Available Land Could Produce 1/2 World’s Fuel

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new paper published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, “Land Availability for Biofuel Production,” authored by researchers from the University of Illinois, using detailed land analysis, biofuel crops cultivated on available land could produce up to half of the world’s current fuel consumption. This could be done, the researchers say, without negatively affecting food crops or pastureland.

The study was led by civil and environmental engineering professor Ximing Cai who identified land around the globe available to produce grass crops for biofuels, with minimal impact on agriculture or the environment. Cai noted going into the study that prior research concentrated on biofuel crop viability focused on biomass yield or how productive a crop could be regionally; yet, there was little research on land availability, a key constraint of biofuel development. He also noted that there is major concern as to whether, on a global scale, biofuels can meet fuel demand without compromising food production.

“The questions we’re trying to address are, what kind of land could be used for biofuel crops? “If we have land, where is it, and what is the current land cover?” said Cai.

For this particular study, Cai’s team assessed land availability from a physical perspective – focusing on soil properties, soil quality, land slope, and regional climate. The researchers collected data on soil, topography, climate and current land use from some of the best data sources available, including remote sensing maps but the point of differentiation of this research was that the study only considered marking land for biofuel crops. By doing this, current crop land, pasture land and forests were ruled out as viable land options for biofuel production. In addition, the research team ruled out any land that must be irrigated, thus eliminating concerns over the need to divert water from agriculture crops.Read More

biofuels, food and fuel, Indirect Land Use, Research

“Man Caves” Propane Van Featured At Home Builder’s Show

Joanna Schroeder

The “Man Caves” liquid propane-autogas powered Ford E350 van is being featured at the National Association of Home Builder’s International Builders Show January 12-15 in Orlando, Florida. The ROUSH CleanTech’s utlity van is featured on the DIY Network television show “Man Caves” and will be used in a least three upcoming episodes of the TV series.

“We’re thrilled that ‘Man Caves’ has added a ROUSH CleanTech propane-autogas van with a Knapheide Utility Vehicle (KUV) body organized with Sortimo solutions,” said Chris Weiss, vice president of engineering at Knapheide. “This van, a virtual workshop on wheels, shows that ‘green’ can be sustainable and productive.”

During the home builders show, a professional speaker will provide commentary for the attendees in Ford’s booth and regale them about the latest features and benefits of this “Man Caves” propane utility van. Some new features include Ford Work Solution’s in-dash computer and the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane-autogas fuel system.

“This van promises to boost any builder’s bottom line with lower fuel costs and reduced maintenance costs,” said ROUSH CleanTech President Joe Thompson, who will be in the Ford booth to answer any and all questions. “Propane autogas is not only environmentally friendly, but it has a tough side that lives and breathes durability, dependability, and economic feasibility.”

According to ROUSH CleanTech, propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel on roads today in the United States, fueling over 270,000 vehicles, and globally, more than 13 million vehicles. In addition, there are nearly 56,000 miles of pipeline that transport propane, more than 6,000 retail dealer locations, and thousands of propane autogas fueling stations across the U.S.

“Propane autogas powered vehicles are the smart choice for businesses aiming to meet air quality standards without taking a hit in the pocket,” said Thompson. “Beyond proven ‘green’ benefits, this fuel makes sense for business by reducing our country’s dependence on foreign oil and boosting profits. And historically, propane autogas costs 30 to 40 percent less than gasoline.”

The “Man Caves” utility van features Knapheide’s KUV service body, Sortimo boxes, cases and accessories, adjustable shelves and dividers for easy reconfiguration depending on the project requirements, a cargo compartment with retention poles to hold sheet material and other over-sized parts and pieces, and a bed slide to help load and unload heavy equipment. The in-dash computer system features a computer screen and wireless keyboard, allowing the driver to function as though from an office.

Propane

POET Fuels EcoTrek Tour

Cindy Zimmerman

Cellulosic ethanol from the nation’s largest ethanol producer is powering a cross country road trip of the non-profit EcoTrek Foundation to showcase renewable fuels and educate the public about environmental issues.

The cellulosic ethanol made from corn cobs and stover will be provided by POET, which has a pilot plant in Scotland, S.D. that has produced cellulosic ethanol for more than two years and tests equipment for commercial use at Project LIBERTY, POET’s planned 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant, which will be built in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

The EcoTrek “Best of America Tour” started today at the Santa Monica pier (the start of Historic Route 66) and will travel to cities on the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., and New York with stops in-between at national parks, farms, cities and other venues. Driver and EcoTrek founder Tom Holm will demonstrate how a renewable, American-made fuel can green our nation’s transportation system.

“We’re taking a regular American-made pickup truck, outfitting it with American-made accessories and powering it with American-made biofuels in order to emphasize our ability to be gentler to the environment, while bolstering American’s economy, national security and independence from foreign oil,” Holm said. “My hope is that the use of clean biofuels made here at home will begin to minimize our sacrifices and lead to a more prosperous America admired for the innovations for which Americans are noted.”

Holm will work to spread the message about renewable fuel at every stop on his trip, including visiting farms and refineries that produce cellulosic ethanol in South Dakota and Iowa. The tour concludes March 11 on the pier at Santa Monica.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, POET

First Home Wind Turbine Approved in San Diego

Joanna Schroeder

San Diego, California has approved the first vertical axis wind turbine for the county. Not soon after, the first one has gone live at the home of Tim Williams, who has a personal mission to “go green”. His 3.4 kW Falcon turbine from WePOWER was installed on an 18′ pole on his property by Joe Moore Construction, an authorized WePOWER dealer.

According to a news release, Joe Moore had to appear before the County Building Department and present the WePOWER’s Falcon Turbine for approval. Unlike traditional prop-style turbines, this one is virtually vibration, noise and maintenance free and is safe for birds and bats. But that was only half the battle. A qualified third party had to inspect and approve the product and TUV SUD America, Inc. did just that.

With the work of William and Moore, other residents and businesses in San Diego County can install wind power. Other global customers of WePOWER include Lockheed Martin, AT&T, Best Buy, Tata Energy, and others.

In addition to the 3.4 kW Falcon turbine, WePOWER also has other products including 600W, 1.2kW, 3.4kW, 5.5kW and 12kW turbines. The turbines are approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and with the federal tax package that was signed at the end of last year, they also quality for federal tax credits.

Electricity, Wind

New Prius Make Worldwide Debut

Joanna Schroeder

Before there was the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf there was the Toyota Prius. Today, Toyota unveiled the new Prius family of vehicles during the 2011 North American International Auto Show. In addition to the current third-generation Prius and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV), the company is adding the Prius v midsize hybrid electric vehicle and the Prius c Concept vehicle. The new additions are an attempt to broaden the consumer appeal of the car.

“This is no ordinary family. It’s a modern family with a Prius for everyone,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “The Prius v is an all-new dedicated hybrid vehicle, and all future Prius family members will be as well. They will all share common Prius attributes but will be unique, with a special appeal to different buyers.”

The Prius midsize liftback has accounted for more than 955,000 sales in the U.S. since it was introduced in 2000. The third-generation Prius, which reached dealerships in June 2009, has continued the hybrid’s heritage of exceptional fuel economy and low emissions, while becoming the third-best selling Toyota passenger car in the U.S. The third generation version introduced some new car concepts including the Solar Powered ventilation, Smart Key System with Push Button Start, Lane Keep Assist, an Advanced Parking Guidance System and LED headlamps.

The new Prius v, with “v” expressing the vehicle’s versatility,will feature a more interior cargo space than the current Prius and is designed for growing families and those with more active lifestyles. On the opposite spectrum, compact shoppers interested in a smaller hybrid at an entry price point and with superior fuel economy will be interested in the Prius c Concept, with c representing a “city”-centric vehicle. It is designed for hip, young singles and couples who want an eco-sensitive, high-mileage and fun-to-drive car.

Electric Vehicles

DuPont Acquiring Danisco in $6.3B Deal

Joanna Schroeder

DuPont Dansico has been in a multi-year powerhouse partnership to develop cellulosic ethanol. Today, DuPont has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Danisco, a global enzyme and specialty food ingredients company to the tune of $5.8 billion along with the assumption of $500 million of Danisco net debt for a total of $6.3 billion. Once the ink dries on the deal, DuPont believes it will position them as a clear leader in industrial biotechnology with “science-intensive innovations” that will address two major global challenges: food and fuel.

“Danisco is a premier company, a long-time successful partner of DuPont and a proven innovator committed to sustainable growth,” said DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman. “Danisco has attractive, market-driven science businesses that offer clear synergies with DuPont Nutrition & Health and Applied BioSciences. This transaction is a perfect strategic fit with our growth opportunities and will help us solve global challenges presented by dramatic population growth in the decades to come, specifically related to food and energy.”

Kullman continued, “In addition, biotechnology and specialty food ingredients have the potential to change the landscape of industries, such as substituting renewable materials for fossil fuel processes and addressing food needs in developing economies, that will generate more sustainable solutions and create growth for the company.”

According to information from DuPont, the acquisition is to be financed with approximately $3 billion in existing cash and the remainder in debt. The purchase is expected to close early in second quarter of this year and be cash and earning accretive in 2010, the first full year of the combined entity. As a result of the purchase, DuPont has set its 2011 earnings per share outlook at a range of $3.30 to $3.60 per share and the impact of this transaction is anticipated to reduce the outlook between $.30 – $.45 per share on a reported basis.

“Danisco has two well-positioned global businesses that strongly complement our current biotechnology capabilities, R&D pipeline, and specialty food ingredients, a combination that offers attractive long-term financial returns,” said Killman. “This also would create new opportunities across other parts of the DuPont portfolio, including traditional materials science offerings.”

Today, Danisco has nearly 7,000 employees globally with operations in 23 countries. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including certain regulatory approvals and the tender of more than 90 percent of the Danisco shares in the tender offer.

Cellulosic, Company Announcement, Ethanol, Ethanol News

High Oil Prices Threaten To Topple Tipsy Economy

Joanna Schroeder

High oil prices threaten to topple a tipsy global economy that is still fragile and has yet to find stable ground according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) who issued a wakeup call to the world. The IEA recommends that high oil-consuming countries, such as the U.S., boost efforts to cut back on oil use.

