Georgia Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Closing

Cindy Zimmerman

Range FuelsA lack of investment capitol is taking its toll on a Georgia cellulosic ethanol plant.

According to media reports, the Range Fuels plant in Soperton will temporarily shut down after producing a small quantity of cellulosic ethanol. Range Fuels just announced in August 2010 the successful production of cellulosic methanol using non-food biomass at a Georgia biofuels plant in the first phase of an operation to ultimately produce next generation ethanol.

The Colorado-based company received the first ever loan guarantee for a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant from USDA almost exactly two years ago and a grant from the Department of Energy in 2008 with plans to produce cellulosic biofuel from wood chips. The company has received over 300 million dollars in funding since breaking ground for the plant in 2007, but have not been able to get enough money to expand the facility for commercial production. There are also reportedly some “technical problems” with the plant.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

LA Water & Power Gets 20% of Power from Alternatives

John Davis

Los Angeles, California officials have announced the city’s Department of Water and Power has generated 20 percent of its power from wind, solar and geothermal sources.

This story from the LA Daily News says it put the city well ahead of its and state renewable energy goals:

“This is a big deal,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a City Hall news conference with environmental leaders. “When we set this goal in 2005, the DWP was the dirtiest utility in the nation. Today, it’s the cleanest and we have been able to do it at a cost lower than any other utility in California.”

In 2005, the Department of Water and Power generated roughly 5 percent of its energy from renewable sources. Last year, however, that surged to a high of 28 percent for a short time.

The key to achieving the goal, officials said, was the development of the Pine Tree Wind Farm in Mojave and the purchase of the Milford Wind Farm in Utah.

Wind power accounted for 47 percent of the renewable power, small hydro-electric was 20 percent, geothermal was 22 percent and solar was 1 percent. The mayor said the city hopes solar will provide more of the renewable energy in future years. The amount of renewable power generated by the DWP is 4,500 gigawatt hours, the level needed to power 750,000 homes. That reduces carbon dioxide by 2.5 million metric tons, the equivalent of taking 490,000 cars off the road.

The city was able to hit this goal ahead of other utilities in the area.

Government, Solar, Wind

American Idol Kicks Off 10th Season with Biodiesel Bus

John Davis

The wildly popular American Idol TV show will kick off its 10th season on FOX-TV by launching a month-long, 16-city tour dubbed the “Idol Across America Mobile Experience,” powered by a bus running on biodiesel.

The Diesel Technology Forum says the tour will feature Idol memorabilia, including framed platinum records, a Ryan Seacrest suit, Carrie Underwood’s finale dress and David Cook’s guitar, and will begin on January 19th, the same day the show premieres its new season on FOX:

“By choosing a clean diesel bus fueled with biodiesel fuel, American Idol made an excellent choice toward being environmentally-friendly while still having the power and fuel-efficiency needed to complete this grueling, four-week, 16-city national tour that ranges across the entire United States,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

“Diesel has long been the power of choice behind America’s motor coach industry. Unlike other alternative fuels, advanced clean diesel engines using home-grown quality biodiesel fuels can serve every community throughout the country. Diesel power is the American Idol of clean energy.”

Now you’ll have reason to tune in past the bad auditions (let’s be honest … that’s really our favorite part, right?).

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Processor in 50th School

John Davis

The maker of a biodiesel processor intended to turn waste grease and other feedstocks into the green fuel has announced one of its processor is now in its 50th school.

This press release from California-based Springboard Biodiesel says that Arkansas State University is the latest college and school system in the U.S. that has installed one of their systems … in this case, the BioPro 190, a fully-automated machine that converts 50 gallons of vegetable or animal oil into ASTM-grade biodiesel for less than $1 a gallon:

Announcing this milestone, Springboard Biodiesel’s CEO Mark Roberts explained, “Now, more than ever, universities, colleges and high school systems across the US are looking for ways to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Making biodiesel out of cooking oil collected from a school’s cafeterias and restaurants gives any college, university or high school system the opportunity to make ASTM-grade biodiesel in a fully-automated machine, for only $0.95 cents a gallon.” Roberts added: “From a budget perspective, that’s compelling. But many of these same institutions are striving to reduce their campus greenhouse gas emissions and by converting waste cooking oil into a fuel that burns up to 90% cleaner than regular diesel, BioPro™ biodiesel production is an immediate and effective way to help institutions meet their goals.”

“Safety was a very important consideration when we chose to purchase a BioPro™,” said Dr. Kevin Humphrey, The Director for Agricultural Education at Arkansas State University. “After all, students are the ones who will be working with this equipment, so we are obviously very safety conscious.” He added, “When you take into account the automation and the rugged construction of the BioPro™, then you know that safety was an important factor in its design.”

The school plans to use oils from soybeans, canola and camelina grown on the university’s research farm, as well as waste cooking oils from the college’s cafeterias, to make biodiesel to be used in the university’s tractors, trucks and diesel irrigation motors.

Biodiesel

Branstad to Address Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

John Davis

He’s soon-to-be the new leader of the state that is certainly a leader in biodiesel and ethanol, so it only makes sense that incoming Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will address the 5th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 25th.

“This will not be the first Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit that Gov. Branstad has attended,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Before, he attended as an investor in Iowa renewable fuels refineries. Now as Governor, we’re excited to hear his vision for enhancing Iowa’s status as a leader in renewable fuels production and public policy.”

Governor-Elect Branstad is scheduled to address the Summit at 10:00 a.m. Other speakers include NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace and Renewable Fuels Association’s Bob Dinneen. Program highlights for this year’s Summit include, “E15: Bringing More Fuel Choices to Iowa,” “Iowa Biodiesel Resurgence,” and “Advanced Biofuels – A Turing Point for Renewable Energy.”

The IRFA points out that Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries able to produce nearly 3.7 billion gallons annually and 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 315 million gallons each year.

The free summit and trade show will be held at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines. Pre-register online at www.IowaRFA.org.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, News

Cobalt, Lallemand Add to Executive Teams

Joanna Schroeder

Cobalt Technologies has added Andrew Meyer to its executive team. He will be serving as the company’s Senior Vice President of Business Development and he will be responsible for leading Cobalt’s effort to commercialize biobutanol.  Most recently, he was with Amyris where he was director of Supply and Distribution where he developed the company’s fuel marketing program. He has also worked for Chevron and BP.

“Cobalt has had a momentous year – opening a pilot plant, announcing scientific breakthroughs with beetle-kill wood, partnering with the Navy to make jet fuel –and I’m excited to be part of its executive team,” said Meyer. “My goal is to put in place the value chain to drive our top line growth, enabling the company to realize the tremendous bottom line opportunity created by the technology.

CEO Rick Wilson said of the new team member, “Our current focus is on forming the partnerships to execute our first commercial facilities globally. Andy is a fantastic choice for leading our commercialization efforts, given his experience building value for shareholders in a startup environment at Amryis, and for his deep understanding of both the fuels and chemicals markets.”

Ethanol fermentation company Lallemand Ethanol Technology also announced an addition to its team today with the appointment of Prof. Graeme Walker as the new Scientific Director of the Ethanol Technology Institute. He replaces the retiring Dr. Mike Ingledew. Dr. Walker is currently Professor of Zymology and director of the Abertay Yeast Research Group (Dundee, Scotland) and will continue in this capacity. In his career, he he has already published more than 100 articles in journals, authored several books, and keynoted several conferences. He is the author of the textbook: Yeast Physiology and Biotechnology, published by J. Wiley (1998) and Bioethanol, published by Ventus (2010).

“Lallemand Ethanol Technology is very excited to have someone of the caliber and experience of Dr. Walker joining the Ethanol Technology Institute.” says Bill Nankervis, General Manager. “Graeme, not unlike his predecessor Dr. Mike Ingledew, is one of those unique individuals who are recognized leading academics, yet are able to bridge the gap that so often exists between academia and practical application of the theory in industrial situations. We look forward to working with Graeme to continue the excellence of The Alcohol School and the other programs and publications the Ethanol Technology Institute is known for around the world.”

Company Announcement, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Tempers Mount in Tariff Tiff

Joanna Schroeder

Before the ink was dry extending the 54 cent ethanol tariff for one more year, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) threatened to take the legality of the ethanol tariff to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Now several U.S. senators are embroiled in the debate including John McCain (R-AZ) and John Barrasso (R-WY) who said earlier this week that the extension on ethanol imports in likely illegal under international trade rules. While the senators didn’t out and out lend support to UNICA, indirectly some believe that their support is there.

“I believe the WTO would rule against the United States because it’s clearly a subsidy that is neither warranted nor in keeping with WTO regulations,” Senator McCain of Arizona told reporters after a meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia.

Today, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) responded to the two senators.“This isn’t a question for debate. The highest authority on U.S. trade policy said more than two years ago that the U.S. ethanol tariff is clearly permitted under World Trade Organization rules. Besides, the United States already provides generous duty-free access to ethanol from Brazil and other countries imported under the Caribbean Basin Initiative, but the CBI cap has never once been filled. In fact, as of December 20, Brazil and other countries filled the cap for 2010 less than 1 percent.”

Should Brazil move forward with their case and win, it won’t be the first time. They have won their last two WTO cases against U.S. cotton and EU sugar subsidies.

McCain has never hidden the fact that is he opposed to all ethanol subsidies. Barrasso’s opposition to the tariff stems in his belief that all clean energy should be made available to all citizens as quickly as possible and one way this can be done is to remove the ethanol tariff.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Iowa to Get Another Ethanol Plant

Joanna Schroeder

The state of Iowa continues its monopoly over ethanol plants today with the announcement that the Iowa Power Fund has awarded DuPont Danisco (DDCE) a $9 million grant to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in either Story or Webster County. The biorefinery will use corncobs, leaves and stalks to produce cellulosic ethanol.

Interestingly, should the plant be sited in Emmetsburg, Iowa, located in Webster County, it will be within spitting distance of POET’s Project Liberty, their version of a cellulosic plant that will use corn cobs and stover to produce ethanol and is expected to be in production by 2012. This news comes on the heels of the announcement that DuPont is buying Danisco for a reported $6.3 billion.

The grant is $10 million less than what DDCE requested. Regardless, the company anticipates that once a final decision is made on location the plant will be operational in 2013. Iowa, a state that already has 40 corn-ethanol plants, beat out Nebraska for the project.

“We had an attractive offer from Nebraska,” said Jennifer Allison Hutchins in an article in the Des Moines Register. She is a spokeswoman for the DuPont/Danisco partnership. “But Iowa’s offer was good as well, and we felt that Iowa offered a better source of feedstock and rail availability.”

According to the Register, other possible plant locations include Nevada, Iowa next to the operational, Lincolnway Energy ethanol plant or west of Fort Dodge near an operational Valero Energy plant. Another option is to locate it next to a plant that has suspended construction owned by British corn processor Tate & Lyle.Read More

Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Distillers Grains Producers Urged to Register with USGC

Cindy Zimmerman

usgcThe U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is helping U.S. companies register as interested parties to China’s anti-dumping investigation against imports of U.S. origin distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), an ethanol by-product.

The first step in the investigation involves helping DDGS producers register as interested parties, a process that must be completed no later than Jan. 17 in Beijing (which is Jan. 16 in the United States) and is further complicated by the need to translate all registrations into Chinese. Nearly 70 companies have already registered with USGC.

Registering as an interested party is an important step, since registered parties can qualify for lower, negotiated tariffs if there is a finding in the investigation. In contrast, unregistered companies could face the highest tariffs of all. Once the registration process is complete, Chinese authorities will begin a fact-finding process that will include investigations of specific company practices. To reach a final ruling against the U.S. trade, China must show evidence that DDGS has been dumped in the Chinese market at prices below what other buyers pay and that Chinese interests have been injured by the dumping. Provisional tariffs on DDGS could begin as early as June 2011. China is expected to make a decision on its findings by Dec. 28, 2011, though that deadline can be extended by six months if needed.

U.S. shipments of DDGS to China skyrocketed from almost nothing three years ago to more than 2 million metric tons in 2010 and may reach as much as 3-5 million tons in 2011.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USGC

Biofuels Messaging Webinar

Cindy Zimmerman

A webinar on messaging for the biofuels industry will be held Wednesday, January 26 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM central time.

The webinar, “Back to the Basics: Three Reasons the Biofuels Message Has Gone Bad,” will discuss how ineffective messaging by the industry has helped lead to a decline in public support for biofuels in recent years, and how we can do better.

Presented by renewable energy PR specialist Joanna Schroeder, who writes for Biofuels Journal, Domestic Fuel and numerous other publications, this is an opportunity for anyone involved in the business to understand and change the biofuel messaging dynamics. Registration information is available here from gotomeeting.com.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News