Biodiesel Credit Fails to Pass Key Vote

John Davis

Just in case you think that I’m just re-running the same story from all this past winter and spring, honestly, I’m not. But there’s trouble … again … for the $1-a-gallon federal biodiesel tax incentive.

This article from ICIS.com says while the measure, tied to unemployment benefits, failed to garner enough votes by just three that would have ended debate on the bill. But, it might not be completely dead yet:

The vote sends the bill back for reworking despite weeks of lawmakers debating the overall cost of the package.

Biodiesel brokers said the move would result in more gridlock in a biodiesel market already frozen by confusion over price ideas. The industry is currently running at 10% or less of capacity.

“It never seems quite dead,” one biofuels broker said. “Everyone still assumes there is life to this bill, and we’ll be frozen until the next time around.”

Leaders thought they had pared the bill (with the bulk of the cost coming from the unemployment benefits section) down far enough to satisfy fiscal hawks … down to an estimated $33 billion from the original price tag of $190 billion … but the money is still holding it up.

Ironic, isn’t it, that a bill that would help put back to work or preserve the jobs of an estimated 23,000 biodiesel workers is being stopped over arguments over unemployment benefits?

Biodiesel

CleanFUEL USA Adds New Retail Propane Dispenser

Joanna Schroeder

CleanFUEL USA has recently announced that it has added a new propane fuel dispensing product to its infrastructure equipment line. The CFT PRO 2100 is less costly than bottle filling dispensing units and offers several unique features including a stainless steel cabinet, improved hydraulics and an electronic dispensing computer. The new dispenser is currently available and will be integrated into the U.S. propane network that CleanFUEL recently received a grant to spearhead.

The project’s goal is to build the nation’s largest propane network that will include 184 liquid propane refueling stations across the country. The network will be completed in two to four years with the first new stations opening this summer in Phoenix, Arizona and Anaheim, California.

“Developing a better infrastructure for the distribution of alternative fuels is an essential part of the country’s ability to reduce its dependence on gasoline,” said U.S. Congressman John Carter (R-TX). “It helps us both offset the demand for foreign oil and meet rigorous environmental legislation by utilizing cleaner burning transportation fuels that are in surplus, such as propane.”

According to proponents of propane, the fuel is best suited for fleet vehicles and globally powers roughly 13 million cars and trucks. Ford and GM have developed propane engine platforms and CleanFUEL USA has developed a liquid propane injection technology (LPI).

“CleanFUEL is in the process of building the nation’s largest Autogas [propane] refueling network,” said Tucker Perkins, COO of CleanFUEL. “Watching the infrastructure for this pipeline unfold is an amazing achievement for this country, as it will drive down the costs and emissions associated with transporting goods and services among our cities. This new network not only reduces the impact the commercial transportation market has on our environment, but it also helps companies reduce their transportation costs, which ultimately improves their bottom line.”

News, Propane

E85 Pumps Get UL Approval

Cindy Zimmerman

After nearly four years of Underwriters Laboratory (UL) testing, certifications have finally been issued to both the Gilbarco Veeder-Root Encore® E85 fueling dispenser and the Dresser Wayne Ovation® Eco fueling E85 dispenser. These fuel pumps are now completely certified and approved for dispensing any range of fuel ethanol from E0 through E85.

“The final UL certification of both the Gilbarco and Dresser Wayne fuel dispensers represents a significant step in expanding our national effort to provide higher level blends of ethanol directly to consumers,” said Growth Energy CEO, Tom Buis in a press release announcing the approvals. “Now that these two outstanding domestically based pump manufacturers have received all the final approvals and certifications, we anticipate a more rapid expansion in the number of higher blend fueling facilities across the nation.”

“This UL approval helps Dresser Wayne further its commitment to the development of green refueling technologies,” said Scott Negley, Director of Alternative Energy Products for Dresser Wayne. “Consumers are increasingly demanding renewable fuel options for their vehicles, and car manufacturers are steadily increasing the number of vehicle models that use eco-friendly fuels. Now, fuel retailers dispensing E85 with Dresser Wayne Ovation Eco Fuel E85 dispensers can meet consumer demands and also be in compliance with industry standards.

“We are pleased to be leading the development of the infrastructure required for alternative fuels, including increased use of ethanol,” said Chad Johnson, marketing manager for Encore dispensers at Gilbarco Veeder-Root. “The Encore S Flexible Fuel dispensers for E85 provide our customers with the same innovative, money-making features and durability they enjoy with the gasoline models.” (Press announcement here).

The certification and approval of ethanol blender pumps is expected in upcoming weeks.

E85, Equipment, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Possible Future World Cup Site to Use Solar Power

John Davis

In light of the dramatic American soccer victory at the World Cup in South Africa (and moving on to the next round), I thought you’d be interested in knowing that the power of the sun could help run some of the venues at one country’s bid to host the event in the future.

While seems a long way off, inhabitat.com reports the Middle Eastern country of Qatar is already putting together its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, and solar-powered stadiums will play a big role:

Three new eco stadiums and sports complexes will be built close within the city limits allowing fans as well as teams to easily access the arenas. The Al-Wakrah stadium will be able to host over 45,000 spectators and be located in a mixed-use complex along with an aquatic center, spa, sports facilities and a mall, which will continue to be utilized all year long even after the competition ends. Then the Al-Khor and Al-Shamal Stadiums will also be constructed with seating capacity greater than 45,000. Qatar plans on using solar technology to power carbon-neutral technology in order to cool the stadiums and keep the temperature inside less than 27 degrees celsius.

The stadiums are planned to be built by German architectural firm AS & P – Albert Speer & Partner.

International, Solar

Algae Producers to Help Fight Gulf Oil Spill

John Davis

Got an urgent message from my friend Tamra Fakhoorian with the Mid-South Chapter of the National Algae Association looking for volunteers to help with a cleanup effort some members of the algae-producing community are sponsoring. She says they need 10,000 volunteers to help algae oil and biofuel producers Ultra Green International and Algaeventure Systems use their algae know-how to clean up the millions of gallons of petroleum pouring into the Gulf of Mexico:

The plan is simple: we’re using a highly absorbent matting invented by US scientists in Ohio to mop up the spill, cleaning the Gulf and collecting the oil at the same time. A flotilla of 168 ships manned by local fishermen is poised and ready to patrol the Gulf, literally vacuuming up the 36 million gallons of oil threatening the beaches.

BP has failed to act quickly to solve this crisis and Ultra Green intends to fill the gap. With the help of our science partners Algaeventure Systems, and hundreds of local fishermen who have seen their livelihoods disappear, we are planning to Save the Gulf from the worst ecological disaster in American history.

More details and information on how to volunteer are available at www.sossavethegulfcoast.com.

algae, Biodiesel

Biodiesel Has Place in USDA Biofuels Report

John Davis

While the ethanol industry has been praising the USDA’s report entitled “Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022,″ there’s plenty in there for biodiesel fans to like as well.

The feds are optimistic that biodiesel will be able to carry its share of the overall 36 billion gallons of biofuels goal:

The U.S biofuels industry is on track to produce 1 billion gallons of biodiesel by 2022. In 2009, the United States already produced 550 million gallons of biodiesel. There are presently 173 plants and nearly as many companies that have invested millions of dollars into the development of biodiesel manufacturing plants and are actively marketing biodiesel. Twenty-nine companies have reported that they have plants currently under construction and are scheduled to be completed within the next 12-18 months. Their combined capacity, if realized, would result in another 427.8 million gallons per year of biodiesel production.

Furthermore, the report recognizes the importance of the soybean industry as being the main feedstock for biodiesel production, especially in the Midwest, and the rise of more non-traditional sources, such as algae and waste cooking greases.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Soybeans, USDA

Ethanol Industry Pleased With USDA Biofuels Report

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s “Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022” released on Wednesday gives all the right directions as far as the ethanol industry is concerned, now they want to see it actually hit the road and make it to the destination.

USDAReleasing the report, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “The current ethanol industry provides a solid foundation to build upon and reach the 36 billion gallon goal. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to bring our country closer to complete energy independence and this report provides a roadmap to achieve that goal.”

The report acknowledges the significant role of corn ethanol in meeting future goals, outlines a regional analysis of feedstocks that can be utilized for biofuels production, and stresses the need for more blender pumps and flex fuel vehicles (FFVs). All of the nation’s ethanol industry organizations issued responses that they were pleased with USDA’s report.

Renewable Fuels Association LogoRenewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen calls the goals of the RFS ambitious, but achievable. “Secretary Vilsack and USDA have rightfully identified the crucial areas in which the department can help accelerate the growth of the industry and ensure the RFS delivers on the goals provided when Congress passed the legislation,” said Dinneen.

The USDA report says the agency “can immediately offer assistance on infrastructure” such as blender pumps to add to what the ethanol industry is already doing. RFA has joined with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) on the Blend Your Own campaign aimed at installing 5,000 blender pumps in the next three years, and Growth Energy recently began a grant program for retailers to install the pumps.

ACEHowever, the organizations all note that increasing the blend rate for ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent is still a critical step that is needed. “Until the regulations are modernized to allow more than 10 percent biofuels in a gallon of gasoline, petroleum still has a 90 percent mandate at the pump,” said ACE executive vice president Brian Jennings. USDA’s report acknowledges the “blend wall” as one of the challenges in expanding the use of biofuels, but beyond that says only that “EPA is in the process of evaluating whether a decision to blend up to 15 percent ethanol into gasoline is justifiable based on the latest science, its effect on engines, and its effect on air quality.”

Growth EnergyGrowth Energy CEO Tom Buis commended Secretary Vilsack for “looking down the road to help America achieve its energy independence” with a long term plan, but noted that interim measures are needed, such as approval of Growth Energy’s petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to increase the allowable blend of ethanol in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA, USDA

Switzer Performance Reveals E85 Nissan

According to autoevolution.com, Switzer Performance has produced a Nissan GTR that runs on E85. The Switzer E900 is named so because it runs on ethanol fuel and produces no less than 900 horsepower.

Working in New Zealand, the group partnered with Dodson Motorsports to beef up the horsepower. The obious fuel to use was 85 percent ethanol which assists in boosting the car from 60 to 130 mph in under 6 seconds.

“E85 isn’t without its trade-offs. We had to modify the fuel system to handle the fuel and significantly increase the size of the injectors, also, but in the end we had a fuel that gave us everything we needed to crank up the boost on this car and deliver over 900 hp,” Tym Switzer said in a statement for the press.

Other vehicle traits include an Amuse carbon fiber aero package, 3-way adjustable suspension, and 20-inch BBS wheels that are an inch wider than stock at all four corners.

“With most high-horsepower cars, you can barely breathe after just a few dyno runs,” Switzer added. “With the E85, we were able to run pull after pull to dial in the tune without feeling any effects of the usual emissions. It’s hardly scientific, but there was a noticeable improvement in the air quality in the shop compared to race gas.”

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

USDA Releasing Report on Biofuels

John Davis

The USDA is releasing a report on renewable transportation fuels and the role the agency will play in development of those biofuels.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the report comes as the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) gets ready to kick in on July 1st and will require that 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year be in America’s fuel supply by 2022:

“The Obama Administration has made domestic production of renewable energy a national priority because it will create jobs, combat global warming, reduce fossil fuel dependence and lay a strong foundation for a strong 21st Century rural economy, and I am confident that we can meet the threshold of producing 36 billion gallons of biofuel annually by 2022,” Vilsack said. “As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to bring our country closer to complete energy independence and this report provides a roadmap to achieve that goal.”

Vilsack says the ag department’s role will be to identify numerous biomass feedstocks to be utilized in developing biofuels and to call for the funding of further investments in research and development of feedstocks, sustainable production and management systems, efficient conversion technologies & high-value bioproducts, and decision support and policy analysis tools.

“Our focus at USDA is primarily on how do you build biorefineries in all parts of the country, how do you take advantage of the most efficient and effective feedtsocks that are available in each region of the country, and how do you create enough blender pumps so there’s customer convenience to build greater demand on Detroit and other auto manufacturers to produce the kinds of cars to use more ethanol.” He adds the program needs to go national, on a governmental and private business level, for the biggest impact.

You can read the report at www.USDA.gov.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News, USDA

USDA: Ethanol Plants Gain in Net Energy Output

John Davis

A new report shows that ethanol plants are becoming even more efficient in turning energy into more energy, showing great energy gains.

The USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey of corn growers for the year 2005 and the 2008 survey of dry mill ethanol plants show that dry grind ethanol plants that produce and sell dry distiller’s grains and use 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 ratio is about 2.3 BTU of ethanol for 1 BTU of energy in inputs, when a more generous means of removing byproduct energy is employed.

Just back in 2004, the ratio was only 1.76 BTUs for every 1 BTU of energy inputs. And the report shows that some dry mills that use 50 percent biomass power have an energy output of 2.8 times the energy it takes to make one unit of energy. The news was welcomed by Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association:

“This study clearly demonstrates the technological advancements that have taken place in ethanol production in just a short period of time,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “The findings prove that ethanol production is becoming cleaner and more efficient at a time when oil production continues to become dirtier and more difficult to extract.”

“If previous ethanol energy analyses have been nails in the coffin of the stale and distorted ‘negative energy balance’ myth, this report serves as the final burial,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “As better and more current data become available, there can be no doubt that ethanol offers tremendous energy benefits while greatly reducing consumption of crude oil. American ethanol producers continue to evolve, becoming more efficient and producing greater environmental benefit. This evolution stands in stark contrast to the worsening profile of oil production.”

The full report is available here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, News