Book Review – Crude World

Joanna Schroeder

Yesterday I declared this the Week of Oil. While the Obama administration is calling for more green jobs and support of the clean tech industry, it is also calling for more research on ‘clean coal’ and more off-shore drilling. It’s these last two items that really seem to fire people up so I decided it was high time I learned more about oil’s world and I began by reading “Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil,” by Peter Maass.

This book takes you on a journey around the world and throws you into the violence that surrounds nations’ quest for oil. It’s not pretty. To reiterate what most people already know, the majority of oil left in the world lies in volatile areas. And not just the Middle East, but areas of Africa and South America. Too many people believe that oil leads to wealth and the revival of a country. However, too often, it leads to corruption by government officials, increased poverty and unrest – not to mention the environmental devastation that occurs.

The sad thing is that despite knowing better (America is all for human rights, right?) our own corporations support these evil regimes. A case in point that Maass discusses is Equatorial Guinea and its corrupt dictatorial President Teodoro Obiang. His reported salary is $60,000 a year (US dollars) but it was recently discovered that he has bank accounts in access of $700 million. The bank accounts reside in the U.S.

So while he’s rolling in the dough, the people of his county are uneducated, underfed and lacking in basic amenities like clean water and electricity. Eventually, the Senate released a report detailing “money laundering and foreign corruption” after being tipped off by journalist Ken Silverstein, and in the report wrote that oil companies operating in the country “may have contributed to corrupt practices in the country.” Naturally, the oil companies denied paying bribes (which is illegal), a few hands were slapped and business as usual resumed. The only true losers were the citizens of Equatorial Guinea.Read More

book reviews

Petroleum Panel Discussion at Biodiesel Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Petroleum PanelIf you’re wanting to know where biodiesel will sit at the oil company table then you’re in luck because we had a morning panel discussion here at the National Biodiesel Conference that included experts in the field to talk about it. The RFS-2 will likely mean that these companies will be adding biofuels to their product lines which has the potential to double biodiesel production in a single year. You’ll hear this talked about in the discussion.

The moderator for the discussion was Ron Marr, Minnesota Soybean Processors and presenters included David Blatnik, Marathon Petroleum Company, LLC; John Cusick, Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Inc.; Bruce Heine, Magellan Midstream Partners; Jim Lelio, Kinder Morgan Pipeline Group; Mike Reed, Northville Product Services.

National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Enterprise Fleet Moving To Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

Enterprise Biodiesel AnnouncementEnterprise Holdings made a major announcement this morning at the National Biodiesel Conference.

Enterprise Holdings today announced plans for its entire fleet of more than 600 Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental airport shuttle buses across more than 50 North American markets to begin using at least 5 percent biodiesel (B5).

Pictured at the press conference are (l-r) Joe Jobe, CEO NBB, Dr. Richard Sayre, Director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, and Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. Each of them spoke at a morning press conference.

Further, the company will immediately convert buses in nine markets to 20 percent biodiesel (B20) as a first step toward the company’s goal of converting its entire bus fleet to B20 over the next five years.

Enterprise Holdings expects to complete the conversion to all B5 by spring of this year, with at least 50 percent converted to B20 by the end of next year. Buses in nine markets are immediately being converted to run on B20 where the fuel is centrally stored and available: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Raleigh/Durham, San Antonio and San Diego.

“This investment in biodiesel follows our commitment to our customers and our business to use our fleet to help grow the clean fuel market. By embracing alternative fuels and engine technologies, they have a greater opportunity to become commercially viable,” said Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. “Biodiesel’s benefits to the environment support our commitment to environmental stewardship, as well as our sustainable approach to managing our business for long-term success.”

In addition to embracing biodiesel and other alternative fuels as they become commercially viable, Enterprise Holdings also provides strong support for renewable fuels research. In 2007, the company’s owners, the Taylor family, made a $25 million grant to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels. Led by renowned plant researcher Dr. Richard Sayre, top scientists work at the Institute to develop alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.

