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FlexFuel Vehicle Owners Win “Fuel on the Fourth”

Cindy Zimmerman

Two lucky Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) owners received some American grown fuel for Independence Day, courtesy of Growth Energy.

Growth EnergyThe ethanol organization announced the winners of the “Fuel on the Fourth” contest offering nearly $300 in flex fuel cards to Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) owners. Contestants had one month to submit a photo of themselves with their FFV along with a caption describing why they choose to buy flex fuel for their vehicle.

Two winners were selected from the submissions. First place winner Jane Marie Connell of Granite Falls, Minn. and second place winner Harvey Fliehs III of Groton, S.D. will receive flex fuel cards worth $185 and $85 respectively, to be used for the purchase of flex fuel for their vehicles. Both winners will receive their cards in time for the Independence Day weekend.

Connell’s name was chosen through a random drawing for the first place prize while second place winner Fliehs was selected for his creative submission and photo (pictured). In his submission, Fliehs, a farmer in South Dakota, wrote, “Using flex fuel is an everyday reminder that the corn we produce is making a positive impact on our community, environment and country. Our family is a 3rd generation farm, where not only the farm is passed down but the name as well. We’re proud to provide a sustainable fuel source that we can pass down to generations to come.”

E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Growth Energy

Coffee Cups Could Make Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Researchers at the University of Manitoba are finding a new use for discarded coffee cups by turning them into cellulosic ethanol.

According to a story from Canada’s CBC News, the researchers are using one particular kind of disposable coffee cups, from the Tim Hortons coffee chain, founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario and very popular in Canada. Microbiologists Richard Sparling and David Levin started the project last year when they noticed all the discarded coffee cups from Tim Hortons outlets on the University of Manitoba campus and came up with the idea that they might make good food for bacteria they were testing to make biofuels. So far, they’ve found that 100 Tim Hortons cups can make 1.3 litres of ethanol, or about a third of a gallon.

The researchers say the Tim Hortons cups, as well as other paper products, are processed and pre-treated to be “bacteria-ready” and therefore could be a great source of waste material for cellulose to make ethanol. Interestingly, they found that the bacteria seem to like the Tim Hortons cups better than similar cups from other places like Starbucks, which may be due to the specific recipe for the paper used by the manufacturer that supplies the cups to each company.

Read more here.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Helps Ryan Ride and Fund Cancer Research

Cindy Zimmerman

Ryan Hunter Reay Iowa Corn Indy 250Thanks to the collective support of a number of sponsors, including ICM-Ethanol USA, Ryan Hunter-Reay will continue to drive the No. 37 IZOD-sponsored car for Andretti Autosport for the rest of the season.

The car will continue to have the primary sponsorship of Team IZOD, with the exception of the August race at Chicagoland Speedway and another race to be decided where Ethanol USA will be the main sponsor as it was for the Iowa Corn Indy 250. ICM-Ethanol USA announced sponsorship of Hunter-Reay last month at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis. Along with Ethanol and IZOD, he is supported by sponsorships by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inland, AirTrain Airways, Comfort Revolution, the Michael Fux Foundation, and Exel.

Ethanol USA car Iowa Corn Indy 250Andretti Autosport also unveiled a charitable initiative connected to the No. 37 entry called “Racing For Cancer.” The program will help support cancer research in honor of Ryan’s mother Lydia who died of cancer in November of last year.

“I’ve never seen anything like this. So many people pulling together to make things happen,” said Hunter-Reay. “I was really close to my mom. For all of this to come together, it was for the right reasons. All of the sponsors in this amazing team have contributed to make this happen.”

The Racing For Cancer program officially launched July 4 and will raise funds for the rest of this season for two national charities, The Michael Fux Foundation and LIVESTRONG. To contribute, go to www.racingforcancer.org.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indy Racing

Obama Announces $2 Billion for Solar

John Davis

The solar industry in this country could be getting quite a boost, as Pres. Barack Obama announced over the weekend $2 billion in conditional commitments

The President says the money for two companies will come from the Stimulus Bill:

The first is Abengoa Solar, a company that has agreed to build one of the largest solar plants in the world right here in the United States. After years of watching companies build things and create jobs overseas, it’s good news that we’ve attracted a company to our shores to build a plant and create jobs right here in America. In the short term, construction will create approximately 1,600 jobs in Arizona. What’s more, over 70 percent of the components and products used in construction will be manufactured in the USA, boosting jobs and communities in states up and down the supply chain. Once completed, this plant will be the first large-scale solar plant in the U.S. to actually store the energy it generates for later use – even at night. And it will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power 70,000 homes.

The second company is Abound Solar Manufacturing, which will manufacture advanced solar panels at two new plants, creating more than 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. A Colorado plant is already underway, and an Indiana plant will be built in what’s now an empty Chrysler factory. When fully operational, these plants will produce millions of state-of-the-art solar panels each year.

It was just more than a month ago that Obama called for more alternative energy while on a trip to a California solar manufacturing plant (see my post from May 26, 2010).

Government, Solar

Canadian Biodiesel Startup to Get $750K from Gov’t

John Davis

Canadian biodiesel maker QFI Biodiesel Inc. has received $750,000 ($800,000 Canadian) in repayable funding from the Canadian giovernment for starting its Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu refinery.

This government press release says the plant will make biodiesel from animal and vegetable oils to be sold in Quebec, Canada and internationally:

“The Government of Canada is proud to support small and medium-sized businesses that, like QFI Biodiesel, are helping to build prosperity and create jobs through their vision and determination. This financial assistance constitutes a real investment in the social and economic development of the Montérégie and one that is sure to help position the region advantageously in this growth sector, both here and around the world,” noted [the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development].

The money for the startup is coming from Canada’s version of the Stimulus Bill.

Biodiesel

IFT’s Biodiesel Booster Just in Time for Higher Blends

John Davis

A St. Louis-based company has recently finished testing of a product that not only will boost the performance of biodiesel … just in time as more people look at using higher blends of the green fuel … but some it is being made from renewable feedstocks.

International Fuel Technology’s Director of Science and Technology, Sergio Trindade, explains IFT’s DiesoLiFT 10, designed to reduce harmful emissions and maintenance costs when mixed with diesel fuel and biodiesel fuel blends, and DiesoLiFT BD-3, formulated to give biodiesel superior oxidation stability and deposit control benefits, optimizes the compression combustion that takes place in the engine.

“Which means the surface exposed to combustion is much larger than the ordinary injection system without our additive.”

He goes on to explain that this optimization becomes more important as the industry moves to higher blends of biodiesel, such as B20.

“When you get to those higher biodiesel concentrations, you lose some of the mileage. The use of our product helps makeup for that loss in mileage.”

If you’re wondering if you would be replacing the cost of the biodiesel with the cost of IFT’s additives, Trindade says while the additives produce a 4.5 percent increase in mileage, you’ll spend only that first 1 percent to use the additive. That means it still returns about four-to-one on the investment.

Trindade adds they are making a portion of IFT’s DiesoLiFT 10 and DiesoLiFT BD-3 from some of the same renewable feedstocks used for biodiesel and hopes to increase those feedstocks in the future.

You can hear more of my conversation with Sergio Trindade in the player below.
Sergio Trindade, IFT interview

Audio, Biodiesel

ND and MN Celebrates Freedom with E85

North Dakota flexible fuel drivers are celebrating the freedom to use a domestically produced fuel in their vehicle. As a goal to educate, the Clean Air Choice Team, which includes the American Lung Association in North Dakota, is encouraging motorists to use mid and high level ethanol blends over the 4th of July weekend.

“Even though North Dakota is an oil-producing state, and many people benefit directly and indirectly from the revenue and jobs created by the petroleum industry, it is still very important that we look for other types of fuels that are more renewable, better for our environment and better for our health,” said Robert Moffitt, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association in North Dakota. “We calculate that if a single flex fuel vehicle is fueled with E85 instead of gasoline for a year, it prevents 4 tons of emissions from entering our air.”

The Meeker County Corn Growers, Minnesota Corn Growers Assn., US Dept. of Clean Cities, American Lung Assn. of MN and the MN Clean Air Choice team is also promoting the use of E85 next week. E85 will sell for 85 cents off per gallon on Thursday, July 8 from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Consumer’s Coop Cenex at 1025 East Frontage Rd. in Litchfield, MN.

For more information on events in MN and ND, go to www.CleanAirChoice.org.

E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Choice at the Pump Will Lead to Energy Independence

Joanna Schroeder

As the July 4th weekend kicks off, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is reminding everyone that energy independence can be achieved through choice at the pump.

To reinforce this message, ACE has confirmed that Anne Korin, author of “Turning Oil Into Salt: Independence Through Fuel Choice,” chair of the Set America Free Coalition and nationally sought after expert, will provide a keynote address on consumer choice at the pump, August 4th, during their national conference August 3-5 in Kansas City.

