Kansas City Clean Cities Holds Ethanol Workshop

The Kansas City Regional Clean Cites held a workshop today focusing on ethanol fuel. The speakers focused on where ethanol fits in the world today, fleet and retail success stories, and funding available for retail facilities.

“There are 4,560 flexible fuel vehicles in region 6 of GSA. . . We purchased 3.2 million gallons of gasoline in fiscal year 2009 and we’re on our way on purchasing more in fiscal year 2010,” said U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Region VI Represenative Don Gard. “As a success, we’ve worked with the Army installing the E85 tank in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. But we are still having the challenges of driver’s reluctance to use E85, educating consumers and there is a lack of E85 stations.”

“Three years ago, I began putting together green gas stations. . . We were the first in Kansas to put in a blender dispenser,” noted Zarco 66, Inc. owner (shown right). “Being able to get out and explain what I do is the key to moving this forward.”

Others speakers included Rich Cregar of Wake Technical Community College, Robert White of RFA, Kelly Gilbert of the Metropolitan Energy Center, Michelle Kautz of Growth Energy, Byan Fox of KCP&L, and Mike MacComiskey of Syn-Tech Systems.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Brazil Ethanol Pipeline Gets Environmental License

Cindy Zimmerman

Brazil’s ethanol pipeline is getting closer to reality as a preliminary environmental license for the project was issued this week.

The $1.1 billion project, which is a partnership between Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), Mitsui & Co. and Camargo Correa SA, is designed to transport ethanol in a 337 mile pipeline from the producing regions in the Mid-West, Minas Gerais and São Paulo to the large consuming centers of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

The project has been under development since early 2006 and is now scheduled to begin late next year.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

REX Company Invests in Another Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

REX American Resources Corporation has agreed acquire 48% equity ownership interest in NuGen Energy of South Dakota. REX has agreed to acquire its ownership interest for $9.2 million with a commitment of up to an additional $6.5 million based upon the future profitability of NuGen.

NuGen Energy, a subsidiary of Central Farmers Cooperative, operates a nameplate 100 million gallon ethanol plant in Marion, South Dakota. The plant was built by Fagen, Inc. and utilizes ICM, Inc. technology. Upon completion, the investment will increase REX’s overall ownership interest of annual nameplate capacity ethanol production by approximately 33%. REX intends to fund its initial investment from cash on hand, and at April 30, 2010, REX had cash and cash equivalents of $101.4 million, including $86.1 million of cash at the parent company.

This represents the seventh ethanol plant investment for the electronics retailer, which first got into the ethanol business in December of 2006 by investing $14 million in Millennium Ethanol for a plant also located in Marion, South Dakota.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Danish Company Claims World’s Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

A new cellulosic ethanol plant in Denmark is claiming to be the largest producer of “New Ethanol” in the world, turning wheat straw into 1.4 million gallons per year.

According to Inbicon CEO Niels Henriksen, the biorefinery in Kalundborg is producing both cellulosic ethanol and a clean lignin biofuel to replace coal. “But our renewable energy process is as important as our renewable energy products,” Henricksen says. “The Inbicon Biomass Refinery can demonstrate dramatically improved efficiencies when integrated with a coal-fired power station, grain-ethanol plant, or any CHP operation. Symbiotic energy exchange helps our customers build sustainable, carbon-neutral businesses.”

The Kalundborg refinery will be integrated with the Denmark’s largest power station. Waste steam from the power station will run the biomass refinery, increasing the refinery’s total energy efficiency to 71%. Inbicon says a variety of feedstocks can be used by the plant, including straw, corn stalks and cobs, sugar bagasse, and grasses.

According to the company, three U.S. companies have cellulosic projects in development that will each include a scaled-up Inbicon Biomass Refinery.

Sandra Broekema, manager of business development for Great River Energy, a Minnesota electric cooperative, spoke about Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, a commercial-scale Inbicon Biomass Refinery processing North Dakota wheat straw to be co-located with their new 64 megawatt Spiritwood Station.

John Gell, Director of Genesee Regional BioFuels, presented plans for a biomass business complex near Rochester, New York. His company is focused on bringing an old brown site back to life while revitalizing New York’s agriculture–processing corn stalks–transitioning to home-grown grasses. The lignin will offset coal used in existing power stations.

