New Pickens Plan Leaves Out Wind

John Davis

A couple of years ago, T. Boone Pickens unveiled a plan that would use wind energy and natural gas to help America kick its foreign petroleum habit.

But after a couple of setbacks trying to start a mega wind farm in Texas (and now possibly in Canada), the billionaire oilman is changing gears, and Mother Nature Network reports he is leaving wind out of the mix:

The new Pickens Plan calls for Congress to pass legislation that will incentivize the conversion of 18-wheel trucks to compressed natural gas (CNG). This conversion, according to a report on msnbc.com, would “cut in half the amount of oil imported to United States,” if just eight million of the tractor-trailers in the United States switched to CNG.

So what’s the issue? Well, some are saying Pickens’ 45% ownership in a company called Clean Energy Fuels is his sole motivation. Clean Energy Fuels makes natural gas filling equipment for buses and other large vehicles.

The story goes on to point out that Pickens aims to make hundreds of millions of dollars from his natural gas portion.

Natural Gas, Wind

Air Force Aims High on Alternative Fuels

John Davis

The men and women who wear U.S. Air Force blue are looking to help preserve your freedoms, while gaining their own freedom from non-renewable petroleum.

This article from National Defense Magazine says the service wants the biofuels industry to step up its game to provide the millions of gallons the Air Force will need when it converts to 50-50 blends of jet and synthetic fuels in 2016:

“I’m throwing the gauntlet down to industry,” said Timothy Bridges, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, environment, safety and occupational health. “We’re doing our part. We’re asking them to do theirs and support the country as we move toward alternative energies,” he told National Defense in an interview at the Pentagon.

The Air Force is working to wean itself off foreign oil. It consumes some 2.5 billion gallons of jet fuel annually. By 2030, its intention is to fly on domestically produced alternative fuels concocted from renewable sources including biomass, which encompasses everything from wood chips and plant oils to animal fats and agricultural waste. Those fuels must be cost competitive with petroleum and have greenhouse gas emissions equal to or less than that of oil, officials said.

“It has to be a business consideration because we want competitively priced fuels for it to make sense to do it,” said Bridges. “Yes, we can get the quantities that we need for the testing, but when it comes to our requirement to actually fly the fleet, that’s a larger challenge. We’re setting the expectations. We want it to be there when we’re ready,” added Bridges, who until recently oversaw energy as part of his responsibilities. A new office dedicated solely to energy was established by the service in November. It is being led by Kevin Geiss, deputy assistant secretary for energy.

If it meets its 50 percent goal of alternative fuels from locally sourced feedstocks in five years, that would add up to 400 million gallons. The Air Force’s point is the infrastructure needs to be up-to-date to handle that demand.

“We want to say, ‘Look guys, we’re going to be ready. Will you be ready?’” said Bridges.

biofuels, Government

New Mexico to Get Plethora of Solar

Joanna Schroeder

A five-solar site project broke ground today in New Mexico, when completed will provide residents of Lea and Eddy counties more than 112 million kilowatts hours of solar energy per year. The 54 MW photovoltaic solar project will be spread out over five separate sites and will help utility provider Xcel Energy meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard that requires 15 percent of all electricity must be from renewable sources by 2020. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011 and is being designed by SunEdison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials.

“Xcel Energy has built its reputation on responsible stewardship of our environment while meeting customer expectations for innovation, reliability and competitively priced energy,” said Riley Hill, president and CEO of Southwestern Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy company. “The SunEdison project positions us as a leading provider of solar power and a reliable partner in the development of a renewable energy economy in New Mexico.”

The five installations will be built, financed and maintained by SunEdison, under a 20-year solar power services agreement with Xcel Energy, which will buy the solar energy generated by the solar power plants. Once constructed, the 54MW deployment will be the largest in New Mexico. It is expected that the project will generate more than 2 million megawatt hours of solar energy over twenty years—enough energy to power more than 192,000 average U.S. homes for one year, according to a company press release.

“I commend SunEdison and Xcel Energy for locating this sustainable energy project in southeast New Mexico,” said State Senator Caroll Leavell who attended the ground breading ceremony. “Lea and Eddy counties embrace oil, gas and nuclear and this will further diversify our local economy as well as the energy security of the nation. It is special that one of the five units will be located on Woolworth Trust property. This private trust funds the Jal Senior Citizen’s Center and Woolworth Library. This project will benefit our citizens for years into the future.”

