RFA Reacts to EPA Decision on Higher Ethanol Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says the Environmental Protection Agency is missing an opportunity to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and create new economic opportunity by limiting its decision on E15 (15% ethanol/85% gasoline) to only model year (MY) 2007 and newer vehicles.

Renewable Fuels Association Logo“EPA’s scientifically unjustified bifurcation of the U.S. car market will do little to move the needle and expand ethanol use today,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “Limiting E15 use to 2007 and newer vehicles only creates confusion for retailers and consumers alike. America’s ethanol producers are hitting an artificial blend wall today. The goals of Congress to reduce our addiction to oil captured in the Renewable Fuels Standard cannot be met with this decision.”

Dinneen is especially concerned about the labels required at the pump that are likely to lead to confusion among consumers and issues with retailers.

Listen to an interview with Dinneen on the decision here. RFA Reacts to EPA Ruling on E15

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, RFA

EPA Announces Decision on Higher Ethanol Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted a partial waiver to allow up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline for 2007 model year vehicles or newer.

A decision on the use of E15 in model year 2001 to 2006 vehicles will be made after EPA receives the results of additional DOE testing, which is expected to be completed in November. However, no waiver is being granted this year for E15 use in model year 2000 and older cars and light trucks – or in any motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, or non-road engines – because currently there is not testing data to support such a waiver. Since 1979, up to 10 percent ethanol or E10 has been used for all conventional cars and light trucks, and non-road vehicles.

EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Gina McCarthy announced the agency’s decision in a telephone conference call with reporters. That press conference is on-going and will be posted when complete.

Read EPA release on the decision here.

*POST UPDATE – EPA PRESS CONFERENCE AUDIO*
EPA Ruling on E15

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

SunE Sky Norfolk Chooses Sharp Solar Panels

Joanna Schroeder

A new solar power plant under construction in Ontario, Canada has selected Sharp thin film solar panels for its 18.5 MW plant currently under construction on two sites in Port Dover and Simcoe. The plant is a joint venture between SunEdison, a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, and SkyPower Limited and when completed will have two operational solar parks, SunE Sky Norfolk I and II.

SunEdison spokesperson Jason Grey noted that his company is thrilled to have worked with Sharp on the project and partner Kerry Adler, President and CEO of SkyPower Limited said of the project, “We welcomed the opportunity to deploy Sharp’s impressive technology in the SunE Sky Norfolk solar projects. As one of Canada’s leading owners and developers of solar parks, with over 1.4 GW in our solar pipeline we look forward to many more projects like these.”

Once the plant is operational, the power produced will be delivered by Ontario Power Authority to its customers. According to Sharp, the thin-film solar cells have a structure in which thin layers of silicon are deposited onto a glass substrate, enabling a dramatic reduction in the amount of silicon used. The production processes are simpler, thereby making these products ideal for large scale solar park projects.

“We’re proud to work with SunEdison and SkyPower to help bring more clean, renewable energy to the people of Canada through this landmark project,” said Eric Hafter, senior vice president, Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group. “We applaud the Ontario Power Authority for translating government’s clean energy policy into tangible results for the people of Ontario.”

Electricity, Solar

Wind Power Will Play Key Role by 2030

Joanna Schroeder

The wind industry received a boost this week with the release of the “Global Wind Energy Outlook 2010,” in Beijing ahead of the China Wind Power 2010 conference slated to begin today. China is now the world’s largest wind power market and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) anticipates the country’s wind power will increase 10 fold by 2020. The report forecasts that wind power could provide a fifth, or up to 22 percent of the world’s electricity needs by 2030 while at the same time achieving major greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and details how global wind power capacity could reach 2,300 GW by 2030 and reduce CO2 emissions by 34 billion tons.

The GWEO 2010 presents three different scenarios for global wind power development through 2030, Reference, Moderate and Advanced. The Reference Scenario is based on the new 2010 IEA report, “Projected Costs of Generating Electricity” and although its wind numbers are cautiously optimistic, it believes wind power will replace oil’s role in electricity generation by 2030.

The report also calls for a global agreement to be reached regarding greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and encouraged more governments to achieve their goals through the development of green energy.