Peter Bendorf, PE, Integro Services Group, developing engineer for SWI Energy, plans a new 59MMgy corn-to-ethanol plant in Alton, Illinois integrated with a 20MMgy Inbicon Biomass Refinery. Utilizing the synergies of each will produce fossil-free ethanol.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, International

Obama Touts Electric Vehicles, Jobs at KC Plant

John Davis

Pres. Barack Obama made a stop at a factory that makes all-electric trucks in Kansas City, Missouri today to tout those type of vehicles and the Stimulus Bill money that is helping build up the plant’s capacity.

The White House says the $32 million grant for Smith Electric’s new factory, coupled with $36 million in private funds, has help the company expand to being able to build 500 all-electric trucks:

While he was there, the President also had the pleasure of announcing the company was hiring its 50th worker at the plant. By September, that number is expected to grow to 70, and at the project’s peak, Smith tells us the project will create more than 220 direct and indirect jobs. As the President said:

[T]he reason I’m here today is because, at this plant, you’re doing more than just building new vehicles. You are helping to fight our way through a vicious recession and you are building the economy of America’s future.

The story of Smith’s factory shows the direct and measurable impact of the Recovery Act. Smith’s factory is re-purposing an 80,000 sq. ft. jet engine overhaul facility at the Kansas City International Airport, a space that was not being utilized or creating jobs is now a fully operational plant.

Officials say the factory helps show that electric-drive cars and trucks are legitimate, and fleet customers such as Coca-Cola and AT&T will soon put them to the test. The federal money helps cut the number of years it might have taken to develop the technology relying solely on the private sector.

Electric Vehicles

OriginOil to Harvest Hydrogen from Algae

John Davis

OriginOil, Inc., a company that has developed technology to extract oil from algae to be a competitor with petroleum, has invented a process that will be able to get hydrogen from the living algae.

This company press release says the new Hydrogen Harvester will use little or no external energy inputs, requires no sulfur deprivation or other “stressing” of the algae, and no genetic modification:

“One of the primary challenges for algae production is to achieve the best-possible energy balance,” said Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil CEO. “By harvesting hydrogen from algae we are able to increase the energy output of virtually any algae production system. The result is a photosynthetic technology platform that yields energy in the form of oil, biomass, and hydrogen.”

Algae already create oxygen through photosynthesis. Recovering hydrogen provides the necessary ingredients for electricity generation using fuel cells. The energy can be used to offset the electricity requirements of algae cultivation, harvesting and downstream processing.

Dr. Brian Goodall, OriginOil’s new CTO, commented: “The co-generation of hydrogen at the algae production site is a critical development for the realization of a completely integrated algal biorefinery. All routes from algae to ‘drop-in’ fuels such as renewable diesel and jet fuel require hydrogen and hydrotreating. The Hydrogen Harvester technology would eliminate the need for hydrogen pipelines and dependence on existing refineries which are typically far removed from ideal sites for algae growth.”

The press release goes on to say that the Hydrogen Harvester is becoming part of OriginOil’s stable of algae growth technologies.

algae, Biodiesel, Hydrogen

America’s Slippery Slope of Support for Renewable Energy

Joanna Schroeder

Our country is quickly sliding down a slippery slope. Not too long ago, we were the leaders in renewable energy – wind, solar, biofuels. Today, not only have the major technological advancements come from overseas, our manufacturing facilities, entrepreneurs and investors are going, or have gone overseas as well.

Where are they going? Brazil. India. China. Why? Because these countries have the winning recipes for success: cohesive energy policy, long-term incentives and private investors. These are the exact three things we do not have in America.

We have other problems. We have states like California, that purport leadership in green policies and renewable energy, who make it nearly impossible to get permits for projects to meet its “green” initiatives.

Yesterday, Martifer Renewables Electricity dropped its plans to build a 107MW hybrid solar-powered biomass plant in California. The reason? After nearly 2 1/ 2 years, they have yet to obtain permits. Another company run out of California due to difficulty in obtaining permits, Blue Fire Ethanol – a next generation bioenergy company.