In response to these warnings, Bliss Baker, the spokesperson for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) stated, “These sky-rocketing crude oil prices are already having an impact on other commodity prices and food inflation. The IEA’s warnings should be a wakeup call to all countries to reduce our crippling reliance on crude oil. The European Union’s oil imports alone grew by $70 billion last year.”

Also announced last week by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) was that the Food Price Index has surpassed 2008 levels. The cause of these spikes, in part, is the increase in world energy prices, although many today are still blaming the increase in food costs on countries’ biofuel policies.

A 2008 report by the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and cited by the GRFA concluded that crude oil prices were a major factor behind the food price spikes. The report concluded, “the rapid increase in global energy prices increased the cost of agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers, so increasing the cost-base of agricultural producers, particularly in the cereals and oilseeds sector.”

Said Baker, “The GRFA issued its own warning with regards to rising oil prices and its effect on food in September 2010. This latest IEA warning and FAO report should encourage us all to reduce our reliance on oil. These food price spikes will continue unless we make concerted efforts to develop alternatives to crude oil like ethanol and biodiesel.”

Baker concluded, “The GRFA has long advocated that biofuels are the best way to reduce our reliance on conventional oil. Even OPEC said in a recent forecast that ‘energy efficiency policies along with the use of biofuel will put downward pressure on oil consumption worldwide’. As we have seen today from the IEA warnings and the UN FAO report, we are increasingly vulnerable to soaring crude oil prices,” said Baker.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, International, Oil

Soybean Checkoff Supports Biodiesel Promotion

Cindy Zimmerman

The United Soybean Board (USB) has recommitted itself to the support of biodiesel through the soybean checkoff program.

USB chairman Marc Curtis, a producer from Mississippi, and National Biodiesel Board chairman Gary Haer held a joint press conference at AG CONNECT Expo this past weekend to discuss the importance of biodiesel to the soybean industry. “We have research that shows over the last 4-5 years, biodiesel has contributed about 25 cents a bushel to the farm gate price of soybeans,” Curtis said. “So when you multiply 25 cents times several billion bushels, that makes a pretty good return on investment from the $30-40 million that have been invested from farmers’ checkoff money in the biodiesel industry.”

Listen to an interview with Marc Curtis here: Marc Curtis

USB is investing in an outreach effort by the biodiesel industry to spread the word that biodiesel is the only commercially available advanced biofuel. “It’s here today, it’s available now,” said Haer. “We have 1.4 billion gallons of production capability and we just need to get it going.”

Haer is vice president of sales and marketing for REG (Renewable Energy Group), the nation’s largest biodiesel producer, and he is very optimistic about the future now that the biodiesel tax credit has been extended retroactively and through 2011. He is also looking forward to a more upbeat National Biodiesel Conference in Phoenix next month.

Listen to an interview with Gary Haer here: Gary Haer

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Biodiesel, NBB

Wesley Clark at AG CONNECT Expo

Cindy Zimmerman

Retired General Wesley Clark visited the second AG CONNECT Expo Saturday in Atlanta to talk with farmers and ranchers visiting the event about the importance of ethanol to our nation’s security.

Representing Growth Energy, Clark greeted folks at the CASE IH exhibit on the floor of the agricultural trade show. He also made time for some media interviews to talk about ethanol issues, like what he thinks will happen with ethanol policy this year in Congress. “We need to be thinking ahead about how to fix America’s dependence on foreign oil,” Clark said. “We probably are going to need some incentives for service station owners to invest in blender pump technology and that can be done by giving them some of the credit that is being given right now to the blender itself.” So Growth will probably support some kind of a split in the current tax incentive structure to give some for infrastructure.

Clark also talks about EPA’s rule on E15. “Ethanol is not poison at E15,” he said. “So we need to be sensitive in terms of labeling. We want consumers whose cars can take E15 to use it. It’s good for America. And I think we’re going to win that discussion.”

Listen to my interview with Wesley Clark here: Wesley Clark

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Farm Bureau, Growth Energy

Ethanol All The Way In NASCAR

Chuck Zimmerman

AG CONNECT ExpoKenny Wallace, NASCAR driver, says, “Ethanol all the way in NASCAR!” That’s what he told me this afternoon in the American Farm Bureau Federation Pavilion on the floor of the AG CONNECT Expo. Thanks to Tricia Braid, Illinois Corn Growers, for setting up our interview and taking the photo. Kenny was signing autographs in the Nationwide Insurance exhibit.

You won’t find a bigger supporter of the American farmer and in particular that farm made fuel, ethanol. NASCAR is using E15 now and Kenny finds that exciting. Family farmers have supported Kenny recently and will be doing so in a bigger way in the future. He says that he wants farmers to know that he’s helping get their message out to the public. Kenny says he’s had a chance to run a combine and is amazed at the technology built into them! Here’s where you can follow Kenny on Twitter.

You can listen to my interview with Kenny here: Interview With Kenny Wallace

2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR, Racing