“Wind power can make a massive contribution to global electricity production and to decarbonising the power sector, but we need political commitment to make this happen.” said Steve Sawyer, GWEC’s Secretary General. “Wind power technology provides governments with a viable option for truly tackling the challenges of our time and for being part of the energy revolution our planet needs.”

In addition to environmental benefits, the report also demonstrates that wind energy is becoming a substantial factor in economic development, providing more than 600,000 ‘green collar’ jobs today both in direct and indirect employment. By 2030, the number of jobs is projected to increase to over 3 million. In 2010 a new wind turbine was in stalled every 30 minutes and GWEC’s goal is that by 2030, a wind turbine is installed every seven minutes.

Today, more than 75 countries have at least one operational wind farm and by 2030, GWEC predicts that half of the new installed wind capacity will be in developing countries.

Electricity, International, Wind

Fragmented Approval for Ethanol Boost Expected

Cindy Zimmerman

All eyes in the ethanol industry are on the Environmental Protection Agency this morning, awaiting a ruling on the waiver to allow up to 15 percent ethanol in regular gasoline that was requested in March of 2009.

Industry sources are expecting to see a fragmented approval of E15, allowing it in cars 2007 and newer, but waiting for more testing to approve it in 2001-2006 model vehicles and possibly not allowing it at all in 2000 model vehicles or older, motorcycles, heavy-duty vehicles, off-road vehicles and non-road engines. Such a decision is unlikely to please anyone, either for or against the increase, since ethanol backers fear it will lead to confusion for retailers and consumers.

The announcement from EPA is expected later today.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

E85 Grand Opening in San Marcos, TX

The National FFV Awareness Campaign in cooperation with the Central Texas Clean Cities, Sac N Pac Stores, Inc., Growth Energy and Protec Fuels is holding a grand opening celebration today for their new E85 pump. The idea is to bring consumers more access to higher blends of ethanol in Texas. The celebration will be held at the Sac N Pac E85 station at 1002 Highway 80 in San Marcos, Texas.

“Choice is the cornerstone of independence and the free market. October 17, 2010 marks the 37th anniversary of the nation’s 1st oil embargo. Many shortages and price spikes later U.S. oil imports continue to rise and are expected to soon reach 70%. After 37 years of fighting for change consumers now have a choice of FFVs auto dealer showrooms and E85 at the pump,” said Burl Haigwood, the project manager for the National FFV Awareness Campaign. “Over 9 million consumers nationwide, and over 700,000 consumers in Texas, are driving these special FlexFuel Vehicles (FFVs)—but most FFV owners don’t know they are driving one. Our goal is to locate and educate FFV owners, and motivate them to buy higher blends of ethanol like E85. There is a tremendous economic stimulation opportunity from developing new biomass crops into biofuels in Texas — if consumers continue to show retailers they prefer domestic clean burning fuels like E85. Just like paper or plastic, we now have gasoline or E85. Consumers now have choice.”

“We are pleased to be working with these groups in Texas to support high level blends of ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Providing consumers with greater access to ethanol will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and strengthen our energy security.” Growth Energy is an official supporter of the campaign.

Sac N Pac’s grand opening celebration will include remarks beginning at 1:00 p.m. by invited guests such as: Mayor of San Marcos, State Representatives, San Marcos City Council Representative, Hays County Commissioner Representative, San Marcos ISD and Hays County Consolidated School Districts Representative.

Registration for a $500 E85 fuel card gift card will begin during the promotion and FFV drivers will have until November 15, 2010 to qualify at the station.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Largest Smart-Solar Array to Be Built in California

John Davis

North America’s largest smart-solar array is being built in the San Francisco area.

Sun Light & Power has announced it is constructing a 530 kilowatt (kW) array that leverages the Tigo Energy®MaximizerT Solution to optimize, control and monitor over 1,900 Suntech 270 Watt Power modules:

“This is the first array of its kind that marks a new era of intelligent solar modules,” said Gary Gerber, CEO of Sun Light & Power. “This is the largest smart array in North America and represents the future of commercial solar. The Tigo EnergyMaximizer Solution has proven to be an ideal solution for this project.”

Bruce Lymburn of CLIF BAR stated: “Going solar is a natural for CLIF BAR and is part of our corporate sustainability mission; this new installation will provide us with renewable and clean solar energy to help power our new headquarters in Emeryville, California.”

“We are excited to have the Tigo Energy Maximizer Solution be part of this project,” said James Bickford, Director of North American Sales for Tigo Energy. “This is the first of Tigo Energy projects that are redefining state-of-the-art commercial installations.”

The Tigo Energy Maximizer Solution is the first distributed power electronics system to be used on a scale this large.

Solar

Cottage Grove, MN to Celebrate Odyssey Day with E85 Promo

The BP/Daily Express E85 station at 8490 SE Point Douglas Road in Cottage Grove, Minnesota will be holding a promotion celebrating Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Odyssey Day, a nationwide series of events and promotions held every two years to educate the public about alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. According to the American Lung Association of Minnesota, on Friday Oct. 15, the station will discount E85 by 60 cents per gallon from 4-6 p.m. The first 20 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in line will receive E85 for 85¢ per gallon.

Jack’s BP in Watkins, Minnesota is also celebrating AFV Odyssey day with an E85 “frequent fuel card” promotion – after two tankfuls of E85, eligible participants will receive a $15 discount on their third fill up at Jack’s BP.

Supporters of the promotion in Cottage Grove include the Linn Companies, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, the Clean Air Choice Team and the American Lung Association in Minnesota, which supports the use of E85 and biodiesel fuels as part of an overall strategy to reduce and prevent air pollution.

Biodiesel, blends, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Anti-Ethanol Camp Exit Tents Prepared to Attack

Joanna Schroeder

The anti-ethanol camp has exited their tents today to hold a press conference against the suggested changes to VEETC and the ethanol tariff that the ethanol industry proposed last week. In response, the four organizations that are leading the charge to create a new road map for ethanol have jointly responded to the attack.

In a statement released today from the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) the groups focused on ethanol’s successes and benefits. “America’s ethanol industry has been an undeniable success, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and reducing our nation’s reliance on foreign oil. These groups that have repeatedly attacked ethanol without validation would leave America with just one course of action: increasing our addiction to foreign oil.”

The groups continued by pointing out that ethanol has ‘paid dividends’ and ‘returns more to the federal government in the form of tax revenue than is spent in investment’. They also noted that ethanol has helped the country save billions of dollars in foreign oil expense.

“Constantly pining for fictional fuels or seeking to keep America hooked on the oil standard runs contrary to the desire most Americans have to become energy independent. Instead of facts or new approaches, these groups are recycling tired rhetoric that does nothing to help solve America’s energy problems,” the statement continued.Read More

ACE, biofuels, blends, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, food and fuel, Growth Energy, NCGA, RFA

Oct. 15th is National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day

Joanna Schroeder

The National Alternative Fuel Vehicles Training Consortium (NAFTC), located at the University of Virginia, is kicking off its annual National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day Odyssey in New York City Union Square on October 14, 2010. The official AFV Day is October 15th. The event was created in 2002 to create consumer awareness about alternative fuels and the vehicles that can run on them. This year the goal is to have more than 125 events planned throughout the U.S. and Canada with 200,000 people attending and reach more than 75 million drivers in North America through media outreach. In addition, Odyssey is also reaching out to secondary schools.

In an interview with Ethanol Producer magazine, NAFTC executive director Al Ebron said, “Even if you reach that many people but only some of them hear the message, that’s still millions of people that are learning about these cleaner technologies and new technologies that can reduce our dependence on petroleum and help clean our air.”

Many of the companies that are participating in the nationwide events will be hosting pump promotions that will reduce the price of alternative fuels. One such partner is Propel Fuels, who is planning on offering $1 off per gallon on both E85 and biodiesel and five of its San Francisco fuel stations. Within the next two years, Propel will install 200 combined E85/biodiesel fueling stations throughout the West Coast.

You can learn more about the events near by visiting Odyssey’s website.

Biodiesel, E85, Education, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles