Let’s Talk About Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

Ron Lamberty is the Senior Vice President for American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) but he focuses mainly on market development. Lamberty has run gas stations for nearly 30 years and still operates a few. In his role with ACE, he works directly with gas stations to answer any questions they have about ethanol and ethanol blending. ACE, said Lamberty, during …

ACE, Audio, biofuels, Biofuels Beltway, Commodity Classic, Ethanol

Strong Policies Will Boost Clean Jobs

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), there were more than 300 clean energy and clean transportation projects in 2012 that created 110,000 jobs. E2 notes that the report comes at a time that groups and lobbyists backed by the fossil fuel industry are currently trying to derail clean energy policies including the Renewable Fuel Standard and state …

Clean Energy, Environment

AMP Americas Joins National Clean Fleets Partnership

Joanna Schroeder

During the Indiana Greener Pastures and Beyond event today in Fair Oaks, Indiana, AMP Americas was invited to join the National Clean Fleets Partnership (the Partnership). The company helps organizations with large trucking fleets move from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG). The Partnership is run by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program. The announcement was made during …

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

Biodiesel Quality Reaches All Time High

Joanna Schroeder

According to a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) biodiesel fuel quality survey, a record 97 percent of the samples tested met requirements in ASTM D6751, the biodiesel fuel quality specification. NREL obtained B100 samples from 53 producers and 14 terminals between August 2011 and February 2011 and according to Teresa Alleman, a senior chemist with NREL’s Fuels Performance Group, the samples …

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

Do-It-Yourself Solar

Joanna Schroeder

DYI Solar may be good option for residential homeowners who believe that a traditional solar PV system is outside of their budget or living in a state with little incentives. The on-going program Solar Citizen, launched earlier this year, is highlighting consumers who have successfully installed Do-It-Yourself solar projects. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) says DIYing a solar system …

Alternative energy, Education, Electricity, Energy, Solar

EcoEngineers Offers Help with RIN & RFS Compliance

John Davis

Navigating the regulatory compliance path of the Renewable Fuels Standard and the associated Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) can be a daunting task for ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable fuel producers. During the recent Iowa Renewable Fuels Associaton’s conference, Joanna caught up with Jim Ramm (pictured in the middle of the group) with EcoEngineers, a Des Moines-based firm that offers technical …

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Iowa RFA, RFS

Anacaho Wind Farm Dedicated

Joanna Schroeder

E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) has officially dedicated its new Anacacho Wind Farm. The project, located in Kinney County, Texas, is approximately 14 miles southeast of Brackettville and consists of 55 Vestas 1.8 megawatt (MW) turbines providing 100 MW of power. Anacacho Wind Farm began commercial operation in December. “We are honored to be a part of the local community …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Global Hydropower & Geothermal Growth Slow

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute, although the global consumption and installed capacity of hydropower and geothermal technologies have increased steadily since 2003, both types of energy saw slower growth in 2011. Global installed capacity of hydropower reached 970 gigwatts (GW) but there was only a 1.6 percent increase from the year before. Total geothermal capacity reached …

conferences, Geothermal, Hydro, Renewable Energy

Urban Air Initiative Worried About Stocks, Not Ethanol

John Davis

Ethanol is good for taking harmful particles out of automobile emissions, but a group committed to cleaner air is worried that gasoline makers might just end up putting more particulates in the blendstock. “The [ultra-fine particulates] profile of the ethanol is very, very consistent,” but Greg Krissek, Director of Government Affairs for ICM, part of the Urban Air Initiative, told …

Audio, blends, Ethanol, Iowa RFA, News

Car Makers Take Stage at Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Representatives from General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz talked “Future Fuels and Higher Octane” at the National Ethanol Conference last week in Las Vegas. Kristy Moore, Vice President, Technical Services, Renewable Fuels Association moderated the panel and said the manufacturers are facing some real challenges. “They are under significant pressure to create a vehicle that meets these regulatory …

Audio, Car Makers, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA