ACE Conference 2026

FTC Approves Valeros Purchase of Ethanol Plants

ftcAccording to Opis, two former VeraSun ethanol plants and one Renew Energy plant were approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to be purchased by Valero. This will bring the total production of Valero ethanol to 1.1 billion gallons per year.

“The Hart-Scott-Rodino Act requires under certain circumstances that prospective acquirers of voting securities or assets apply for clearance from regulators,” the FTC explained. “Requests for early termination or clearance are granted when the Federal Trade Commission and the antitrust division of the Department of Justice have determined that they won’t take action during the waiting period.”

“We expect these transactions to close in the early part of this year,” said Valero spokesman Bill Day.

The purchase of the Renew Energy plant is still in question because of a challenge from another group who states they were the highest bidder of the plant at a recent auction. More information on this can be found on a previous post.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Auto Execs Rate Hybrids First, Biodiesel Last in Alt Fuels

John Davis

KPMGAutoExecCar makers put more stock in hybrid systems than biodiesel.

This post from CNET News says a survey conducted by KPMG asked 200 senior auto executives to rate the most important alternative fuel technologies to their industry over the next five years:

When asked to rate which were the most important alternative fuel technologies to the auto industry over the next five years, hybrid systems were ranked first followed by battery electric power, fuel cell electric power, and biodiesel, respectively.

“Automotive manufacturers are in the challenging position of being asked to compete on both technology and cost. With global consumers still feeling the pinch of the recession, those OEMs who can deliver on this equation will be in the driver’s seat,” Gary Silberg, national automotive industry leader for KPMG, said in a statement.

An interesting twist to the survey says that the execs believe that fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness are the top two biggest impacts on customers’ buying decisions … which are two of the biggest attributes of biodiesel. Go figure.

Biodiesel, Car Makers, Electric Vehicles

Keynote Speaker Announced for Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels AssociationThe keynote speaker for next month’s 15th Annual National Ethanol Conference will address the issue of using mid-level ethanol blends from the automobile industry perspective.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has announced that Thomas G. Stephens, General Motors Vice President for Global Product Operations, will keynote the conference in Orlando on February 15-17.

“The importance of a cooperative and constructive relationship with the auto industry to America’s ethanol producers and marketers cannot be overstated,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “Whether it is working on technical issues surrounding mid-level blends or expanding the infrastructure for blender pumps and higher level ethanol blends, having auto companies at the table is critical.”

Registration for the 2010 National Ethanol Conference is available on line.

conferences, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Cellulosic Ethanol Demo Plant to Open in TN

Cindy Zimmerman

DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) and University of Tennessee/Genera Energy will hold a grand opening celebration later this month for one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol demo plants, located in Vonore, Tenn.

BredesenAmong the featured speakers at the grand opening on January 29 will be Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who helped with the groundbreaking for the plant in October 2008.

The facility is expected to begin producing fuel ethanol from both agricultural residue and bioenergy crops prior to the grand opening. The 74,000-square-foot facility has the capacity to produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol from corncobs and switchgrass and is preparing for commercial production by 2012.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Japanese Whalers Sink Biodiesel Boat

John Davis

earthraceA biodiesel-fueled boat that set the world record for circumnavigating the globe (see my post from June 27, 2008) has been sunk by a vessel accompanying Japanese whaling ships.

According to WCJB World News, the Earthrace (now owned by the environmental organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and renamed the Ady Gil), a 79-foot “batmobile-looking” trimaran, was sunk by Japanese sailors providing security to whalers during a confrontation in Australia’s territorial Antarctic waters:

The six men who on board were unhurt and have been rescued, said founder of the environmental organisation Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson.

Captain Watson said his boat was suddenly hit by the Japanese ship Shonan Maru, as his crew was idling around Commonwealth Bay in the Antarctic. The Shonan Maru was providing security to a fleet of Japanese whaling vessels.

He said that this incident has the consequence of seriously escalating the situation between the Japanese whaling industry and environmentalists.

You can view the video below and decide for yourself who is at fault. But one thing that is not in dispute is that a great biodiesel boat now is at the bottom of the ocean.

Biodiesel, International, Video

Biodiesel Board Disputes Media’s Production Estimate

John Davis

NBB-logoBen Franklin said, “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.” That saying could apply to the latest dispute between some of the media and the National Biodiesel Board and biodiesel production levels for 2009.

While some major news outlets ran a story that put the number at 350 million gallons for the past year (a lot lower than the NBB or the Energy Information Administration estimates) and attributes the number to the NBB, the Board’s communications director Jessica Robinson tells Biodiesel Magazine that the number is quite a bit higher:

“The latest information we have (through the end of October) has put our estimates for the year at around 475 million gallons.”

What’s not in dispute is that 2009 was a bad year for biodiesel, with production levels dropping to pre-2007 levels. Let’s see if Congress can get the $1-a-gallon tax credit renewed and the new RFS2 done, and maybe that will get the green fuel back on track.

