ACE Conference 2026

Mr. Peanut to Ride on Biodiesel

John Davis

Look for Mr. Peanut to come to a neighborhood near you riding in his biodiesel-powered Planters Nutmobile!

As part of its sustainability efforts, Planters has launched its Naturally Remarkable campaign to highlight the company’s efforts to work and act more green. From Mr. Peanut’s Facebook page:

“Not only does the new Planters Nutmobile run on biodiesel, it harnesses the power of sunlight and wind. Just like me. Everyday.”

For more on Planters’ sustainability efforts and biodiesel-fueled Naturally Remarkable Tour, check out the company’s website.

Biodiesel

USDA Considering Biofuel Crop Insurance Program

Joanna Schroeder

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the USDA will soon be accepting proposals to study the feasibility of providing crop insurance to producers of biofuel feedstocks ranging from corn stover to straw to woody biomass. The feasibility studies will be funded by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and will be combined with current studies underway for energy cane, switchgrass and camelina.

“Providing additional risk management tools for American farmers to produce advanced biofuels crops is an important step toward developing a thriving biofuels industry and reducing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Vilsack. “Renewable energy development contributes to the Obama Administration’s effort to ‘win the future’ by supporting America’s farmers as they grow and harvest materials that can be converted into renewable energy. This effort creates new jobs and opportunities for those who live in rural America.”

These studies will help determine ways to mitigate risks to growers who grow biomass crops for biorefineries and research facilities, companies and public-private partnerships who are in the process of developing technologies to commercialize advanced biofuels. Two contracts will be funded by USDA. Those interested in applying should refer to the solicitations which will be available on FedBizOpps or on RMA’s website.

biofuels, biomass

What Would You Do For $1,000 of Free Fuel?

Joanna Schroeder

The National FFV Awareness Campaign is launching the Ohio FFV Awareness Campaign today during the Cleveland Auto Show. The goal of the campaign to raise awareness and use of higher blends of ethanol.

Douglas A. Durante, Executive Director of the Clean Fuels Foundation, the organization spearheading the Campaign said, “With rising tension in the Middle East and gasoline prices to match, FFV owners are going to be the nation’s first line of defense during the next oil shortage and/or price spike. FFV owners will have the option to use up to 85% ethanol in their FFVs while also supporting Ohio’s #1 economic engine – agriculture. Ohio has a large population of FFVs, ethanol production, a strong agricultural sector, numerous federal fleets, and automakers making FFVs. If economic development does not get everyone’s interest, we hope the $1,000 in free fuel will. These are trying times for our nation and we think FFV owners will want to try some higher blends of ethanol.”

As part of the Campaign, Ohio FFV motorists have a chance to stop by the booth during the show and register to win $20 E85 ethanol gift cards. In addition, POET Biorefining is sponsoring the $500 and $1000 FFV Awareness FlexFuel Giveaway drawings. After the event, the Ohio FFV Awareness team will continue to work with FFV dealers, E85 retailers and other stakeholders to launch the $1,000 FlexFuel grand prize.

“Many people don’t even realize that they have the option to use cleaner, American-made ethanol within their FlexFuel vehicles (FFV’s),” Bishop said. “This campaign changes that. If given the opportunity, I know even more U.S. drivers will choose to support American jobs and renewable energy by fueling up their FFVs with ethanol,” said Mike Bishop, General Manager, POET Biorefining and Vice President of Ohio Ethanol Producers.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo are 5 of the 33 markets with the highest concentration of FFV owners in the United States.

Sam Spofforth, Executive Director of Clean Fuels Ohio, a Clean Cities Coalition, added, “There are about 650,000 FFVs owners in Ohio. However, according to industry observers about 90% of FFV drivers don’t know they have a vehicle that can use any combination of gasoline ethanol up to 85% — or know that’s what makes their car flexible. We look forward to being a part of the Ohio FFV Awareness Campaign team and coordinating the selection of the $1,000 fuel giveaway winner from the state FFV owner database on July 4, 2011.”

E85, Education, Flex Fuel Vehicles

WM Rolls Out CNG Trucks

Joanna Schroeder

Waste Management (WM) and Terasen Gas are rolling out 20 new compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to collect the city of Vancouver’s commercial recycling, food waste and garbage. This is part of a sustainability initiative from WM to convert their entire Lower Mainland and Metro Vancouver fleet – 100 recycling and waste collection trucks in total – to CNG. According to WM, the CNG trucks will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent and are quieter than traditional diesel engines.

“This initiative is all about clean air for the Lower Mainland and Metro Vancouver,” said Dean Kattler, vice president for Waste Management-BC and Pacific Northwest. “Transitioning to clean air trucks to serve Lower Mainland communities and businesses shows Waste Management is listening to our customers and championing BC’s bid to sustain its position as a world-class sustainability leader.”

