Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative Announced

Joanna Schroeder

California is not the only state to take on a “hydrogen highway“. This week, General Motors (GM) and The Gas Company (TGC) have launched an initiative to make hydrogen-powered vehicles and a fueling infrastructure a reality in Hawaii by 2015. Ten companies, agencies and universities have joined the program, called the Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative (H2I) in what participants hope will be become an essential piece of the state’s energy program.

“Hydrogen, used as a fuel, will reduce our dependence on petroleum starting today,” said Jeff Kissel, TGC president and CEO.

According to a press release from GM, they are the “leader in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles” and the “first to field the world’s largest fuel cell demonstration fleet of more than 100 vehicles”. The release also stated that TGC currently produces enough hydrogen to power up to 10,000 fuel cell vehicles with the capacity to produce more. Yet to be determined as part of the program is how to best distribute the hydrogen but the companies are looking at the possibility of using existing natural gas pipelines.

In 2008, the state launched the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), a partnership with the U.S. DOE with a goal of generating 70 percent or more of Hawaii’s energy through energy efficiency and clean, renewable resources such as solar, wind, wave, biofuels, and geothermal. The goal of H2I is to make hydrogen available to all of Oahu’s 1 million residents by 2015 with the installation of 20-25 hydrogen stations throughout the island.

“In Hawaii, we want to address the proverbial chicken or egg dilemma,” said Charles Freese, executive director of GM Fuel Cell Activities. “There has always been a looming issue over how to ensure that the vehicles and the necessary hydrogen refueling infrastructure are delivered to market at the same time. Our efforts in Hawaii will help us meet that challenge.”

What was not discussed in the release was the cost for Oahu residents to purchase a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle nor what the cost will be to fill up the tank.

Hydrogen

Ohioan Wants Ditches for Biodiesel Crops

John Davis

Reflecting a trend that started in Utah and has been copied in several other states, an Ohio man wants to see the ditches and medians along the interstates used to grow oilseeds, such as safflower, dwarf sunflower and canola, to make into biodiesel.

This article from the Columbus (OH) Dispatch says Mark Schaff, a member of Etna Township’s economic-development committee, got the idea after reading about a similar program in Utah and the national movement called FreeWays to Fuel:

North Carolina planted crops this summer, and programs are to start next summer in Minnesota, Michigan, Virginia and Tennessee.

Ohio spends about $17 million a year mowing state rights of way, he said.

Dallas Hanks, a doctoral student at Utah State University, originally pitched the idea to Utah transportation officials in 2006. The 47-year-old said the years of trial and error there have taught him valuable lessons about growing crops on roadsides that can now be adapted to other locations.

After some setbacks, Hanks said, he was able to develop planting and harvesting methods that allowed the crops to flourish on heavily compacted road gravel covered by a thin layer of topsoil, conditions similar to most freeway rights of way.

“We’ve been planting on sidewalks, in terms of compaction of soil,” Hanks said.

Ohio Department of Transportation officials have raised concerns about safety of those planting and harvesting crops in the ditches and medians, but proponents are quick to point out the oilseeds only would have to be tended to in the spring planting and fall harvesting … much less time than when maintenance crews have to continually mow those areas. Plus, farmers would only collect a share of proceeds generated and already have the equipment, eliminating those costs as well.

Biodiesel

Volvo Tests Biogas, Biodiesel in Airport Snow Sweepers

John Davis

In what could end up being a great test of biodiesel in cold weather (and there’s still plenty of detractors who swear against the green fuel in cold climates) Swedish auto maker Volvo will be testing biogas, and eventually biodiesel, in an airport snow sweeper in the Scandanavian country.

This company press release says that, in partnership with Schmidt and Swedavia, Volvo will have two nine-liter engines running on the alternative fuels in the sweeper:

The state-owned company Swedavia aims to make all of its 14 airports in Sweden carbon-neutral in terms of upkeep and maintenance. Daily operations involve the deployment of an extensive fleet of machinery comprising Volvo products featuring customized equipment, including snow removal machines that keep the runways clear of snow.

In partnership with the German customer Schmidt, the Volvo Group has developed a snow sweeper that uses Volvo engines fueled by a mixture of compressed methane and diesel.

“We have combined the superior efficiency of a diesel engine with the advantages of biogas. This has resulted in an engine that is significantly more energy-efficient than traditional gas-powered engines in which the biogas combusts in an Otto cycle,” says Inge Horkeby, Director Environmental Affairs AB Volvo.