National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

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Petra Solar Announces $40M Growth Financing

Joanna Schroeder

Solar energy is not just for roofs. Petra Solar, a company that specializes in pole mounted solar systems for utilities, announced that it has raised $40 million in funding to be used for expansion initiatives. Current investors in the company participated in this round including Element Partners, Blue Run Ventures, OnPoint Technologies (U.S. Army’s Venture Fund) and Kuwait’s National Technology Enterprises Company, and were joined by two new investors Craton Equity Partners and Espírito Santo Ventures.

“The Petra Solar management team is very pleased to have Craton Equity Partners and Espírito Santo Ventures as investors, especially given their experience in cleantech growth investing and their expertise in the regulated energy sector.  We are also thankful for the continued support of our existing investors,” said Petra Solar CEO and President, Dr. Shihab Kuran. “Petra Solar has a proven model for green job creation including installation and manufacturing jobs that are local to system deployment. We are very gratified that our business interests line up directly with the public’s interest in producing reliable, clean energy and green jobs.”

The company plans to use the additional funding to add green jobs and expand its customer base. Petra Solar anticipates that it will immediately add 30 new employees and have a team of 165 people by year end. The company’s SunWaveTM system generates clean energy and increases reliability to the distribution grid. In the future, the company plans to expand its product line to address new applications and market segments that leverage its Smart Energy Module TM platform, which integrates utility grade power management, smart grid communications and grid availability features into a single system.

Energy, Solar, Utilities

Fueling Change Theme of NBB Chairman’s Remarks

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed HeglundToday’s National Biodiesel Conference general session featured National Biodiesel Board Chairman Ed Hegland. He’s completing his final term as Chairman.

He started his comments by reminding everyone that today is the anniversary of daylight savings time which was created to conserve on our energy supply during World War I. It was an innovative idea then and when it comes to the innovative work the industry is doing today he says, “We’re here to fuel change.”

Ed pointed out that there are members of all segments of the petroleum industry here today and they participated in a panel discussion after his comments. I’ll post that shortly. He presented some of the findings from a research study done by NBB on consumers and their awareness and perceptions of biodiesel. He says the study finds that consumers who are aware of biodiesel have a favorable opinion of it. He also talks about being a soybean farmer and the incredible technology that is allowing him to grow more with less.

You can listen to Ed’s speech below.

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French Engineering Firm to Buy Cal. Solar Company

John Davis

A California-based solar company capable of building solar facilities that put out as much energy as a plant running on non-renewable fuels is being bought by a French engineering firm best known for its nuclear capabilities.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Areva will buy Ausra, a startup specializing in large-scale solar power:

The deal will give Areva a way to break into the growing worldwide business for big solar facilities that can generate as much electricity as a fossil fuel power plant. Although Areva is best known for its nuclear expertise, the company has branched out into other forms of renewable power generation, such as biomass and wind.

Ausra, in turn, will get a worldwide platform for its concentrated solar thermal technology, which uses mirrors to focus sunlight, boil water, generate steam and turn turbines. Ausra will form the basis of Areva’s new global solar energy business, which will match Ausra’s technology with Areva’s track record for building large power plants.

“By combining Areva’s strengths and Ausra’s technology, now we have the complete package we need to go to market,” said Robert Fishman, Ausra’s chief executive officer.

Ausra’s business headquarters will stay in California.

Solar

Michigan Grants $1.7 Million for Offshore Wind Study

John Davis

Two grants totaling $1.7 million have been approved for studying offshore wind technologies in Michigan.

The Chicago Tribune reports the grants come from the state’s Public Service Commission:

Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center and the University of Michigan’s Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute are getting $1.3 million for jointly researching offshore wind and ice data on Lake Michigan.

The Superior Watershed Partnership is to receive $350,000 for researching sites’ wind energy potential on Lake Michigan. The organization also will assess public opinion on offshore wind development.

If the last post I had about an offshore wind energy project in Lake Michigan, where Scandia Wind was proposing a 1,000 megawatt Lake Michigan wind farm, is any indication, there should be plenty of discussion about this topic … on this site and elsewhere. Let’s see what people have to say.

Government, Wind

Biodiesel Bill Tied to Jobs Bill, Delayed by Blizzard

John Davis

As Congress debates (or tries to debate between blizzards) the jobs bill, the measure that would put lots biodiesel workers back on the job seems to be tied to that same bill’s fate.

This post on the Des Moines Register’s blog says Democrats had hoped to get the jobs bill to the floor today, but the 30+ inches of snow over the weekend plowed under that bill … and the renewal of the lapsed federal biodiesel tax subsidy:

Beth Pellett Levine, a spokeswoman for Sen. Charles Grassley, the senior Republican for the Senate Finance Committee, says he “has insisted that the biodiesel tax credit be a part of any discussions” on a jobs bill with the panel’s chairman, Montana Democrat Max Baucus. The $1-a-gallon tax credit for biodiesel “remains a top priority for Senator Grassley to extend the credit at the first available opportunity,” she added. Soybean growers are looking to Grassley to ensure that the biodiesel credit is part of any jobs bill to come out of the senate, according to John Gordley, a lobbyist for the American Soybean Association.

Renewal of the federal biodiesel tax incentive is seen as the last element to put the biodiesel industry back on track. The other two elements were the EPA’s decisions to consider biodiesel low enough in carbon footprint and mandate this year of 1.15 billion gallons of the green fuel.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

Chat with Chairman of National Biodiesel Board

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed HeglundThe Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board is Ed Hegland, seen here as a guest on today’s AgriTalk show.

Ed says that attendance was something they were very concerned about here at the Conference due to the state of the industry and the weather but they had to bring in 100 extra chairs to the opening general session so he thinks attendance is better than expected. He’s optimistic for the future because of the EPA RFS-2 ruling and the expectation that the biodiesel fuel credit will be re-instated soon.

You can listen to my interview with Ed below.

National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

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California’s Love Affair With Oil

Joanna Schroeder

Last week, the Southern California Association of Governments turned down $11 million in stimulus money for Pearson Fuels to install 55 E85 stations. Huh. And this shortly after the expanded rules were announced for the Renewable Fuels Standard not to mention the Low Carbon Fuel Standard that went into effect on January 1.

What would cause the most notorious state, hailed around the world for its progressive environmental policies, to shun a lower carbon fuel? Hmmm…could it maybe, just possibly be that it is blinded by it’s Big Love for Big Oil?

Let us for a moment, take some time to reflect on California’s torrid affair with oil.

Last year California Lawyer Magazine Awarded its Clay Awards which are given to lawyers who show extraordinary achievements. Lawyers John Daum and Mary Nichols both won a Clay Award for two very different achievements. Daum won for his co-counsel regarding the worst oil spill in environmental history – the Exxon Valdez. But he didn’t win for his work to hold Exxon accountable for its actions – he won the award because he was able to lower the punitive damages that were to be paid to fisherman, landowners and others to one-tenth of the original damages. The magazine writes, “This was truly a signature punitive damages case, and it could have major implications for environmental and other torts in the future.”

While Daum was given an award for his work in defending Big Oil’s environmental offenses, Mary Nichols, who is the chairman of the California Air Resources Board and Daum’s wife, was given an award for her role in passing the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This piece of legislation is intended to reduce CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. While the final rules are just now coming through the pipeline, the policy could potentially regulate all areas of energy use including land use and will be enforced through a “cap-and-trade” program. It is important to note that through this program, Big Oil doesn’t have to reduce its CO2 emissions solely through alternative fuels. If they bring to market technology that reduces CO2 but still uses fossil fuels, the technology will still meet policy requirements.

Not allowing to let the relationship fizzle, the state rekindeled its love with its latest proffering and now its sizzling once again.Read More

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