The contribution from Terasen Gas helped offset the incremental cost of the clean air trucks. Terasen, which recently announced it will be renamed and operate under the brand name FortisBC, just completed construction of a state-of-the art CNG fueling station at the Waste Management site at Coquitlam, where the trucks will fuel up.

“With significantly lower emissions and lower fuel costs, natural gas vehicles have a role in helping BC meet its environmental goals,” said Doug Stout, vice president, Energy Solutions and External Relations at Terasen Gas and FortisBC. “Our collaboration with Waste Management is an excellent opportunity to showcase the technology in the region where it is developed and encourage greater adoption of natural gas for transportation.”

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Natural Gas

POET Biorefining – Cloverdale Plans Grand Opening

Joanna Schroeder

POET Biorefining- Cloverdale, located near Cloverdale, Indiana is hosting a Grand Opening on March 15th. This is POET’s 27th ethanol plant and they purchased the 90 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant in 2010 and over the past several months have invested nearly $30 million dollars in upgrades that include BPX, a patented fermentation process that uses enzymes instead of heat, reducing energy costs. The plant also has a water recovery system and new pollution control equipment. Once the plant is online, it will employ 40 people and bring the state’s total ethanol production over their goal of 1 billion gallons.

The Grand Opening begins at 9:30 am with public tours followed by a speaking program at 11:30 am to noon that includes POET CEO Jeff Broin and Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman along with Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. At noon, lunch will be provided followed by additional public tours at 12:30 p.m. The event concludes at 2:30 pm. Media and the public are welcome to attend.

There is NO parking at the plant. Public parking is available at Martin Aggregates at 6252 US Hwy 231 South, Cloverdale, Ind. Buses will run continuously to and from the plant throughout the day.

Company Announcement, corn, Ethanol, POET

Jobe, Dinneen to Speak at Biomass Conference

Joanna Schroeder

The International Biomass Conference is set to take place in St. Louis on May 2-5, 2011 an it looks like a powerhouse agenda is coming together. During the kick-off session, the biofuel industry will unite on the roundtable: Our Industry in a Changed Political Landscape.

Both Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President & CEO Bob Dinneen, whose organization just concluded their 16th Annual National Ethanol Conference, and National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe, who recently concluded his industry’s national conference ADVANCE, will participate. During their respective conferences, each industry discussed how to better work together as a biofuel industry on policy issue in DC and earlier this month, RFA joined with several advanced ethanol companies to form the Advanced Ethanol Council.

Others joining Dinneen and Jobe on the roundtable:

  • * Moderator: Tom Bryan, Vice President, BBI International
  • * Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director, Algal Biomass Organization
  • * Charlie Niebling, Chairman, Board of Directors, Biomass Thermal Energy Council
  • * Robert Cleaves, President and Chief Executive Officer, Biomass Power Association
  • * Norma McDonald, Vice Chair, External Affairs, American Biogas Council
  • * Bob Dineen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Renewable Fuels Association
  • * Joe Jobe, Chief Executive Officer, National Biodiesel Board
  • * Michael McAdams, President, Advanced Biofuels Association

In a new feature, conference attendees can already submit questions for the panel online. Registration is currently open. To see a full proposed agenda including a list of all the other confirmed speakers as well as to see a list of the current vendors and register online, click here.

advanced biofuels, conferences

Mid East Unrest and $100 Oil

Joanna Schroeder

As U.S. crude oil touches a $100 a barrel for the second time since October 2008, consumers are seeing gasoline prices rising at the pump and oil economists are talking about the real possibility of $4.00 and $5.00 gallons of gas. Four dollar gas is close – when I bought gas yesterday it was $3.79 a gallon.

In a press conference held by ethanol industry organization Growth Energy yesterday afternoon, former politician and Growth Energy President and COO, Jim Nussle commented that with the continued Libyan fighting, an unbalanced budget and rising gas prices, he didn’t know how many more warning signs it was going to take for his former DC colleagues to realize we’re in trouble.

“America is currently in an energy crisis. That crisis didn’t just begin yesterday when we topped over a $100 a barrel of oil again,” said Nussle. “It’s been going on for years. Since we started and since we maintain our growing dependence on foreign oil.”

Growth Energy CEO, Tom Buis noted that ethanol is the only current solution to our problems. He said is not a “someday fuel,” it’s already had a major, positive impact for America. He addressed why some current Republications like Sullivan and Flake feel now is the time to block the roll-out of E15 and keep ethanol from market access is a mistake on two levels. First, the anti-ethanol provisions don’t save much money in the budget and our dependence on oil actually costs the country much more money. Second, ethanol saves consumers money at the pump. And maybe most important, ethanol is American made.

Buis added, ““During a fragile economic recovery, when many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, we cannot continue a policy that keeps us addicted to foreign oil – especially as political upheaval in the Mid East and North Africa pushes gas prices closer and closer to $5 a gallon. If we truly want to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen this country’s economy and national security, we must invest in the alternative fuels we have the capacity to produce here in the United States,” added Buis.