The test vehicle’s cab unit is the front section of an A25E articulated hauler from Volvo Construction Equipment, equipped with a nine-liter diesel engine converted to gas. In the rear section a similar engine from Volvo Penta is used to power a roller brush and a snow-blower unit that expels the remaining snow at a speed of 130 m/s. While the Volvo Group already has trucks and buses that are powered by biogas, this is the first time that Volvo CE and Volvo Penta are showcasing a product equipped with biogas-powered engines.

If there’s any place that would know snow, it would be Sweden! I’m still trying to get some video or a picture of this snow sweeper in action. I’ll update this post when I find it.

Biodiesel, biogas

Introducing The ZimmPoll

Chuck Zimmerman

Starting today we’re launching a new feature on all the ZimmComm New Media news websites, including Domestic Fuel. This is a weekly quick-vote style poll which we’re affectionately calling the ZimmPoll.

The ZimmPoll is designed to gauge your opinions on a range of topics, including agriculture and agribusiness, emerging technologies and consumer trends. Look for a new poll each week in the sidebar on Domestic Fuel and on AgWired.com, PrecisionPays.com and WorldDairyDiary.com.

The ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea + Kaiser. “Target-audience opinions and insights are key to the success of all of our businesses today,” says Diane Martin, president and CEO of R+K. “We hope ZimmComm readers will benefit from – and have a little fun with – these real-time opinions of their ag industry peers.”

Start now and stay tuned for a new ZimmPoll each week. You’ll see results immediately, and we’ll also publish a weekly results recap where you’ll be able to share additional comments and ask questions about the week’s poll question.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll

Why Do You Believe in Biodiesel?

John Davis

Maybe it’s the renewable nature of the fuel. Maybe it’s the fact that the fumes from some of it smells likes french fries. Maybe, my personal favorite, it helps this country get off its foreign oil addiction. Well, whatever your reason for believing in biodiesel, the National Biodiesel Board is inviting you to put your thoughts onto video:

The best of the best clips will be used during the 2011 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 6 – 9 in Phoenix, showcased on the National Biodiesel Board’s web site, Facebook Fan Page, and other communications where biodiesel is at work.

Make your voice heard as our industry moves forward!

The statements must be submitted in the following format: “I believe in biodiesel because….”

You can check out the National Biodiesel Board’s site and see how some of the NBB’s staffs’ examples to get you started. My personal favorite is my friend Jessica Robinson’s video, where she mentions her best friend’s husband, who is in the Marine Corps serving overseas.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Ethanol Co-product Publication Update

Cindy Zimmerman

A publication that provides information for users of the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains (DDGS) has been updated.

A new edition of “Feeding Corn Milling Co-Products to Feedlot Cattle,” a popular publication that provides feedlot operators, animal nutritionists and others with the latest research and sound recommendations on feeding corn co-products like distillers grains to cattle, is now available from the Nebraska Corn Board and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This is the third edition of the publication and offers a significant update since it was last published in 2007.

“The availability and use of corn co-products like distillers grains, which are produced by ethanol plants, has increased significantly since 2007. At the same time, we’ve expanded our knowledge and understanding when it comes to recommendations that are backed by quality research,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, director of research for the Nebraska Corn Board.

“Feeding Corn Milling Co-Products to Feedlot Cattle” is a 36-page printed publication that is available free by request to the Nebraska Corn Board. Electronic copies are also available for download at NebraskaCorn.org under the publications section, or at the university’s beef.unl.edu website.


More information here from the Nebraska Corn Board.

corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News

AWEA Says “Don’t Forget About Wind Tax Credit”

John Davis

As much of the talk on this blog has focused on the renewal of the biodiesel and ethanol tax credits (see Cindy’s post), the leading advocacy group for wind energy in this country is reminding Congress of the danger of not including its green energy in the package to renew tax credits.

This press release from the American Wind Energy Association says tens of thousands of American jobs would be in peril if the 1603 investment tax credit for renewable energy is not part of the tax break renewal package:

“We have people being laid off right now, and we expect to see more without fast action on the tax extenders now being negotiated,” said Denise Bode, CEO of AWEA. “The 1603 tax credit extension would help bring them back as soon as possible.” According to the trade group’s research, there are over 15,000 jobs in the manufacturing pipeline alone. “We are risking those jobs by not sending a clear signal that America remains open for business in wind energy,” Bode said.

The 1603 tax investment credit saved 55,000 jobs in wind energy, as estimated by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Overall employment has reached 85,000 in the American wind industry, as installed capacity has grown 40 percent in each of the past two years. Wind now generates 20 percent of the electricity in Iowa; and on Oct. 28, high winds pushed wind power to 25 percent of the electrical generation in Texas.

AWEA officials are optimistic the credit will get extended.

Wind

Biodiesel, Ethanol Priorities for New ASA President

John Davis

The new American Soybean Association (ASA) president is making biodiesel and ethanol his priorities.

And this article from Corn and Soybean Digest says that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise from Alan Kemper, a fifth generation corn, soybean and cattle farmer from Lafayette, Indiana and the first person to hold both the ASA presidency and that of the National Corn Growers Association, a job he held in 1989-1990:

“We were pushing ethanol before it was cool,” he says, “and the need for expanded biofuels use – especially biodiesel– has never been more important than now. It’s essential that we receive a multi-year extension of the $1/gal. federal tax credit for biodiesel. This will be a net win for soybean growers, our country and our government.”

The article goes on to say that Kemper is also pushing free trade agreements to help American soybeans and wants to make sure there is profitability and sustainability in the oilseed market.

Biodiesel, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News, Soybeans

KC Firm Buys Mead Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

e3biofuelsA Kansas City investment firm has purchased a bankrupt Nebraska ethanol plant with the goal of getting it back on line by next year.

Spectrum Business Ventures (SBV) bought the assets in Chapter 11 bankruptcy of E3BioFuels in Mead, Nebraska, a patented, closed-loop ethanol production facility that both opened and subsequently shut down in 2007.

According to a company release, SBV secured a super senior position in the facility while financially restructuring it to operate profitably.

“Without SBV’s expertise in deal structuring and negotiations, this deal would not have gotten done. This is a win for the plant, a win for SBV and a win for the industry,” stated Dennis Langley, former Chairman and CEO of E3 Mead.

The Mead plant was the first-ever closed-loop system developed to produce commercial quantities of ethanol using methane gas recaptured from cow manure. The system combines a 25-million-gallon ethanol refinery, beef cattle feedlot, and anaerobic digesters to maximize energy efficiency.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Deal May Include Ethanol and Biodiesel Tax Breaks

Cindy Zimmerman

Nobody seems to be happy about the tax breaks/unemployment benefits deal announced by President Obama yesterday and no one is sure what all it ultimately will include, but Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says that ethanol blenders tax credit and associated tariff, as well as the biodiesel tax credit may be in it.

During his regular weekly conference call with reporters this morning, Grassley said there are details that have yet to be worked out, “But I’m led to believe that the extenders of 2009 – 71 of them, including biodiesel – would be extended for the years 2010 and 2011,” Grassley said. The breaks that run out at the end of this year, including ethanol, would also be extended through 2011, so all of them would end at the same time.

Grassley says he doesn’t know if the ethanol tax credit will be lowered in the deal. “I have been an advocate that we shouldn’t change any policy in any of these extenders, and I don’t think it will be changed, but I don’t have a final answer on that,” he added. He expects the existing tax law will be extended, just changing dates, and that would include extending the associated tariff on imported ethanol as well. “You’ve got to have a tariff or you’re going to be subsidizing Brazilian sugar ethanol, and you don’t want to do that,” he said.

Listen to some of Grassley’s comments below, and thanks to Julie Harker with Brownfield Network for passing along the audio from the conference call. The questions are asked by Dan Looker of Successful Farming and Philip Brasher with the Des Moines Register. Chuck Grassley

Renewable Fuels AssociationThe ethanol industry is also unsure whether the deal will include an extension of the ethanol blenders tax credit, known as VEETC, but they are hopeful. On the Renewable Fuels Association E-xchange blog, RFA’s Matt Hartwig wrote that, while the tax package is still very much in flux, “We remain confident that VEETC will be extended, if for no other reason than to prevent shedding thousands of jobs associated with domestic ethanol production.”

“A potential tax package would be the most appropriate vehicle to which an extension of VEETC could be attached,” Hartwig says. “But other potential vehicles may also emerge. The RFA will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to identify any appropriate vehicle that will ultimately land on the President’s desk for his signature.”

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA