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RFA Co-Hosts California Ethanol Safety Seminar

Cindy Zimmerman

RFAThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the San Joaquin Valley Clean Cities Coalition will be co-hosting a free Ethanol Safety Seminar in Stockton, California at the San Joaquin Delta College on June 6.

Seminar attendees will receive in depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol related emergency. While primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, it is also open to the general public.

“California is using 1.3 billion gallons of ethanol a year thanks to facilities like Pacific Ethanol located in Stockton. Pacific Ethanol alone is producing, storing and transporting 60 million gallons of ethanol a year,” said Robert White, RFA Director of Market Development. “With this amount of ethanol being produced and consumed in the state, first responders and hazmat teams should be familiar with the plant facility and well informed on ethanol fuel so they are able to appropriately respond to a related emergency.”

The seminar will feature both a morning session from 9:00am-2:00pm and an evening session from 5:30pm-10:00pm. Certificates of participation will be distributed following the completion of the seminar. Lunch and dinner will be sponsored by Pacific Ethanol. There will also be an ethanol plant tour at the Pacific Ethanol facility between the two sessions.

For more information and to register, visit www.rfa.traincaster.com.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Farm Bill Changes Called For

Chuck Zimmerman

Of course we planned our latest ZimmPoll to coincide with the first public hearings on the new farm bill. Uh. Right. But that’s how it worked out. This past week we’ve asked the question, “What is your opinion about the farm bill?” Early in the poll there was not a large gap in response but then things changed and the choice of Needs Overhaul zoomed out in front with 61% choosing it. That’s followed by 31% who said it Needs Minimal Change and then 8% with Leave as is. I guess the bottom line is that something needs to change, eh?

If you missed the first hearings by the Senate Ag Committee you can still watch them:

Food for Thought: The Role, Risks and Challenges for American Agriculture and the Next Farm Bill in Meeting the Demands of a Growing World

Opportunities for Growth: Michigan and the 2012 Farm Bill

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Have you ever used your smartphone to scan a QR code?” Well, have you?

And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

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

ZimmPoll

DFCast: The Biofuels Industry Gets Married

Joanna Schroeder

The biofuels industry got married when a first generation ethanol plant walked down the isle with a second generation algae plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. BioProcess Algae and Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) tied the knot and celebrated their anniversary last month with the announcement that their first babies, a set of Grower Harvester bioreactors, went online. This marked the last phase into adulthood – the algae plant is months away from commercial scale production.

Tim Burns, CEO of BioProcess Algae said this project is about both co-location opportunities as well as adding value to carbon. The algae plant will utilize the waste streams of the ethanol plant including waste nutrients and waste water. In addition, the algae plant uses the carbon dioxide from the corn ethanol plant to grow and thrive. Suddenly a product produced from a first generation ethanol plant with what amounts to negative value now has a tremendous positive value to a second generation plant. When people figure out that carbon from things such as a first generation ethanol plant has value, others will be on board, said Burns.

Years ago, Todd Becker, CEO of Green Plains Renewable Energy, said his company began looking for emerging technologies that could add value to his plant. These included adding things such as inedible corn oil extraction technology, but also the partnership with a second generation biorefinery that could utilize their plant’s waste streams. His company recognized the incredible partnership before any others and this fall his company along with BioProcess Algae will be building their algae farm, the last phase before they begin to produce commercial scale algae biofuels.

In the future, Becker and Burns both believe that every first generation biofuel plant will marry a second generation technology and with these marriages, the biofuels industry will rise to the challenge of producing billions upon billions of gallons of domestic renewable energy for America.

Learn more about the first biofuel marriage here: Domestic Fuel Cast

You can also subscribe to the DomesticFuel Cast here.

algae, biofuels, Domestic Fuel Cast, Environment, Ethanol

Book Review – Switching to Solar

Joanna Schroeder

I’m writing this post, sitting outside, overlooking a pool sparkling in the sunshine. OK, not really but it gets your mind in the right place – a sunny day. Solar energy has been gaining ground in both the U.S. and especially Europe so I thought it was high-time I learn more about the history of solar. “Switching to Solar,” by Bob Johnstone should become the industry and consumer reference to the worldwide solar story.

I have to admit that reading books on energy, environment and ag can be a bit dry regardless of the veracity of the information. But Johnstone broke the mold with his engaging story telling, compelling information and insights on the solar industry. It probably helps that he is a journalist, but he takes us through the history of solar weaving through Europe and taking a stop in Germany and coming back to the States – a country that was winning and now is losing, the solar technology race to countries overseas such as China.

There are several issues that are discussed in the book that are of special importance to the solar industry: rate of conversion, subsidies/tariffs, industry viability, legislation, and technology. He also talks about overcoming utility resistance to renewable energy and their adoption to both energy efficiency strategies and the adoption of renewable energy. Two areas he didn’t discuss in detail are the challenges with storage and transmission lines/ smart grid issues.

He writes, “For utilities, promoting energy efficiency was an unnatural act. Thus far, their entire rationale had been to encourage customers to use more energy, not less. their rate structure was designed to reward consumption, by charging customers less for the additional kilowatt-hours they used. Their domestic sales departments came up with promotional gimmicks to encourage usage. Utility salespeople gleefully handed out free hair dryers to their customers.”

See this ladies. It’s the utility companies’ fault that we’re contributing to global climate change with our old school hairdryers.Read More

book reviews, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Students In India Study Water Hyacinth for Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

Students around the world are in search of new alternatives to fossil fuels. Several biotech students in Surat, Gujarat are studying the water hyacinth as a feedstock to produce ethanol. The students are looking for ways to reduce fuel costs – earlier this month the Central government announced that the price of fuel would increase five rupees across the country. Ethanol is also of interest because it can be used as a fuel for heat and light as well as a transportation fuel.

“Our objective of the project is to produce ethanol, which is a cheaper source of energy. Currently, ethanol is produced from grinds and sugarcane, but they are costing between 12-15 rupees per piece. We want to help cut down the price of fuel in the market, by using waste material, which is called Eichhornia (Water Hyacinth), which grows plenty in the wastewater and fresh water,” said R.K. Krishnamurthy, a biotechnology professor in an article in DailyIndia.com.

Krishnamurthy continued, “In another way it is creating pollution to the water bodies. We want to use those materials which is available at a throw away cost, it is freely available.”

The water hyacinth is considered an invasive pest by researchers; yet, it could be a viable ethanol feedstock because of its abundance in hydrosphere. The research team is collecting samples, then they wash them and dry them overnight at high temperatures. From there the dried water hyacinths are crushed and treated with diluted Sulphuric acid. Eventually, yeast is added and the plant is fermented to ethanol.

The students are racing against the clock. They are trying to produce a product to help mitigate the rising cost of fuel as well as meet the government’s goal of increasing biofuel production and use by 2012.

Shweta Patel, a biotechnology student added, “By 2012, we aim to increase the production of ethanol and reduce pollution by 10 percent in our area. Our target is to create as much as bio-ethanol and help the government.”

biofuels, Ethanol, International

Technology Can Make Ethanol From Coal

Cindy Zimmerman

A new technology to produce ethanol from coal could be a new alternative to plant-produced ethanol.

Chemical product company Celanese recently introduced investors to Celanese TCX™, a new and proprietary technology for ethanol production from coal, petroleum coke or natural gas. According to company officials who call it game-changing technology, Celanese TCX™ can produce ethanol at the equivalent of gasoline produced with $60 per barrel crude oil.

Celanese, which has offices around the world and in Dallas, Tex., is planning to build two facilities in China by the end of the year that will use coal to produce ethanol for industrial uses. Officials say they may produce ethanol for fuel as well in China and other countries.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Turning Glycerin to Soap Could Add Profits

Joanna Schroeder

A byproduct of the biodiesel production process is crude glycerin. The boon of the biodiesel industry has helped to create a glycerin glut and many biodiesel producers are having to dispose of the product rather than sell it. However, Diesello Verde S.A., based in Costa Rica, has developed technology that could provide biodiesel producers with a new revenue stream for the glycerin – eco-friendly, natural cosmetics products such as glycerin soap.

Diesello believes that using low value waste stream provides significant competitive advantages for biodiesel producers, especially with the multi-billion dollar green product industry. As margins on biodiesel production are typically tight, diversification of products can add additional revenue to the producer.

The company believes that by exploring new product development within a biodiesel company’s existing infrastructure, they can expect greatly improved profitability, lower production costs, and a larger and more diverse client base. As such, they will visit a plant, assess its current technology and products, and then create a strategy to expand the business into revenue generating cosmetics products, such as glycerin soaps.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biomaterials

NASCAR Driver Kenny Wallace to Keynote Southeast Bioenergy Conference

Joanna Schroeder

NASCAR Series Driver Kenny Wallace and co-host of the shows Race Day and Victory Lane, will be giving the keynote address during the 2011 Southeast Bioenergy Conference on August 9-11 in Tifton, Georgia. Wallace drives the No. 9 American Ethanol Toyota Camrey and is currently ranked 7th in the Series. Last week, Wallace completed his 500th Nationwide start bringing his career stats to nine wins, 10 poles, and nine seasons in the top 10 driver points. He has also won the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award three times.

NASCAR announced earlier this year it would race using Sunoco Green E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol. To learn more about the fuel and the people who grow the crops and produce American ethanol, Wallace has spent time at ethanol plants and on farms.

Wallace will kick off the conference on Monday, August 9th at 8:30 am followed by a general session focusing on Global Markets for Biofuels and Bioproducts. Other sessions include Southeast Forestry’s Bioenergy Potential, Promising Energy Crops For the Southeast, Innovative Approaches to Ethanol Production, E85, E15 – Creating a Biofuel Infrastructure System, Efficiencies From Combined Heat and Power, Energy From Waste, and more. Mike McAdams, Executive Director of the Advanced Biofuels Association will also be giving a presentation on Building Cooperation and Coalitions.

The conference boasts a wide-range of speakers including Professor Li, Tsinghua University; Christianne Egger, Upper Austrian Renewable Energy Agency; Hagan Rose, Eco Energy; Phillip Jennings, Repreve Renewables, and more.

Registration is now open. Click here to learn more about the conference and to register.

bioenergy, biofuels, biomass, conferences

Iowa Governor Signs Bill to Boost Ethanol and Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has made good on a promise he made to the state’s renewable fuels industry back in January to revitalize Iowa’s rural economy by boosting sales of ethanol and production of biodiesel.

IRFA Terry Branstad“I want to work with the legislature to change the incentive from 10 percent to 15 percent,” Branstad said of ethanol in Iowa during an address at the annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit.

Today, Governor Branstad formally signed a comprehensive renewable fuels bill passed by the state legislature that establishes the nation’s first specific E15 incentive for local retailers to offer the mid-level blend to motorists, a new short-term production incentive program for Iowa biodiesel producers and several other provisions for renewable fuels in the state. “Governor Branstad’s signature completes the long process of putting Iowa in the forefront of renewable fuels policy, not just production,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw.

Under the new law, retailers will get a 3 cent tax credit for E15 sales. EPA is expected to give final approval for E15 later this summer for use in all 2001 and newer cars and light trucks. Other provisions include misfueling liability protection for retailers, an enhanced E85 retailer tax credit, an extension of the biodiesel retailer tax credit for blends of B5 and higher, $3 million in annual funding for Iowa’s Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (which provides grants for installation of blender, E85 and biodiesel dispensers as well as biodiesel terminal infrastructure), modifications to Iowa’s 25% Iowa renewable fuels standard and ethanol tax credit and codifying the ASTM fuel specification for biodiesel blends between 6 and 20 percent.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

RFA: Ethanol Means Memorial Day Savings for Travelers

Cindy Zimmerman

According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), ethanol will save Memorial Day travelers this year $440 million on gas.

As the summer season kicks off this weekend, AAA estimates that almost 31 million Americans will take a trip with an average distance of 792 miles, even though gas prices are up 40 percent, averaging $3.91, compared to $2.85 this time last year. RFA says ethanol means they will actually be spending considerably less on gasoline than would otherwise be the case.

RFA’s analysis, based on AAA estimates and the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) study on ethanol and gas prices, determined that “the average American family traveling this Memorial Day will save more than $31 simply due to the fact that ethanol is holding gasoline prices down. Aggregate gasoline savings due to ethanol this weekend will be $440 million, based on AAA estimates of average trip length.”

Read the analysis by RFA VP of Research Geoff Cooper on the E-xchange blog.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA