PERC Partners for Clean Air

Joanna Schroeder

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) is partnering for cleaner air. The organization will be sponsoring EPA’s upcoming Clean Diesel 10 conference on October 19 and 20th being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. As part of its promotional efforts during the event, PERC will be helping to celebrate the success of the National Clean Diesel Campaign through its involvement in presentations. PERC will also showcase its latest autogas products including research, development and training programs.

According to PERC, propane autogas has been used in vehicles since 1913 and today, a wide range of vehicles are now available that can use propane including trucks, vans, shuttles, and school buses. For those who convert to propane autogas, there are various federal and state rebates and incentives to help offset conversion costs. In addition, there is currently an alternative fuel tax credit for fleet vehicles of 50 cents per gallon.

“We congratulate the National Clean Diesel Campaign for its effort and progress to help clean our air, and we are pleased to sponsor this event,” said Brian Feehan, vice president of PERC, who will make a presentation during a panel discussion on state and local leaders working with communities. “Propane autogas is already helping Americans reduce their impact on the environment, and it stands ready to do more.”

The purpose of the National Clean Diesel Campaign is to reduce diesel emissions. According to the EPA, every dollar spent on clean diesel projects produces public health benefits worth up to $13.

Conference attendees include government policy makers, environmental project managers and those working in and around the diesel and auto industries. To register or for more information on the conference, visit www.cleandiesel10.com.

conferences, Propane

RFA Disputes EPA’s Inclusion of Biogenic Carbon Emissions

Joanna Schroeder

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering equating biogenic carbon emissions with fossil fuel emissions under the Tailoring Rule, which requires the accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). Biogenic carbon emissions are those that are naturally created during the combustion and decay of woody biomass and up until now, have always been considered carbon neutral by the EPA. As such, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is disputing this clause in the rule.

In a letter to the EPA, RFA wrote, “While RFA generally supports a national policy to address climate change, we believe biogenic emissions must be exempt from GHG accounting schemes and regulatory frameworks. Specifically, inclusion of biogenic GHG emissions in determinations of applicability of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) or Title V Permitting Programs is not scientifically justified, runs afoul of accepted national and international GHG accounting methods, and is contrary to public policies enacted to encourage development of a robust renewable fuels industry in the United States.”

According the the RFA, it is “indisputable that CO2 emissions resulting from the combustion, fermentation, and decay of biomass, are by nature, carbon neutral in that those emissions are naturally offset when the biomass removes an equivalent amount of CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis during growth.”

Therefore, RFA is calling for the EPA to reconfirm that the carbon neutrality convention for accounting of biogenic GHG emissions is both scientifically justified and appropriate for regulatory contexts.Read More

Ethanol, Ethanol News, global warming, Indirect Land Use, RFA

Study Finds 15 Percent Ethanol Safe for Older Vehicles

Cindy Zimmerman

Landmark research by an internationally recognized engineering firm finds that E15 should be safe for older vehicles.

ricardoAccording to the study, carried out by Ricardo, Inc. on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), moving from 10 percent ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent will mean little, if any, change on the performance of older cars and light trucks, those manufactured between 1994 and 2000. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently considering a fuel waiver request to allow ethanol to be blended up to 15 percent, but the agency has indicated it may only approve the waiver for 2001 and newer vehicles only.

The study analyzed the vehicles manufactured by six companies and which represent 25% (62.8 million vehicles) of light duty vehicles on the road today, concluded “that the adoption and use of E15 in the motor vehicle fleet from the studied model years should not adversely affect these vehicles or cause them to perform in a sub-optimal manner when compared with their performance using the E10 blend that is currently available.”

Renewable Fuels Association Logo“This analysis provides conclusive evidence for the EPA that there is no reason to limit the availability of E15 to newer vehicles only,” said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen. “This analysis together with affirmative results in reports from the Department of Energy and other academic and private testing institutions show that there are no significant issues with the use of E15 in virtually all vehicles on the road today.”

In analyzing the various vehicles, the Ricardo analysis found minimal effects on engine components and materials, emission systems (including catalytic converters) and overall performance of raising the ethanol percentage from 10 percent to 15 percent.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Seaweed-to-Ethanol Startup Partners With Statoil

Joanna Schroeder

Berkley-California based start-up venture Bio Architecture Lab (BAL) has announced a partnership with the one of the world’s largest offshore oil and gas producers, Statoil. The partnership will help fund the research & development of seaweed-to-ethanol using macro algae grown off the coast of Norway. Today, Statoil offers Norwegian drivers a 5 percent bioethanol blend at the pump. Should the technology prove successful, Statoil will also fund the commercialization of BAL’s technology in Norway and elsewhere in Europe. BAL will have the right to equity participation and will receive royalties on all ethanol and by-products produced by the partnership.