Carlos Domenech, President of SunEdison concluded, “SunEdison is proud of our continued relationship with Xcel Energy. Having recently activated a 70MW deployment in Italy, SunEdison has proven our ability to construct and finance large utility-scale solar deployments. We look forward to working with Xcel Energy in helping them reach their renewable energy goals.”

Electricity, Solar

Canada’s RFS Officially In Effect

Joanna Schroeder

Today marks a big day for supporters of renewable fuel in Canada. The country’s Renewable Fuels Standard has officially gone into effect. This adds nearly two billion litres of renewable fuels including ethanol and biodiesel, into the country’s gasoline pool each year and according to the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA) will “change the way Canadians drive going forward.” In addition, a second Renewable Fuels Standard specifically for biodiesel is expected to be enacted in the new year.

“Starting on December 15th, Canadians will be fueling change every time they drive. Five per cent of the gasoline that Canadians pump into their vehicles will come from renewable green sources harvested and produced across Canada,” said Gordon Quaiattini, president of CRFA. “Ethanol and biodiesel help diversify our fuel supply, add new income for farmers, and reduce harmful greenhouse gases.”

In a CRFA press release, they cited a third party Canadian study that showed ethanol reduced GHGs by 62 percent when compared to conventional gasoline and biodiesel shows a 99 percent reduction. When using the above calculations, the new RFS will eliminate 4.2 megatonnes of emissions each year or the equivalent of removing 1 million cars from Canada’s highways.

CRFA also cites the economic benefits of renewable fuels – construction of plants has generated nearly $3 billion in economic activity and ongoing activities represent a $2 billion annually. Farmers also receive higher incomes without the need for government programs and the country’s forestry sector is also seeing economic gains.

“With the renewable fuel standard coming into effect Canada is now positioned to become a world leader in advanced biofuels,” added Quaiattini. “The production and the commercialization of next generation advanced biofuels using state-of-the-art technologies and a wide variety of feedstocks is underway.”

Biodiesel, Ethanol, International

TVA Adds More Wind to Portfolio

Joanna Schroeder

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is adding more wind energy to its growing renewable energy portfolio. It has contracted with Horizon Wind Energy LLC in Iowa to supply 44 megawatts of wind energy per year by 2012. Horizon will supply TVA with electricity generated by 50 Vestas 1.65-megawatt turbines at Horizon’s Pioneer Prairie wind farm in Howard and Mitchell counties. The project is still subject to applicable environmental requirements and securing firm transmission arrangements.

“We’ve seen remarkable growth this year in our wind power resources for the future,” TVA Senior Vice President John Trawick said. “This continued expansion is the result of TVA’s renewed vision to be among the nation’s leading providers of clean, reliable, low-cost power.”

This is the second TVA-Horizon wind purchase agreement this year. This past February, TVA signed a purchase agreement for up to 115 megawatts of wind power from Horizon. This latest agreement marks approximately 1,600 megawatts of renewable wind power contracted for TVA’s generating system.

TVA’s current renewable energy portfolio includes more than 4,300 megawatts from hydro, wind, solar and methane sources. In addition, TVA’s generates 6,900 megawatts of power from its nuclear power plants.

Electricity, Wind

NEC Registration At Feverish Pace

Joanna Schroeder

Registration for the 16th Annual National Ethanol Conference on February 20-22, 2011 is filling up fast. So fast in fact that there is concern that the hotel rooms at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona are going to be gone right along with 2010. The focus for this year’s conference is Building Bridges to a Sustainable Energy Future and this premier industry event will focus on vital marketing and policy issues.

“This is a conference you have to attend. All the other major players in your industry will be there, which puts you at a disadvantage if you sit this one out,” says John Litterio, Director, CHS Renewable Fuels Marketing.

Conference session highlights include:

  • • Future of Biofuels Tax Policy
  • • Where Are We on the Road to Next Generation Biofuels Commercialization?
  • • Behind the Scenes Look at Impact of 2010 Elections on Congress and Presidential Politics, featuring Mary Matalin and James Carville
  • • Moving Beyond E10
  • • How Will EPA’s GHG Tailoring Rule Impact Your Business?
  • • Global Ethanol Outlook
  • • Oil Products and Feedstock Forecasts

This is one time that it doesn’t pay to procrastinate. You can learn more about the NEC conference and register online for both the conference and your hotel here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Ethanol Report on Senate Passage of Tax Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastIn this edition of “The Ethanol Report” we get reaction from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen on the passage by the Senate of the compromise tax package that includes a one-year extension of important tax incentives for ethanol production and use.

Dinneen says they are thrilled with passage of the measure, which gives some stability to the industry for another year. “Would we like it to have been a longer incentive, as opposed to just a year? Certainly. But this allows us to move forward, it provides some certainty to the industry, and hopefully, it allows a more comprehensive discussion about energy tax policy to ensue next year,” he said.

Dinneen now expects the measure to pass the House with the ethanol incentives in place.

Listen to the Ethanol Report here: Ethanol Report on Senate Tax Vote

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

Geological Society of America Unveils Solar System

Joanna Schroeder

The Geological Society of America (GSA) is now powered by solar. This month the building began offsetting about 35 percent of its energy use with its new 65 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar energy system. The solar system will provide the company’s headquarters with 88 megawatt hours per year of energy. This project is one of three renewable energy projects planned for the GSA building, that will use 100 percent renewable energy (wind & solar) by January 2011.

The solar array was designed and installed by Louisville, Colorado-based Bella Energy and utilizes 298 Sharp solar panels. According to a Sharp press release, GSA’s solar power system will prevent the emission of over 160,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

“We are grateful for the availability of local funding from Xcel Energy and the City of Boulder to make this investment in renewable energy possible for GSA. The Society is committed to demonstrating environmental leadership and we want other commercial and nonprofit entities to know that this funding exists,” said GSA Executive Director Jack Hess. “Bella Energy was an excellent partner, they provided us with the professional workmanship and industry expertise that helped to make this project a success.”

Earlier this year, GSA is one of 12 Boulder-based nonprofits to receive $30,000 in funding from the City of Boulder’s ClimateSmart Solar Grant Fund. The grant was supplemented by funds from the GSA Foundation and their members and Xcel Energy’s Solar Rewards Program also offered $132,000 in rebates.

“This installation is a fine example of what can be accomplished with the government funding options that are currently available,” said Eric Hafter, senior vice president of Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. “The GSA is an incredible organization that promotes scientific understanding of the Earth. Sharp is proud to support the GSA in their efforts to protect the Earth as well, by utilizing clean renewable energy to power their headquarters.”

Electricity, Solar

Senate Passes Tax Package

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate has overwhelmingly passed what is likely to be an early Christmas present for everyone, including renewable energy interests, with tax credits for ethanol and biodiesel extended for another year.

The vote was 81 to 19 to pass the bill, which was primarily to extend both unemployment benefits and the Bush era tax cuts. The House is expected to take up the measure as soon as today and analysts believe that it will pass largely intact, with major concerns there being with the estate tax.

Biodiesel and ethanol trade groups were quick to praise the Senate action. “The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is pleased by the Senate’s vote to retroactively extend the biodiesel tax incentive,” said Manning Feraci, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs. “This will help ensure that the nation reaps the job creation, energy security, and environmental benefits associated with the expanded domestic production and use of biodiesel in the coming year.”

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO and President Bob Dinneen said in a statement that extending the ethanol incentives will help save jobs and give the industry some stability. “Members of the RFA greatly appreciate the work of ethanol advocates, led by Sen. Charles Grassley and the Obama Administration, to ensure these important job-creating provisions were included. We strongly urge the House to take up the measure as soon as is possible and to pass it before adjourning for the year,” said Dinneen.

“This bipartisan vote shows that the Senate is committed to enacting sound tax policies that invest in green industries, like ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, NBB, RFA

Minnesota Stations Offer Frequent Ethanol User Cards

Cindy Zimmerman

Three fuel stations in Minnesota are now offering drivers of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) a chance to save money with frequent ethanol user cards.

The Meadowland C-Store Cenex in Wabasso, Meadowland Farmers Coop in Lamberton and Country Pride Services in Windom are providing frequent fuel punch cards (one per household) to the first 50 flex fuel vehicle drivers starting today. The punch cards will offer a $10 discount on the fourth tankful of E85, E50, E30 or E20 fuels they purchase at those locations.

The promotion is being supported by the American Lung Association in Minnesota, Redwood County Corn Growers Association, Cottonwood County Corn and Soybean Growers Association, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, US Department of Energy Clean Cities and the Minnesota Clean Air Choice Team. For more information, see www.CleanAirChoice.org.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Promotion