Biodiesel, NBB

IRFA Launches Media Campaign Touting Biodiesel

John Davis

irfaBiodiesel has a rough go of it lately, with tough economic conditions and then the inaction by Congress to renew the $1 per gallon biodiesel blenders tax credit taking its toll on the green fuel. It might be down, but it’s certainly not out, and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has launched a media campaign within its home state designed to highlight the importance of biodiesel for Iowa’s economy and Iowa’s future.

This IRFA press release says the ads remind Iowans that committing to biodiesel will preserve today’s good jobs, spurring new jobs and investments in the future – all while cutting the country’s dependence on foreign oil:

“As it has been a tough time economically and legislatively for biodiesel producers, now is the time to rally support for biodiesel here in Iowa,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Iowa’s biodiesel producers are on the cutting edge of technology that will revolutionize the biodiesel industry. We need to build consumer demand and to create a policy framework that gives biodiesel producers more certainty. By doing so, Iowans can make sure that the biorefinery jobs and innovations of the future will be right here in Iowa.”

In light of the loss of jobs because so many Iowa biodiesel plants have had to be idled with the loss of the tax incentive, the IRFA hopes the campaign will rally support for biodiesel at the state and federal level. With 15 biodiesel plants producing 322 million gallons of biodiesel a year and 39 ethanol refineries capable of producing nearly 3.3 billion gallons annually, Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.

You can hear the IRFA’s radio spot here.

Biodiesel

In Touch With Solar

Joanna Schroeder

During the Copenhagen Climate Conference, President Obama announced findings from the Environmental Protection Agency that the six major groups of greenhouse gas emissions are “an endangerment” to public health and welfare. This could lead to stricter emission regulations for vehicles, manufacturing and power plant emissions.

solar_energyThis also shines an even brighter light on low CO2 emitting technologies such as solar energy. Opportunities are ripe for policy makers to “get out of their own way” and help the industry grow by reducing the difficulties for projects including increased funding and smoother, reduced time for acquiring permits – especially now that the media are reporting that the “recession” has hit the solar industry.

Permit acquisition is one of the largest barriers to seeing solar utility projects come to fruition. Mike Nedd, Assistant Director – Minerals and Realty Management with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) notes that the BLM has received a large amount of proposed applications for renewable energy projects and have set in motion ways to respond to the applications in a timely manner.

“We have responded by partnering with the Department of Energy on the Solar PEIS, by working through the Federal budget cycle to fund Renewable Energy Coordination Offices and renewable energy related positions, and by developing a coordinated, focused effort to move projects through the environmental review and permitting process more quickly but without taking shortcuts,” said Nedd who will be a presenter at the upcoming Solar Power Generation USA conference in Las Vegas on January 20-21, 2010.

While the move to streamline the permitting process is needed, it shouldn’t happen to the detriment of the environment. Therefore, the solar industry and environmental organizations will need to forge stronger relationships to ensure solar energy sees the light of day.

conferences, Opinion, Solar

Alabama to Hold Alt Fuels Workshop

al_cleanfuelsThe Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affaires – Energy Division will be holding an alternative fuels workshop to deliver factual information and outline the incentive opportunities available for propane, compressed natural gas and E85. The workshop will be held in Dothan, Alabama on March 17.

The Dothan Biofuels Workshop will offer insights from industry experts and leaders throughout the biofuels and alternative fuel industry. Hear discussions on timely topics such as: State & National and perspectives on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Propane, biodiesel and ethanol; Alabama’s current and potential biofuel feed-stocks; Marketplace experiences from folks producing, selling and using biofuels and alternative fuels; Importance of fuel quality; Potential incentives & financial benefits available; The Facts vs. Myths about alternative fuels and more.

Fleet Managers, City and County Government representatives, Fuel Producers & Distributors, Fuel Retailers, Government Agencies, Colleges/Universities, School District Personnel, Consumers and others interested in becoming informed leaders in the emerging biofuels marketplace in Alabama are welcome to attend the workshop.

To register for the workshop, click here.

biofuels, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Nevada Water Company Proposes 100-mw Solar Farm

John Davis

VidlerA water company in Nevada is proposing to build a solar farm that could be one of the biggest in the country.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Vidler Water Co. wants to to build a 100-megawatt solar farm at its Fish Springs Ranch about 40 miles from Reno. Construction could start next year:

In Europe, a 1.8 million-megawatt farm is planned in the Czech Republic, using solar photovoltaic modules that concentrate the sun’s energy on a thin film surrounded by glass. Those panels are produced by Signet Solar of Meno Park, Calif.

Signet Solar also will manufacture the solar panels to be used at Fish Springs Ranch, said Donald Pattalock, Vidler vice president for obtaining permits.

Signet Solar has a factory near Dresden, Germany, and announced plans a year ago to open its first American manufacturing plant in Belen, N.M.

Last summer, Pattalock said he showed Signet Solar officials possible sites for another manufacturing plant in the Stead area. “We have a lot of water to put to work, and we thought we can do something to jump-start industry,” he said.

Vidler bought the land about 10 years ago with hopes of developing it. However, the housing crash stalled those plans.

Solar