec Fuel supplied the E85 for several of the teams that made it to the competition finals last week, including the first and second place winners. “We are proud that EcoCAR Challenge winners were running on E85 fuel. This next generation of promising engineers has shown that combining E85 with electric vehicles augments the domestic fuel’s already cleaner burning properties,” said Todd Garner, CEO of Protec Fuel. “This just goes to show E85’s value to development in future – and everyday – vehicle technologies and why E85 deserves to keep tax credits that traditional fuels have enjoyed.”

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Crazy Week for Ethanol in the Senate

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels AssociationFor those of you who might be wondering just what the heck happened this week in the Senate, where they voted in favor of ethanol before they voted against it and then for it again, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen offers some insight in a post on The E-xchange blog.

Dinneen explains that the vote Tuesday to defeat the Coburn amendment to end the ethanol blenders tax credit (VEETC) was more about the way the Oklahoma Republican went about getting a vote by filing for cloture, which is normally done on a bill, not an amendment, and is a privilege of the leadership. “In any case, the vote on the Coburn amendment Tuesday was certainly not about fiscal responsibility,” Dinneen says. “That fact was made clear when it was revealed every one of the 16 Senators signing the cloture petition had voted just a month earlier to preserve tax breaks for oil companies. (Also interesting, those senators supporting the Coburn amendment received more than $24 million in campaign contributions from lobbies opposed to renewable fuels.)”

On the other hand, Dinneen believes the motivation for passing the same amendment put forth by Sen. Dianne Feinstein two days later was about the growing battle over the debt ceiling and budget cuts. “For many Democrats, the vote on the Feinstein amendment was an opportunity to get Republicans on record as supporting the repeal of tax incentives (i.e., oil company subsidies) and raising taxes as a means of deficit reduction. In fact, following the vote Senate Leader Harry Reid stated, “With Republicans endorsing our position that we can cut the deficit by cutting spending that occurs through the tax code, I hope they will join Democrats in eliminating taxpayer giveaways to big oil companies that are raking in record profits.”

Dinneen expects to see Senate action on oil company tax breaks to come up again soon.

Read Dinneen’s blog post here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

House Cuts Ethanol Blender Pump Funds

Cindy Zimmerman

While an amendment to cut federal funding for ethanol blender pumps failed in the Senate, another one passed in the House. The amendment, offered by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to the Agriculture Appropriations bill passed by a vote of 283-128.

As the sun sets after a busy day on Capitol Hill for ethanol interests, the question is whether any of votes will matter in the long run. “This House bill is likely dead on arrival in the Senate, and the provision included by Rep. Flake was defeated in the vote on the amendment offered by Sen. McCain,” said the Renewable Fuels Association in a statement. “It remains our hope that lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol will now take up a serious conversation about American energy policy. Any discussion must include domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol.”

Meanwhile, groups opposed to ethanol are pleased with the actions in both the House and Senate. A coalition that includes food retailers, poultry organizations and environmental interests called it “a tremendously important day in our fight to end the taxpayer-funded subsidies for corn-based ethanol” and applauded the votes “as the start of a new era for U.S. biofuels policy.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government