You can listen to the entire press conference (taped from the a coffee shop in Sacramento where I was attending an event) where Tom Buis and Jim Nussle where joined by Gen. Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) here: Mid East Unrest & $100 Oil

Ethanol, Growth Energy, International, Oil

Calif. Senate Calls for 1/3 of Energy from Renewables

John Davis

In a move that is already generating plenty of controversy (and I’m sure plenty of comments on this blog), the California State Senate has voted to require utilities in the state to get one-third of their energy from wind, solar and other renewables by the year 2020.

The Los Angeles Times reports the measure moves up the requirement from 20 percent and is bringing about backers and opponents:

“Right now we can begin to create the jobs that this state so desperately needs,” said state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), the bill’s author.

The measure passed 26 to 11. The vote split largely along party lines but with a few crossovers.

Opponents said it would drive up electricity bills for homeowners and manufacturers. The additional costs would convince California companies, which already pay some of the highest energy costs in the nation, to move their jobs out of state, said Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar).

“This is yet another nail in the coffin for our manufacturing sector in California,'” Huff said.

There is no consensus on the measure’s true cost.

Simitian predicted a “modest short-term increase” in electricity bills, noting that his own utility in Sacramento offered to provide half his power from renewables for just $3 a month extra.

In a report two years ago, the California Public Utilities Commission said energy costs would probably go up 7.1% if a third of electricity came from renewable sources. A spokeswoman for the agency said Thursday that some renewable energy prices have since declined, so the increase would probably not be so high.

In addition, the state’s Public Utilities Commission says it might take $115 billion to put in the facilities to generate that much renewable energy. On the upside, it could create 100,000 to 200,000 new jobs. No word on whether Gov. Jerry Brown, who campaigned on the 33 percent target, will support the measure should it pass the state Assembly, as it is expected to do.

Government, Solar, Wind

DOE National Labs Debut Hydrogen-Powered Buses

John Davis

Officials at Lawrence Livermore and Sandia California national laboratories have debuted a pair of hydrogen-powered shuttle buses.

This article from Patch.com says the Ford E-450, nine-passenger vans will be tested as they shuttle people around the two campuses:

The demonstration will test how well the hydrogen-powered vans and their fueling stations stand up to the normal wear and tear.

They will replace conventional diesel fuel-burning taxis resulting in roughly a 50 percent reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas closely linked with global warning, said Leonard Klebanoff, Ph.D., a principle member of the Sandia California lab in an interview.

The arrival of the shuttles provided an opportunity for LLNL and Sandia lab officials to educate the public about the safety and environmental advantages of hydrogen as a fuel, he noted. Public outreach will involve Las Positas College and area high schools and elementary schools.

“This is a celebration of our hydrogen technology programs,” Klebanoff said.

The alternative fuel technologies powering the vans did not originate at LLNL and Sandia, however. Ford Motor Company in Detroit modified its internal combustion engine and added a special hydrogen tank pressurized to 5000 psi for gas storage at room temperature.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., is providing hydrogen gas fuel. It also built and installed hydrogen fueling stations at the LLNL and Sandia campuses.

The vans will be able to run 150 miles between refuelings. Of course, the only emission from the burning of hydrogen is water.

Government, Hydrogen

UPS Uses Natural Gas to Make Brown Trucks Green

John Davis

In an effort to make its brown trucks run green, shipping giant UPS has added 48 heavy tractor trucks that use Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

This company press release says the new semis will be used in the western United States starting later this year and will produce 25 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions:

“This is an important step not only from an environmental standpoint but from the viewpoint of U.S. energy security,” said Mike Britt, UPS’s director of vehicle engineering. “Liquefied natural gas is a cheaper, cleaner-burning fuel that is better for the environment and more sustainable than conventional diesel. And it’s also a fuel that’s in abundant supply inside the United States; it doesn’t have to be imported.”

According to Britt, there are multiple technologies and alternative fuels being explored or deployed today to provide propulsion for small- and mid-sized trucks. “But at the moment, LNG is the only suitable alternative to diesel for the really heavy, long-haul tractor trailers you see on the highway,” he added. “As a fuel, LNG is very dense, providing a large amount of energy for the amount of space it occupies. This makes LNG an excellent potential fuel for large trucks that need to travel a long distance before refueling.”

Manufactured by Kenworth, the LNG tractors are powered by Westport HD Systems and initially will pull trailers on a transit lane linking Ontario, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nev., along with UPS’s 11 existing LNG tractors. UPS is the only private delivery company using this technology in its fleet and now has more than 1,100 natural gas-powered vehicles in service.

The release goes on to say that UPS operates 1,914 alternatively fueled vehicles, including those running on Compressed Natural Gas, propane, and electric, as well as hybrid electric vehicles, with this green fleet covering more than 185 million miles over the past decade.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG)