NBB Chairman Very Upbeat

Chuck Zimmerman

Gary HaerThis morning the Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board, Gary Haer, REG, took to the stage. I spoke with him before the general session started and he says that everyone is upbeat here at the conference and excited about the prospects in 2011.

He says the RFS provides a demand that biodiesel will fill as the only advanced biofuel. He also says that NBB will be working on getting the tax credit back since it complements the RFS.

You can listen to my interview with Gary here: Interview with Gary Haer

You can listen to Gary’s speech here: Gary Haer Remarks

2011 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Elixir Bio-Tech Wins Award

Joanna Schroeder

A New Mexico Algae Biotech company, Elixir Bio-Tech Inc. (EBT), has been named one of the top 50 winners of the FundingPost’s 7th annual “Pitching Across America” competition. EBT is attempting to demonstrate accelerated approaches in producing algal biofuels with its Algae Biomass Feedstock project and has a patent pending on its Open and Closed Algae Biomass Systems.

FundingPost is a company that introduces entrepreneurs and investors and established the “Pitching Across America (PAA) program, to help emerging companies secure funding. PAA is the largest venture capital competition ever organized, according to its founders and this year judges reviewed more than 300 entries. Entries were judged based on several key points including the professionalism of the written summary, current stage of development, competitive advantage, need in the marketplace, feasibility for success, and whether the company is “VentureWorthy.”

“We’re very pleased to have been chosen for recognition from such an impressive list of companies throughout the U.S.,” said Richard Warren, CEO of Elixir Bio-Tech Inc. “FundingPost has given us an opportunity to reach an excellent selection of visionary investors. While our customer base continues to grow, in the Algae Nutraceutical markets, the right funding partner(s) can accelerate the establishment of the company’s production facility. Our company also plans to benefit from biofuel collaborations with NMSU, Santa Fe College and Sapphire through subcontracting, R&D work study and local employment.”

FundingPost Venture Capital judges found Elixir’s business summary compelling because it expressed the critical need for advanced biofuel production and phytochemical co-products along with reduced carbon emissions and wastewater treatment.

Joe Rubin, Director, of FundingPost, concluded, “Elixir Bio-Tech Inc. has an exciting innovative rural algae biomass thrust and we know that FundingPost and the ‘Pitching Across America’ win will benefit them as they seek funding this year.”

algae, Biodiesel, biofuels

VW’s TDI Runs Clean Diesel But Less Biodiesel?

John Davis

While Volkswagen has been known for its cars friendly to 100 percent blends of biodiesel, it seems that the last couple of years of the German carmaker’s Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) line of vehicles must run at much lower blends.

This piece from EnergyDigital.com says that while VW’s Super Bowl ads were winners, the “upgraded” TDIs from 2009 and newer are losers when it comes to biodiesel, running just 5 percent of the green fuel:

What we have here is a classic example of environmental protection regulation backfiring. While it is absolutely necessary to ensure that industrial practices are as minimally destructive to the environment as possible, it is also counterintuitive when the regulations created actually promote increased fossil fuel consumption over biofuels. Several TDI aficionados have expressed their disappointment in the new TDI engines in blogs and Internet comment boards, even forming grassroots associations calling for biodiesel-compatible TDI engines to return to VW’s lineup. There were several instances in 2009 where buyers of the new TDIs were uninformed of the engine’s inability to use higher blend biodiesel—the whole reason they bought the car in the first place! VW is currently in the process of approving the new TDI engines for B20 biodiesel blends, but true-blooded biodiesel supporters—the “B100 or nothing” crew—are turning to older TDI models to get their biofuel fix.

Hmmm… maybe we can get that little Darth Vader kid to fix this problem (he won the Super Bowl ads competition as the most creative of the night, right?).

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Iowa State to Hold Wind and Solar Energy Conference

John Davis

While Iowa might be best known for its ethanol and biodiesel industries, the Hawkeye State is also a leader in wind energy (with more than 1,100 wind turbines across the state) and would like to become bigger in solar. So it only makes sense that Iowa State University Extension will be sponsoring a Wind and Solar Energy Conference on March 2 at the Le Mars Convention Center, in Le Mars, Iowa (not too far from the Northwest Iowa wind turbines in the photograph):

“The conference addresses the latest research in Iowa’s alternative energy,” said Sherry McGill, ISU Extension regional director. “It gives Iowans the opportunity to learn how these alternative energy methods affect them legally and financially.”

Speakers from the Iowa Energy Center, USDA Rural Development and Iowa State University will address various wind and solar energy topics, including legal considerations, planning and zoning, financing Iowa’s energy industry and utility companies information.

Presentation highlights include Bill Haman of the Iowa Energy Center with an overview of wind and solar energy resources in “Wind Energy Resources in Iowa-The Bolts and Nuts” and “Solar Energy Resources in Iowa-An Alternative to Wind Energy”.

Other conference speakers include Aaron Chittenden, city of West Des Moines; Erin Herbold, Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation; Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development; Mark Reinders, MidAmerican Energy Co. and entrepreneurs Gregg Heide and Paul Rekow.

Registration is just $35 before Feb. 22 ($45 after that). More information and registration is available here.

Solar, Wind

New Products In Biodiesel Vehicle Showcase

Chuck Zimmerman

Biodiesel Vehicle ShowcaseDuring the National Biodiesel Conference some of the latest biodiesel powered vehicles are on display inside the trade show. Like last year, a presentation was made that included comments from various auto company and vehicle representatives.

Pictured is Joe Jobe, CEO, NBB, welcoming everyone to the showcase. I’ve got photos of the vehicles on display in the photo album. Emceeing the event was Jennifer Weaver, NBB OEM Outreach and Education Program.

You can listen to the full presentation from the vehicle showcase here: : Biodiesel Vehicle Showcase

2011 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Skeptic Publisher Keynotes Biodiesel Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Biodiesel Conference PanelBe skeptical of phony “science.” Good advice and I wish more people who take it, especially when it comes to biofuels and issues like climate change. Today’s National Biodiesel Conference keynote speaker provided lots of examples of how people are easily fooled. He was Michael Shermer, Skeptic Magazine.

After the session I spoke with Michael and asked him to summarize a key point he made in his comments about the danger of making governmental decisions that will profoundly impact our economy when it comes to things like climate change and carbon footprinting. He says that we can know that the Earth is getting warmer and that sea levels have risen but after that the data gets so fuzzy and the “error bars” get so wide it’s not practical to make political decisions. As he puts it, “It’s reasonable to be skeptical.”

You can listen to my interview with Michael here: Interview with Michael Shermer

2011 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Biodiesel Conference Petroleum Panel

Chuck Zimmerman

Biodiesel Conference PanelMaybe this will become a tradition. At this year’s National Bioediesel Conference we got a repeat of last year’s petroleum industry experts panel. Included this year are Ron Marr – Minnesota Soybean Processors; David Blatnik – Marathon Petroleum Company; John Cusick – Morgan Stanley Capital Group.; Bruce Heine – Magellan Midstream Partners; Jim Lelio – Kinder Morgan Pipeline Group and C. Mike Reed – NIC Holding Corp.

I would love to summarize their discussion but I’m also taking photos today along with some other duties like the Biodiesel Conference Blog so I’ll let you listen in: Petroleum Industry Panel Discussion

2011 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Municipal Solar Project Underway in Brea, CA

Joanna Schroeder

The City of of Brea is soon to be the home of what is believed to be the largest municipal solar power project in Orange County, California. The solar project is under construction at the city’s Community Center, Civic and Cultural Center and Reservoir City Pump Yard. Once complete, this year, there will be 7,854 Sharp NU-235F1 solar modules providing 1.8 megawatts of energy per year.

The project is being designed by and constructed by Chevron Energy Solutions and in conjunction with several other city efficiency initiatives, is expected to reduce the city’s energy use by nearly 40 percent and save them more than $13 million over the life of the project.

“Sharp is happy to provide solar panels to Chevron Energy Solutions in their work to help the City of Brea to become the largest municipal producer of solar energy in Orange County,” said Eric Hafter, senior vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. “We’re delighted to add the City of Brea to our growing portfolio of municipal solar power projects.”

Electricity, Solar

Ethanol Emergency Safety Seminars Being Held

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association LogoTo help ensure that safety remains top priority for those who transport and bring ethanol to the marketplace, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and numerous Clean Cities Coalitions (CCCs) are hosting a series of Ethanol Safety Seminars at several locations throughout the United States in 2011. These seminars are free of charge, and while primarily targeting first responders, hazmat teams, safety managers, and local emergency planning committees, they are also open to the general public.

Renewable Fuels Association EERCAs a part of the Alternative Fuels Trade Alliance, the RFA and CCCs are able to hold these Ethanol Safety Seminars through the $1.6 million grant received from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This grant has been used to raise public awareness and foster understanding of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies across the country. The goal of these seminars is for attendees to gain a full ethanol emergency response training experience that they can put to use immediately in the field, as well as pass along to other first response teams. A majority of this training is based on the Complete Training Guide to Ethanol Emergency Response, a training package created by the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) that has been distributed throughout the United States and to several countries worldwide.

“America is nearing a 100 percent saturation point with E10 in our nation’s fuel supply,” said RFA Market Development Director, Robert White. “As ethanol continues to flow across the country through railways and trucks into fuel retail stations, it is important for first responders in these areas to be well prepared and trained for ethanol related emergencies.”

The seminar has already been held in Harrisburg, PA and will be held at eight more locations in 2011 including Boston Metropolitan area, MA; Charlotte, NC; Houston and Beaumont, TX; Portland, OR; Stockton, CA; Indianapolis, IN and in Northeastern, OH. Since over half of the nation’s fire departments are volunteer based, each location will have a morning and afternoon session to accommodate schedules and reach as many participants as possible. Each safety seminar is conducted with the local Clean Cities Coordinator and is taught by a professional trainer with a background in firefighter/hazmat materials response. The RFA has been working diligently with the State Fire Academies to offer certificates of training or participation that can be used toward their local department’s training requirements.

For more information or to sign up for the Ethanol Safety Seminars, visit www.rfa.traincaster.com.

Education, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA