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

Analysts Forecasting Record Corn Crop on Less Acres

corn_stalkThe potential of a historic corn crop in the United States – planted on fewer acres – demonstrates the country’s farmers can produce more than enough corn for both food and ethanol production, said Tom Buis, Chief Executive Officer of Growth Energy.

“There’s a mountain of corn out there – plenty of grain to meet demand for food and fuel,” Buis said. “Ethanol producers know that American farmers are the most efficient in the world, and this year’s corn crop stands to prove it yet again. The critics do not understand the productive capacity of America’s farmers, and their ability to produce more than enough to meet the food, feed and fuel needs of our nation. ”

Last week, the analytical firm Informa Economics raised its forecast for the 2009 corn crop to more than 13 billion bushels – an average yield of 162.6 bushels, grown on 5 million fewer acres than last year. If this forecast comes to be realized, it would be the largest in American history. An even bigger forecast was made by Allendale Inc., which is calling for a corn crop or 13.127 billion bushels. USDA’s next official estimate will be released on Friday and most are expecting it to be higher than last month.

“Ethanol opponents would have you believe that using corn for ethanol forces up prices for food. We have a surplus of corn, so where is the drop in food prices? Opponents to renewable ethanol would have you believe global food demand forces indirect land use changes when an acre of corn in the U.S. goes to ethanol instead of food. Yet we’re growing more corn out of fewer total acres,” Buis said.

corn, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Dakar Rally Race to Debut Ethanol Category in 2010

Cindy Zimmerman

The world’s largest rally competition will include an ethanol category for the first time next year.

The new category was introduced by the Dakar Rally organizers at the request of Brazilian rally veteran and former rally winner Klever Kolberg, who will drive the first-ever flex-fuel vehicle to take part in the prestigious race next year – a Brazilian-made 2010 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport model equipped with flex-fuel technology, with support from the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).

There is special meaning in supporting Kolberg’s effort according to UNICA President, Marcos Jank. “Ethanol is already utilized by the Indy Racing League, which is one of the most important racing categories in the world, and it is being adopted by a variety of categories here in Brazil and around the world. It is certainly significant to see that trend now arriving also at the Dakar, without a doubt one of the great events of its kind in the globe,” he said.

The 2010 Dakar Rally will be held in Argentina and Chile, with the start set for January 1st in Buenos Aires. The Dakar Rally was formerly known as Paris-Dakar.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indy Racing, International, Racing

Ethanol Report on RFA CEO at Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastThis edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview with Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen during a visit to the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois on September 2. Dinneen discusses the need to increase the amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline above the current 10 percent, the Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking on the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard and the issue of indirect land use, and the ability of American farmers to continue to produce enough corn to meet the demand for ethanol.

You can subscribe to this twice monthly podcast by following this link.

Listen to or download the podcast here:

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Farming, RFA