Minnesota Ethanol Plant Grand Opening

Cindy Zimmerman

After more than three years of planning and construction, Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton, Minnesota is ready to open the doors and celebrate. The plant was officially announced on June 7, 2006 and began grinding corn last month.

The new 55 million gallon a year facility will hold its grand opening on September 11, the eighth anniversary of terrorist attacks on American soil which the Renewable Fuels Association notes are a “reminder of the threats posed to our nation every day, the bravery of our armed forces, and the vulnerability created by our heavy reliance on foreign sources of energy.”

Among the dignitaries scheduled to attend the event is Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Fall Issue of Ethanol Retailer Magazine Available

fall09_ethanolretailerThe Fall 2009 of Ethanol Retailer has recently been published by Growth Energy. The free pulication, distributed to over 25,000 retailers nation wide, is geared specifically towards independent ethanol retailers and petroleum marketers.

The magazine encourages installation of mid-level and E85 blends and provides the necessary information to retailers on the installation process at their station. The publication also highlights financial opportunities and incentives available to retailers for installation of ethanol blended fuel.

A few highlights of the Fall 2009 issue includes: first person stories on how two independent retailers took the fast track to installing blender pumps in Ohio and Inidana; mapping ethanol use in the U.S.; and the race to develop high-performance engines that are powered by ethanol.

See a copy of the Fall 2009 edition of Ethanol Retailer by clicking here.

E85, Equipment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy

Brazilian Sugar Crop Forecasts Dropped

Joanna Schroeder

sugarcaneIn a follow up to a recent post about the forecasted record sugarcane harvest in Brazil, it appears that this won’t come to fruition. UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, has released today the news that heavy rains in South-Central Brazil, the country’s top sugarcane producing region, caused a drop of 23.8 percent in the volume of sugarcane crushed during the second half of August, as compared to the two weeks prior.

According to UNICA, the sharp reversal in climatic conditions caused several cane-growing regions to interrupt crushing in more than 50 percent of the available time. States most affected were São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Parana, with a crushed cane reduction of more than 30 percent compared to the first half of August.

The organization has also reported that accumulated ethanol exports so far in the harvest stood at 1.79 billion liters, 25.66 percent less than the 2.41 billion shipped abroad in the same period of the previous harvest. While anhydrous ethanol exports decreased by 67.4 percent, hydrated ethanol exports surged by 24.75 percent.

The volume of domestic sales is the result of two factors: sales of flex-fuel vehicles, which in August surpassed 94 percent of the total sales of Otto Cycle vehicles, increasing the fleet of flex vehicles to 35 percent of Brazil’s total; and the competitiveness of hydrated ethanol in comparison to gasoline prices at the pump. In more than 82 percent of the Brazilian market, prices at the pumps were below 65 percent of the price of a liter of gasoline.

UNICA’s revised projection for the production of sugar and ethanol in the 2009/2010 harvest will be released with the next harvest update, at the end of September.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Biodiesel Nets Soy Growers Extra $2.5 Bil Since 2005

John Davis

USBAmerican soybean growers have netted an extra $2.5 billion over the past four years, thanks to demand for soybean-based biodiesel.

This story from Feedtuffs.com says a new United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff-funded study also found that biodiesel added 25 cents to the price of a bushel of soybeans:

Because the price of petroleum diesel has such a large influence on the price of biodiesel and soybean oil, the study asserts that the biodiesel industry has essentially created a new floor for soybean oil prices.

Additionally, the study found that higher demand for soybean oil led to an increased supply of soybean meal, resulting in meal prices dropping by $19 to $45 per ton.

SoyBiodiesel“Any lowering of the price of inputs for the animal agriculture industry is a plus,” Bainbridge said. “The swine and dairy industries have had a tough time lately. This is a benefit for them. Every little bit helps in the poultry and livestock industries as far as decreasing their costs. And this demonstrates how biodiesel demand can have a positive impact on this important aspect of our food supply.”

You can read the results of the study at the USB Web site.

Biodiesel, Soybeans

BRAIN-y Idea Helps Wisconsin Biodiesel & Ethanol

John Davis

Wisconsin will be getting $1 million to help put in E85 ethanol and biodiesel stations and infrastructure across the state.

This article from the Milwaukee Business Journal says that the new Biofuels Retail Availability Improvement Network (BRAIN) will fund the installation of 27 E85 and biodiesel retail locations around the state, as well as support the installation of biodiesel blending equipment at three terminals in Wisconsin:

DOEThe U.S. Department of Energy is currently reviewing the application and will soon finalize the list of public and private partners that will receive funding through the grant program. Technologies and fuels covered under this program include neighborhood electric, hybrid-electric, plug-in hybrid electric, compressed natural gas, E85 and biodiesel.

The announcement comes on the heels of $15 million in stimulus funding announced last week for Wisconsin for clean transportation projects through the federal Clean Cities program. That money is paying for more than 500 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles through 119 public and private fleets throughout the state, as well as helping install 10 alternative fuel refueling sites.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

US Navy Using Camelina Biodiesel for Some Jets

John Davis

SustainableOils2They might be sailin’ the ocean blue, but some U.S. Navy pilots will soon be flying biodiesel green!

This press release from camelina-based biodiesel maker Sustainable Oils says the company has gotten a contract from the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) for 40,000 gallons of camelina-based jet fuel:

The fuel will be delivered to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) fuels team in 2009 and will support the Navy’s certification testing program of alternative fuels. The contract includes an option to supply up to an additional 150,000 gallons of camelina-based jet fuel.

“This is a substantial endorsement of the years of research and development Sustainable Oils has been doing to improve camelina as a next generation feedstock,” said Scott Johnson, president of Sustainable Oils as well as president of the North American Camelina Trade Association. “Our camelina-based biojet fuel has already performed as well its petroleum counterparts in aviation tests involving a Boeing 747-300. We’re expecting similar performance with different, and even more demanding aircraft. I can think of nothing more appropriate for our nation’s defense aircraft than to be running on domestically-produced fuel.”

Camelina was selected by the DESC because it does not compete with food crops, has been proven to reduce carbon emissions by more than 80 percent, and has already been successfully tested in a commercial airline test flight. In addition, camelina has naturally high oil content, is drought tolerant and requires less fertilizer and herbicides. It is an excellent rotation crop with wheat, and it can also grow on marginal land.

Company officials say this contract shows that camelina holds great promise as a biodiesel feedstock to use the green fuel in the aviation field well into the future. Navy officials say the buy proves their commitment to energy independence.

Biodiesel, Government

E85 and Biodiesel Promo in Sioux Rapids, IA

first-coop-assnThe First Coop Association held a grand opening celebration today from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. for their new ethanol and biodiesel pumps. The station, located on Hwy. 71 South in Sioux Rapids, Iowa featured free food and ethanol and biodiesel specials.

irfaThe First Coop Association is one of many stations to take advantage of the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and the Iowa Soybean Association. Through the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program, Iowa Corn and IRFA partners with retailers for grand openings for E85 and ethanol blender dispensers. Iowa Soybean and IRFA partners with retailers for grand openings for biodiesel dispensers.

Retailers interested in installing an E85 or biodiesel dispenser can apply for a grant from the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

There are currently 129 E85 facilities in the state of Iowa.

Biodiesel, biofuels, blends, corn, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Facilities, Soybeans

Competition Underway to Build Biofuel Snowmobile

John Davis

SAECleanSnowmobileThe race is on… but this time it’s to build a cleaner burning snowmobile.

This post on the Good Green Cars blog says the Society of Automobile Engineers… aka SAE International… has challenged college engineering students to build a snowmobile that runs on biodiesel, ethanol or electricity:

The snowmobiles will be rated in categories like emissions, noise, and acceleration.The idea is to make internal combustion snowmobiles suitable for use in fragile natural areas, like in national parks. The quieter and cleaner a machine is, the less it will disturb both plant and animal life.

The goal for the zero-emissions category is even more specific: make a snowmobile that won’t skew the research being done at Summit Station in Greenland. Scientists there are working to understand the absorption of atmospheric gases by the ice cap, and any emissions from fossil fuels burned at the site can mess up the results of their measurements.

Biodiesel- and ethanol-powered vehicles are expected to be the first to hit the showrooms and are expected to do well in sales. Let’s see if they can get this race going by the time those first few snowflakes begin to fall.

Biodiesel, Electric Vehicles, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Biodiesel to Fuel Porsche in Race Around Newfoundland

John Davis

TargaBiodieselYesterday, I told you about how a biodiesel-fueled motorcycle is taking off for a 12,000-mile trip around Australia. Now, a restored 1965 Porsche made to run on biodiesel will take part in race around Newfoundland, Canada.

This article from the Rochester (NY) Democrat and Chronicle says local audiologist Steve Hart and his friend Tom Megan will compete in the Targa Newfoundland, a 1,400-mile road rally around the Canadian island:

They’ll be driving Megan’s souped-up 1965 Porsche, calling it the “Race for Hearing” to raise money for hearing aids, raise awareness of hearing loss and raise (civilized) hell on twisting two-lane roads, all on carbon-neutral, biodiesel fuel from a local source.

Four years ago, Megan decided to restore the ride. He grinded it down to the metal, welded away the rust and popped in a 1985 VW engine that runs on vegetable oil.

“I wanted to build a car that had good performance and 50-plus miles to the gallon,” says Megan. “There won’t be another car in the Targa that runs on less fuel.”

Targa’s race organizers say theirs is the first car to compete on pure biodiesel.

The five-day race starts Saturday and is expected to draw 300,000 spectators.

You can follow the racers on the Race for Hearing blog, and you can see some pretty neat pictures of the restoration of this classic Porsche here.

Biodiesel

Utility’s Hybrid Trucks Part of Philly’s Freedom From Oil

John Davis

peco2The energy company serving Philadelphia with electrical power is going to use its own product to run some of its vehicles.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Peco Energy Co. is buying and modifying about 20 Ford F550 utility trucks to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The move is part of a bigger, nationwide U.S. Department of Energy pilot program:

The Philadelphia company is one of about 50 utilities participating in a consortium to demonstrate PHEV performance in 378 mid-sized trucks. The consortium, organized by the Electric Power Research Institute, was given a $45 million stimulus grant. The utilities will receive matching grants up to $2.5 million to pay for the vehicles, which will be manufactured in the next two years in Michigan and Kentucky.

The article adds Peco also has 16 natural-gas vehicles, 47 hybrid electric SUVs and 650 trucks that run on biodiesel.

Electric Vehicles