Next Gen. Biodiesel Scientists Holding Virtual Conference

John Davis

They’re some of the newest and brightest scientific minds in the country, so it just makes sense that the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel would choose one of the most cutting-edge formats to hold the first interactive virtual conference on biodiesel for students.

These biodiesel champions will join one of the nation’s foremost biodiesel researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and National Biodiesel Board staff in leading the online event on September 28, 2010 from 7 – 9 p.m. Eastern time.

Higher education students and faculty interested in the future of biodiesel – from emerging research, to the state of the industry and career trends to environmental attributes – are invited to register for this one-of-a-kind virtual conference.

Participants will learn the latest on how biodiesel is the nation’s only commercially available, domestically produced advanced biofuel. NREL’s Dr. Bob McCormick will cover research on storage stability, compatibility with emissions control technology, and cold temperature performance. Participants will also learn about the biodiesel industry itself, including employment opportunities, and hear from other students leading biodiesel efforts on their own campuses.

The virtual conference comes on the heels of the launch of the Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel initiative. This new group formed to demonstrate and grow support for biodiesel among tomorrow’s scientific leaders. The campaign launched with 28 founding members of an on-line declaration of support for biodiesel, America’s only domestically produced commercially available advanced biofuel.

Participants will have a chance to ask questions of the virtual conference presenters, who are:

* Don Scott, NBB Director of Sustainability
* Dr. Bob McCormick, Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Colo.)
* Jason Strull, Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel Co-chair (University of Nevada -Reno)
* Lucas Ellis, Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel Co-chair (Dartmouth College)
* Bernardo del Campo, Next Generation Scientists for Biodiesel Co-chair (Iowa State University)

The NBB is hosting the event with support from the United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff.

Biodiesel, NBB

United Farmers Coop Installs 2 Blender Pumps

Joanna Schroeder

It’s always a good day for ethanol when we hear about new E85 or blender pumps opening. Today, the United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) has installed two new blender pumps in Shelby, Neb. with the help of Growth Energy’s 2010 E85 and Blender Pump Program. The pumps are located at 600 East Hwy 92. This Friday, UFC will host a Blender Pump Open House from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm CST where they will be holding drawings and offer fuel discounts for E10, E20, E30 and E85.

“UFC’s decision to install blender pumps versus upgrading with traditional pumps and adding E85, is all about giving our customer the ability to support the ethanol programs and still have the flexibility to chose based on his or her blended preference,” said Dick Munn, United Farmers Cooperative Vice President of Energy.

UFC became a member of Growth Energy’s E85 and blender program for the assistance they offer with fueling infrastructure as well as for financial assistance. This year has been a good year for retailers to install E85 and blender pumps since the federal government is currently offering a tax credit that gives station owners a 50 percent tax credit, up to $50,000, for installing E85 infrastructure.

“Every blender pump we install gives consumers a choice at the pump that includes domestic, renewable ethanol,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Growth Energy is pleased to have been able to assist in the United Farmers Cooperative in their efforts and we remain committed to assist with the addition of more blender pumps across the nation.”

blends, E85, Ethanol

All You Need To Know About U.S. Ethanol Subsidies

Joanna Schroeder

Ever wonder what would happen if the ethanol subsidy disappeared? Well, today UNICA answers that question in their new video, “All I Need to Know About U.S. Ethanol Subsidies,” that explains to taxpayers how Congress could save them $6 billion per year and help lower prices at the pump. For consumers to reap these savings, all lawmakers have to do is let 30 years of ethanol tax credits and trade protection expire on December 31.

According to UNICA, current U.S. ethanol policies include an interlocking system of subsidies and tariffs that cost taxpayers $6 billion per year for a total of $45 billion since 1980. These subsidies contribute to fluctuating gas prices and make sugarcane ethanol practically unavailable in the U.S., although sugarcane ethanol is favored in some areas such as California because it has a lower carbon intensity than other current forms of ethanol.

The video explains these policies as well as discusses the environmental, economic and energy security benefits of opening up the market to foreign sources of ethanol.

“Americans are increasingly writing and calling Congress to urge that it’s time to allow clean, renewable energy sources like sugarcane ethanol into the U.S.,” said Joel Velasco, UNICA’s Chief Representative in North America. “Their letters and phone calls all echo one thing: they are tired of having their tax dollars used to keep these options out of reach and to support a thriving industry that’s already the world’s largest.”Read More

corn, Ethanol, Legislation, UNICA, Video

States Scale Back RPS’s As Senate Ramps Up RES Efforts

Joanna Schroeder

As several senators make one last push for a federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to be enacted before the close of the 111th Congress, several states are considering scaling back their current Renewable Energy Portfolios (RPS). At the federal level, groups such as the bipartisan Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition cite an RES as a way to give the country an economic jolt and regain a leadership role in development and manufacturing. At the state level, organizations against the RES support moves to scale back renewable efforts claiming that the economic cost of moving to wind, solar and biomass will in fact cause more economic turmoil, not economic prosperity.

An increase in the debate regarding a federal RES has come from two sources. Last Monday the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition sent a letter to Senate Democratic and Republican leaders saying, “A strong RES is the most economically-efficient way to advance clean domestic energy and immediately create jobs in renewable energy manufacturing, construction of new projects and associated transmission, and ongoing operation and maintenance of these facilities.”

The letter was addressed by Govs. Chet Culver (D-Iowa) and Don Carcieri (R-RI), who lead the Governors’ Wind Coalition and early this year released a report detailing wind opportunities throughout the country.

The letter continued, “We wish to work with you and with the Administration to help shape federal energy legislation this year. The economic stakes are high for our states, and we see a narrow window of opportunity for Congress to enact a long overdue reworking of federal laws governing renewable energy.”

The letter was followed up by a press conference yesterday held by several bi-partisan senators who introduced a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) bill. Read More

biomass, Commentary, Electricity, politics, Solar, Wind

Algae Biofuels Focus of Session at Delaware Conference

John Davis

Just got a quick note from my friend Tamra Fakhoorian with the National Algae Association letting me know that she will be one of the speakers at the 2010 Energy & Sustainability Conference Sept. 23-25 at the Trabant Center in Newark, Delaware.

Tamra will be presenting on Thursday afternoon during the Carbon Abatement session of the conference with a talk entitled, “Algae for Energy: The Long Road to Fuel Independence.” I’ve talked to Tamra many times before, and I can assure you that it’s a session you won’t want to miss!

She’s pretty busy, too. I know right after she gets done talking at that conference, she’ll be hot-footing down to The Woodlands, Texas (just north of Houston) for the NAA’s national conference at the Sheraton North Houston hotel near George Bush Intercontinental Airport (see my post from Sept. 16 for more details).

algae, biofuels, conferences

DF Cast: Cal. Grants for Ethanol, Biodiesel Infrastructure

John Davis

It’s an issue we’ve talked about before … plenty of ethanol and biodiesel and vehicles that can burn the green fuels but not enough infrastructure to support those cars’ and trucks’ needs. But a little help from the government is changing that in one of the largest concentrations of privately-owned vehicles … and incidently, one of the largest concentrations of flex-fuel vehicles in the country … California.

Matt Horton is the CEO of Propel Fuels, a California-based company that provides E85 ethanol and biodiesel to existing stations. He says having the types of pumps that can handle those fuels is biggest problem.

“One of the key challenges in the alternative fuels and biofuels market in particular being the lack of infrastructure to provide everyday customers with access to the fuels.”

He says there are plenty of flex-fuel vehicles that can burn E85 ethanol and plenty of diesel vehicles able to use biodiesel. But the infrastructure to provide these biofuels and the public’s awareness that they can use ethanol in their flex-fuel vehicle are lacking. To fix that, Propel has received $11 million in state and federal grants to put in 75 E85 ethanol pumps in California. Anthony Eggert sits on the California Energy Commission (CEC). He says the state’s portion of the money … about four million dollars … comes from California’s Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology program … also known as AB 118, named for the enabling legislation that created it. He justifies the tax money spent on this program as just a drop in the bucket compared to what consumers have to spend on non-renewable, petroleum-based fuels.

“It’s around $100 million per year for the CEC to invest in a portfolio of non-petroleum fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower our petroleum dependency and improving our energy security. In California alone, we spend approximately $150 million per day on gasoline and diesel fuel.” He says the impact on the economy due to volatile fuel prices, as well as environmental issues and the vulnerability to foreign nations that might not always be the friendliest, makes the grant money well spent. Plus, it will pay dividends in the form of new jobs, less foreign oil and more money in consumers’ pockets.

You can listen to the Domestic Fuel Cast here. Domestic Fuel Cast

You can also subscribe to the DomesticFuel Cast here.

Audio, Biodiesel, Domestic Fuel Cast, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Government, News

Mastic Joins National Wind

Joanna Schroeder

Minneapolis-based community wind developer National Wind has brought Peter Mastic on board as President and Chief Development Officer. He will be responsible for project development and finance and will report to company CEO, Leon Steinberg. Mastic will be at the helm of developing the company’s project portfolio, that currently consists of 15 community wind farms delivering over 4,000 megawatts (MW) per year. Prior to joining National Wind, Mastic was the founder and CEO of Third Planet Windpower, LLC.

“We are pleased to have a wind industry executive of such prominence join our team,” Steinberg commented. “Peter is a senior energy executive turned wind developer. He is well versed in renewable energy markets and has been successful in developing large-scale wind projects across the country.”

Mastic is no stranger to wind development. In the past he has managed the development, financing, or commissioning of more than 20 wind projects, that when completed will produce more than five gigawatts (GW) of wind energy across the States. To date, 500 MW are currently operational.

“I am pleased to be joining National Wind at an exciting time in its expansion,” Mastic said. “National Wind is unique in the industry as a utility-scale community-based wind developer, and without question it has major growth potential moving forward.”

Company Announcement, Wind

Second Look at USDA Ethanol Energy Balance Report

Cindy Zimmerman

A report released by USDA in June on the energy balance of ethanol plants is getting a second look this week, thanks to a post on the USDA blog.

The second look is well deserved, since the report, titled “2008 Energy Balance for the Corn Ethanol Industry,” got less coverage than it deserves when it was first released. The findings of the report are significant because they specifically tackle the much-publicized claims of David Pimental that ethanol production results in a net energy loss. The USDA report updates the energy balance numbers by taking into account current practices used by both corn producers and ethanol processors that have led to increased efficiencies and concludes that “A dry grind ethanol plant that produces and sells dry distiller’s grains and uses conventional fossil fuel power for thermal energy and electricity produces nearly two times more energy in the form of ethanol delivered to customers than it uses for corn, processing, and transportation.”

The report does concede that ethanol production was much less efficient 20-30 years ago, but that it has made tremendous gains, thanks to both increased corn yields and better production methods. “Over all, ethanol has made the transition from an energy sink, to a moderate net energy gain in the 1990s, to a substantial net energy gain in the present.”

As more plants start using biomass power instead of conventional fossil fuel for production, the energy balance could increase even more significantly, according to the report. “As processors master the logistics of handling bulky biomass, the energy balance ratio could reach 26 BTUs of ethanol per BTU of inputs used.”

Read the report here.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Republican Takeover Could Signal Change for Biofuels

John Davis

If Republicans take control of Congress in the upcoming November election, we could see a shift back to making renewable energy a priority.

In this Biofuels Digest article, Brent Erickson, executive vice president for the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Industrial and Environmental Section, says he has been disappointed in President Obama’s and Democratic leadership in Congress’ lack of interest in helping support the green energy industry.

[Brent Erickson] We have had two years with Democrats in Congress and the White House, and they pretty much got their way. Obama took on health care and got it gone, and TARP and the stimulus and he’s shot his wad now.

[Biofuels Digest]: Overall marks for the Administration?

BE: I have been a little bit disappointed in the Obama administration. When he was in the Senate he as very pro-biofuels. He had to choose his priorities, and that is understood, but this administration hasn’t done as much as expected.

Erickson goes on to say that biofuels, ethanol and biodiesel, have enjoyed bipartisan support, mostly from the likes of farm state Congressional members such as Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). But he says it’s not a lock that Republican control will make a huge change:

BD: Looking ahead to divided government?

BE: You can look at biofuels as an agriculture policy issue – or as green tech. These runs in cycles. First there was a biofuels wave, now wind and solar folks have reached the ascendancy. Biofuels is a much more diverse field than wind and solar – over there it’s wind turbines and solar panels – that’s part of the problem. Then, the economy going in the tank, and the people who have money to invest got conservative.

But biofuels have enjoyed pretty good bipartisan support, although the oil companies will have more of a voice if the Republicans take over. Not all oil companies have the same position – some are outright anti-biofuels, some are more pro than others. But the ag lobby is pretty powerful.

Erickson goes on to say that pay-go rules in Congress and a preference for investment tax credits as over production tax credits could change the game as well.

BIO, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, News

TMO Renewables Joins Fiberight for MSW Projects

Joanna Schroeder

UK-based TMO Renewables has announced that it has entered into a 20-year contract with U.S.-based Fiberight to design and build waste to ethanol plants in the U.S. The contract is estimated to be worth more than $25 million per year. The new plants will combine the TMO Process, which optimizes waste feedstock conversion using a specialty bio-organism, with Fiberight’s fractionation and digestion technology. The two technologies working together are anticipated to improve the conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) and other types of cellulosic waste into ethanol.

As part of the agreement, the two companies anticipate that they will design and construct 15 plants throughout the U.S. over the next five years. According to TMO, for each plant they will receive an initial, one-off design fee plus recurring annual revenue. The site and funding for the first plant has already been secured and construction is expected to begin in 2011. The next five sites have also been identified with the remaining plant locations yet to be determined.

“This contract is a landmark in the development of TMO’s technology on a commercial scale to produce an economically sustainable source of renewable biofuel,” said Hamish Curran, CEO of TMO. “In adopting the TMO Process Fiberight has proven the ability to use waste stream feedstock, net of all recyclables, for the effective conversion to cellulosic ethanol via a novel, low cost and fully integrated bio-process. Replication of similar waste to ethanol bio-refineries, across all regions of the U.S. and globally, can drive significant green job creation and community economic development. We look forward to working with Fiberight’s pioneering team to drive forward our joint plant development program.”Read More

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Waste-to-Energy