“This game changing partnership will allow Bio Architecture Lab to accelerate our path toward commercialization and establish our technology in key markets in Europe,” said Daniel Trunfio, CEO of Bio Architecture Lab. “The significant commitment of resources and funds from Statoil further validates BAL’s market opportunity and puts us with an elite group of companies in our industry who have partnered with established oil and gas companies to bring technology to market.”

The first phase of the partnership will focus on BAL developing the technology and process to convert Norwegian seaweed into ethanol while Statoil will be responsible for developing and managing the aquafarms. From there, the next phase of the project will be to develop a demonstration scale biorefinery in Norway with the goal of building a commercial scale facility.

“Statoil has a unique competitive advantage in energy production in the marine environment. We are very impressed with the science and the progress BAL has made and we believe their approach to low cost and sustainable biomass feedstock solutions is among the most promising we have seen,” said Guntis Aboltins-Abolins, Head of the Future Fuel unit at Statoil. “We look forward to partnering with BAL on such an important strategic initiative that has the potential to provide Europe with low carbon renewable fuels.”

BAL is developing a similar program off the coast of Chile as part of a program funded by the Chilean government.  In addition, BAL has partnered with DuPont in a project funded by the Advanced Research Program Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) to convert macro algae into isobutanol.

algae, Ethanol, News

Ethanol – Right Here, Right Now

Cindy Zimmerman

A new ad campaign by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says ethanol is the answer to energy independence that’s “Right Here, Right Now.”

Renewable Fuels Association LogoThe thirty second ad began airing this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe news program in the Washington, DC media market and will continue through October 12 with nine spots per week. The target audience is policy makers in the nation’s capitol.

The ad educates viewers that ethanol is an American-made product produced from coast-to-coast, in over 200 ethanol plants – from Rancho Cucamonga, California to Peoria, Illinois to Shelby, New York – creating over 12 billion gallons of clean, renewable energy fueling nearly 400,000 jobs across the economy.

“After a historic oil spill off our shores and in the midst of both an economic slowdown and two wars, ethanol has never been more important. Ethanol is creating and sustaining good paying jobs in rural communities where job-creation is especially difficult. Ethanol is providing consumers with a clean, green, American-made alternative to petroleum, often from hostile countries like Iraq and Venezuela. Right here, right now is the time for the ethanol industry to tell its story,” explained Bob Dinneen, RFA President and CEO.

Watch the ad here:

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Free Webinar: A Legal Discussion on Wind Energy

Joanna Schroeder

In anticipation for the upcoming Midwest Wind Summit & Expo on October 4-6, 2010 in Brookings, SD, law firm Faegre & Benson is hosting a free webinar: A Legal Discussion on Wind Energy: Looking Past the Wind Industry’s Hurdles & Focusing on Completing Projects on September 24, 2010 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am CST. The webinar will focus on several issues affecting the future of the U.S. wind industry including the much-needed Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and the future of the grid.

One question in particular that will be discussed in whether the wind industry can thrive or even survive without an RES. The webinar will also discuss who will control siting decisions for new transmission lines – federal, state or local authorities and And who will pay for these new lines – utilities, developers or the public sector?

Even without an RES or solutions to hard transmission questions, the industry is still optimistically moving forward with installing wind energy. Yet with all projects come challenges including how to most effectively structure a deal and how to manage contract risk. A few mistakes on the part of the company overseeing the wind project could spell disaster. This webinar will inform you on the current state of the wind industry, assess the future of wind projects in the region and conclude with tips and tactics on development, negotiations and risk management of project contracts.

The following areas will be discussed in detail: transmission issues, including the debate over payment for new lines, jurisdiction over siting and routing and acquisition of necessary property rights; wind project structuring issues including financing, and how to manage risk in wind contracts such as construction contracts.

Speakers include Bill Weimer, Betsy Schmiesing, Peter Halls, and Peter Eckberg, all partners with Faegre & Benson and experts in wind energy.

The webinar is limited to 100 people so register now.

conferences, Electricity, Wind

Missouri Biodiesel Plant Reopens Under New Name

John Davis

There’s new life for a biodiesel plant in Southeast Missouri.

This article from Cape Girardeau’s Southeast Missourian says the former Great River Soy Processing Plant in Lilbourn has been reborn as ME Bio Energy LLC after being idled for the last three years:

After producing the first batch, the plant shut down to send a sample to the Environmental Protection Agency for inspection before opening for full production.

Since reopening, about 14,000 gallons of fuel goes through the processing line daily, said Jerry McDowell, plant manager. Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification in which glycerin is separated from fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products — methyl esters, which is the chemical name for biodiesel, and glycerin, a byproduct usually sold for use in soaps and other products.

Production at ME Bio Energy went into full swing in early July, McDowell said.

“We’re just starting to pick up with our deliveries,” he said. “The plant is averaging two trucks a day delivering supplies, and two trucks a day picking up the product.”

The plant will refine a 50-50 mix of animal fat and soybean oil into biodiesel.

Biodiesel

Canada Invests $81 Million in Biodiesel, Wind Ventures

John Davis

The Canadian government is putting about $81 million in a couple of wind and biodiesel ventures.

This Reuters article says the money will be spent over the next decade in Quebec:

The government announced a C$65 million injection over 10 years in two wind farms in the Gaspe region in Eastern Quebec.

The two farms, Carleton and L’Anse-a-Valleau, are owned by Cartier Wind Energy Inc and are capable of producing enough electricity to power up to 60,000 homes.

The funds come from the government’s C$1.5 billion ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.

Earlier on Tuesday, Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis also announced a C$18.79 million investment over seven years in biofuel producer Biocardel Quebec Inc.

Biocardel will make about 10 million gallons a year of biodiesel from converted vegetable or cooking oil or animal fat for sale in Canada and the U.S.

Biodiesel, Government, Wind

Corn Farmers Working to Keep Americans Safe

Joanna Schroeder

Last Saturday, most Americans took a moment to remember those lost on 9-11. I was at the Iowa versus Iowa State football game when more than 70,000 fans spent a moment in silence to honor those who died. During this time I reflected on things that our country can do to keep Americans safe and one such action is to reduce our purchase of foreign oil.

Corn farmers play a major role in helping America produce domestic, renewable fuels such as ethanol and I also spent last Saturday with more than 900 Iowa corn farmers, many who are growing corn for ethanol. The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) sponsored the game on Saturday as part of their mission to educate consumers about the role Iowa corn farmers play in producing their food and fuel.

ICGA CEO Craig Floss said that during the game, they were able to tell the story of how ethanol fits into the picture and what that means for Iowa corn farmers.

“There is no other liquid form of petroleum product like ethanol that can actually replace foreign produced oil. And the bulk of our oil comes from countries that have governments that are not like ours,” said Floss. He continued that everyone was touched by the event and has a connection to the event and we need to find a way to send less money to those countries. That is why we like corn farmers, explained Floss. They’re good for our economy and good for our security.

Floss concluded that corn farmers will continue to exceed global needs of corn and said that we haven’t even started to unlock the genetic code of what corn can do.

You can see pictures from game day in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.

You can listen to my interview with Craig Floss here. Iowa Corn Farmers Will Reach New Heights

Audio, Biotech, corn, Ethanol, food and fuel

Solar is Cooking

Joanna Schroeder

The American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) National Solar Tour is set to become the most successful solar event to date, with 648 community solar tours registered. The number of registered tours, which are designed to engage tens of thousands of citizens interested about solar, is nearly triple that of last year when 150,000 people across 49 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico participated.

“Interest in the solar industry is cooking, and consumers across the nation are eager to sample its wares, which bring enticing tax credits, cash rebates, improved property values and cleaner communities to home and business owners across America,” said ASES National Solar Tour Manager Richard Burns.

The 15th annual tour features open house tours of thousands of solar-powered homes, businesses and public agencies. The featured solar projects will demonstrate to consumers how they can save money on their energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and receive tax credits and cash incentives to install solar now. This year, the bulk of the tours will take place on or around October 2, 2010 in all 48 states with just North Dakota and West Virginia missing. In addition, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are hosting their first solar tours.

According to ASES, among the projects of solar solutions showcased are investments that have helped a couple beat Wall Street with their green ROI, an Iraqi war veteran now fighting in the renewable revolution, solar-powered homes, schools, public agencies, condo complexes, and businesses that run the gamut from solar-powered poultry farms to funeral homes.

Burns says as technologies have evolved, so have the diversity and sophistication of the solutions showcased on the tour. But it is the practical, grassroots approach of the people behind the tours that have made this event such a hit across America. The self-guided and bus-hosted tours are organized by grassroots organizations and solar installers throughout the country. Many tours are free; some tour hosts are non-profits and may request a donation. Click here to register for a tour.

Promotion, Solar