It may not be too late to head back up the hill but there are some things that must be done. Read More

biofuels, biomass, Commentary, Opinion, Solar, Wind

Solar Powered Plane Completes 26 Hour Flight

Joanna Schroeder

The world’s longest solar flight landed safely today. The solar plane, HB-SIA, dubbed Solar Impulse, completed a 26-hour test flight above Switzerland this morning and now holds the record for the longest solar-powered flight ever. However, what might be the coolest thing about the journey – the plane took off at night.

Solar Impulse took off from the Payerne airbase at 06:51 with André Borscherg, CEO and co-founder of the Solar Impulse project, at the controls. During the flight, the plane reached an altitude of more than 28,000 feet above sea level and reached speeds of 68 knots.

The plane features 12,000 solar panels built into its enormous 63.4 meter wing. It also holds 400-kilogram battery pack, which were fully charged during the plane’s decent.

“During the whole of the flight, I just sat there and watched the battery charge level rise and rise! Sitting in a plane producing more energy than it consumes is a fantastic feeling,” said André Borschberg, CEO and co-founder of the Solar Impulse project from the cockpit.

Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and President of Solar Impulse added, “This is a highly symbolic moment: flying by night using solely solar power is a stunning manifestation of the potential that clean technologies offer today to reduce the dependency of our society on fossil fuels!”

This test flight is a precursor to the real goal of flying around the globe using only solar power and not a drop of fuel. You can follow the journey at www.solarimpulse.com.


News, Solar

Ethanol’s Economic Impact in Indiana

Joanna Schroeder

Yesterday, Indianapolis Colt tight-end Dallas Clark joined Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy and Gen. Wesley Clark, Co-Chairman of Growth Energy to tout the local economic benefits of Indiana’s ethanol industry. The presentation was given during the Indiana Ethanol Forum, an event that focused on the economic impact and importance of ethanol to the state as well as to the U.S. As part of their remarks, the group stressed the need for federal lawmakers to include support for domestic ethanol in any Congressional debate over clean energy and job creation.

“During this Independence Day recess, we are urging Congress to bring an energy bill to the floor that promotes America’s fuel,” said Tom Buis. “In these tight economic times when we are sending billions of dollars overseas to fund the economies of foreign countries, we need legislation that will keep that money right here in America. Domestic ethanol is the only commercially viable, renewable fuel that creates American jobs while cleaning our air and strengthening our economy and national security. Now, more than ever, ethanol must be at the heart of this debate in Congress.”

Clark continued by stating, “What we’re seeing in places like Indiana and elsewhere around the country is that people want to have a choice at the pump – and they want domestic ethanol to be one of those choices. The more domestic ethanol we produce, the less foreign oil we need. And every gallon of domestic ethanol creates U.S. jobs, cleans the air and strengthens our national security. Today we’re asking Congress to hear the people of Indiana and include provisions to level the playing field for domestic ethanol in the July energy debate.”

Prior to breaking for the July 4th holiday, Congressional leaders indicated they would take up legislation for energy and green jobs upon their return. Growth Energy believes there are several specific measures that should be included in the legislation that will build out infrastructure for biofuels including a flex-fuel vehicle mandate and federal support for the installation of blender pumps. Both of these initiatives would empower consumers with choices at the pump.

Ethanol, Growth Energy, News

Ethanol Report on Motorcycle Rally Partnership

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastThis edition of the “Ethanol Report” with Renewable Fuels Association Director of Market Development Robert White talks about their sponsorship at the 70th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, August 6-14 in Sturgis, SD.

RFA Sturgis Fueled with Pride 2010Robert, who is an avid motorcyclist himself, says this is the second year they have elected to have a presence at this event, partnering with the Legendary Buffalo Chip campgrounds which is the main venue for the rally. “More than 100,000 people a day trek through this campground,” he said. “Across the campground, we’ll have banners, educational material and promotional giveaways like koozies at all the local watering holes.”

This may seem like an unusual place to promote ethanol, but Robert says it’s really a great American event for them to reach out to a large number of people in a wide demographic range. “We like the opportunity of having that many people in one small area to educate consumers about ethanol,” said Robert. They will be able to talk with them about the safety of low level ethanol blends up to 15 percent for motorcycle engines, as well as the availability of E85 and mid-level blends for the flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) they may have at home.

Listen to more from Robert in this Ethanol Report podcast. Sturgis Ethanol Report

You can subscribe to this twice monthly podcast by following this link.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Promotion, RFA