“We are so pleased that Anne Korin will be joining us for our national ethanol conference next month to share her expertise on how America can achieve energy independence,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE.  “A key tactic outlined in her book is to break oil’s monopoly at the pump, thus breaking its status as a strategic commodity. Fuel choice is the answer, which is why we are fighting hard for the consumer’s right to access flexible fuel vehicles and blender pumps.”

According to ACE, the type of choice at the pump that would benefit consumers are blender pumps. These pumps offer consumers the choice to fill up with E10 or E85 or various mid-level blends such as E30 or E40. However, to use mid-level or higher blends of ethanol today, a consumer must own a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) and there is currently pending legislation that would require all vehicles sold in the U.S. to be FFVs.

“Our nation’s fuel system is built around petroleum, and if there’s any hope of achieving energy independence, we must start building some flexibility into the fuel system,” Jennings said. “Flexible fuel vehicles and blender pumps will open up the fuel system to competition and allow the consumer to choose, instead of living under the decades-old mandate for 90 percent petroleum in every gallon of gasoline.”

Discounted registration is available for attendees through July 23. Click here for online registration. To learn more about other topics and speakers at this year’s event, click here.

ACE, conferences, Ethanol, Ethanol News

RFA Renews Ethanol Sponsorship of Motorcycle Rally

Cindy Zimmerman

For the second year, the Legendary Buffalo Chip will be “Fueled With Pride” as the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) continues their support as an honored sponsor to promote ethanol during the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The popular bikers event will take place August 6-14th in Sturgis, South Dakota.

RFA Sturgis Fueled with Pride 2010The RFA will continue their partnership with the Legendary Buffalo Chip campgrounds by promoting the use of ethanol fuel through promotional materials, banners and merchandise, featuring the “Fueled with Pride” logo, to volunteers, staff and motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country. The Legendary Buffalo Chip staff and vehicles will show their support by sporting “Ethanol: Fueled With Pride” decals as they travel throughout the grounds.

“This high-octane event is the perfect environment to let consumers know about the benefits of cleaner-burning, domestic ethanol fuel,” says Buffalo Chip Campground Sponsorship Director, Lon Nordbye. “The Chip chooses ethanol and we are proud to host the Renewable Fuels Association at the largest music festival for motorcycling in the world.”

On August 9th, RFA will sponsor the Third Annual Legends Ride, a charity event where over 500 riders including celebrities and world-class bike builders will join together for a 50-mile ride from historic Deadwood, SD to the Legendary Buffalo Chip. In addition, the ethanol sponsorship will be featured at Michael Lichter’s Tenth Annual Motorcycles as Art Exhibit, an internationally renowned exhibition that will showcase the works of the most influential master builders and artists in motorcycling.

“It is important for these riders to know that ethanol-blended fuels are a safe and effective alternative to petroleum that they can use in their motorcycle engines, along with every other vehicle they have at home,” said RFA Director of Market Development Robert White. “American heritage and the American love for riding runs deep here, it only makes sense to use an American fuel.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Green Process for Fuel Additive Could Help Ethanol Production

Cindy Zimmerman

An Iowa State University researcher has developed a new green, bio-based process for producing the fuel additive isobutene that could help ethanol production.

ISU biochemistry professor Thomas Bobik invented a process for manufacturing the much-used fuel additive and industrial chemical that is currently made from petroleum by identifying a new, natural enzyme that produces the fuel organically. Isobutene is a gas used to produce chemicals and also in the manufacturing of fuel additives, adhesives, plastics and synthetic rubber. It can be chemically converted to isooctane, which is a fuel that could be used to replace gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MBTE), which can be environmentally harmful. Isooctane is used in gasoline to stop engine knocking and other problems. Currently, isooctane is produced from petroleum products.

Bobik, along with doctoral student David Gogerty (both pictured), believe that once more research is completed, there could be huge benefits to the biofuels industry since currently one of the biggest expenses in producing ethanol now is the cost of separating the ethanol from the water where it’s made. “Isobutene is a gas, so we can imagine that it will be easy to remove the isobutene from the vessel in which it was made, and that should be a very cheap and efficient way to purify the biofuel,” said Bobik.

One of the drawbacks, Bobik warns, is the process currently takes too long because the activity of the enzyme is low. “It’s too low for commercial application. So we’re trying to use directed enzyme evolution to improve the activity of the enzyme so it can become commercially viable,” Bobik said. Directed enzyme evolution is the effort to engineer enzymes to perform certain functions. In this case, it is trying to find a way to get the enzyme to produce isobutene more quickly than in nature.

Bobik says progress is being made rapidly and perhaps, within 10 years, motorists may be using a bio-based, environmentally friendly ingredient in their gas tanks every time they fill up.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Research, University