BYOethanol: Press Conference

Joanna Schroeder

Unless you haven’t been reading our coverage of the 22nd Ethanol Conference & Trade Show hosted by the American Coalition for Ethanol, you’ve heard by now the news regarding the new blender pump program called BYOethanol. Pronounced “bio,” Blend Your Own Ethanol is a joint campaign between ACE, RFA and NCGA to bring 5,000 blender pumps online throughout the United States in the next three years.

You can learn more about this unprecedented program in my last post. You can also watch the announcement unfold in my video. Interested in seeing what else you missed? Check out our Flickr photo album.

ACE, corn, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, NCGA, RFA, Video

More Corn in the Forecast

Cindy Zimmerman

Despite a late planting season, farmers are still expected to harvest the second biggest corn crop on record and U.S. corn supplies are projected at a record 14.5 billion bushels.

corn 2009According to the crop report released this morning, USDA is forecasting a 12.8 billion bushel corn crop – just two percent less than the record 2007 crop and five percent more than last year. USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand report estimates corn use for 2009/10 will also be higher. “Food, seed, and industrial use is raised 100 million bushels with higher expected use for ethanol supported by favorable ethanol producer returns and strong incentives for ethanol blending,” USDA predicts. They also added another 100 million bushels for feed and residual use and another 150 million in exports.

“We’re proud of our growers and excited to see these estimates because they reflect a lot of hard work and represent the high production many of us are seeing in our fields,” said National Corn Growers Association President Bob Dickey, a grower in Laurel, Neb. “This is all-around a great accomplishment by our farmers and good news for our markets and, ultimately, American consumers.”

Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen says this proves American farmers are able to provide food, feed, and fuel for the nation. “Technological advancements in both the seed and in the field are allowing farmers to produce more per acre, while using fewer inputs such as fertilizer and diesel fuel. There can be no doubt that we are fully capable of meeting the food and feed obligations we have to the world while simultaneously helping break our addiction to foreign oil,” said Dinneen.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, says the continued increases in both corn and soybean production contradicts the theory of indirect land use change. “Based on these reports, it’s silly to still think that the demand for corn in the U.S. to make ethanol would displace land used to plant soybeans and in turn cause deforestation in other parts of the world,” Buis said.

Analyst Peter Georgantones of the Minnesota-based Investment Trading Services thinks the 12.8 billion bushel corn crop forecast could get even bigger. “I actually think the corn yield is going to continue to grow unless we get an early frost,” he said. “I could see 2-3 bushels more put on this corn crop pretty easily.” USDA is predicting a yield of 159.5 bushels per acre, the second highest on record.

corn, Ethanol, Farming, Growth Energy, NCGA, RFA

New North Commissions Study on Cellulosic Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder

NewNorthFor more than a year, officials at the New North, Inc., a regional collaboration effort focused on promoting regional cooperation and economic development in an 18-county region in Northeast Wisconsin have explored the economic development opportunities surrounding cellulosic ethanol production in Northeast Wisconsin. Earlier this week New North announced the results of phase one of what will be a multifaceted project aimed at attracting large-scale cellulosic ethanol production to the region.

Phase one of the study, which is available for download provides detailed analysis of the current availability of forest products in the region. Phase two, with an expected release later this fall, will address behavioral aspects such as production levels and harvest techniques, as well as existing contracts and pricing strategies.

“As Wisconsin moves forward with large scale commercialization and production of cellulosic ethanol, we’re going to be prepared to attract development by promoting our resources and highlighting Northeast Wisconsin’s assets,” said Jerry Murphy, Executive Director of the New North, Inc. “This study will show investors that the New North has the available feedstocks and the skilled workforce necessary for cellulosic ethanol production, and hopefully whets the appetite of companies looking for a site to make an investment.”

Cellulosic, News, Research

ACE & RFA Launch National Mid-Level Blend Campaign

Joanna Schroeder

From left to right: Ron Lamberty, ACE; Darrin Ihnen, NCGA; and Robert White, RFA

From left to right: Ron Lamberty, ACE; Darrin Ihnen, NCGA; and Robert White, RFA

The 22nd Ethanol Conference & Trade Show in Milwaukee kicked off with an announcement of the largest ever consolidated effort to install 5,000 mid-level blend, or blender pumps, throughout the country: BYOethanol. I know many of you are envisioning bringing your own ethanol to the upcoming college football tailgate party, but it really means, Blend Your Own Ethanol.

The partnership with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), is aimed at reaching retailers about the competitive benefits of installing blender pumps and the program will assist them with questions and issues they have including helping them with funding opportunities.

I spoke with Ron Lamberty and asked him to expand on how the program will work. “It’s a program that the American Coalition for Ethanol, and the Renewable Fuels Association are working on together taking the resources of the National Corn Growers Association and several state corn grower associations to get out and inform petroleum marketers about the value of being able to see E85 adn other blends of fuel using a blender pump.”

Robert White, Director of Market Development for RFA expanded on his answer by explaining, “We’re throwing the whole kitchen sink at this one. The strongest piece will be information dissemination.” As part of the program, they will be at petroleum trade shows and conferences, they will advertise in their magazines and will launch their own magazine aimed at retailers.

Darrin Ihnen, a corn farmer from South Dakota and incoming president of NCGA beginning October 1, 2009, noted that NCGA was involved in this ethanol industry program because they, “need to take it (promoting ethanol) to the next level beyond just the E15 campaign. This blender pump program shows that you can use a higher percentage of ethanol in our motor vehicles.”

This three-year program has an initial funding base of nearly $1 million dollars and is significantly funded by NCGA as well as by several state groups including the Kansas Corn Commission, the Kentucky Corn Promotion Council, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, the Nebraska Corn Board, and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council.

The website, www.byoethanol.com, will launch in September but in the meantime, people can visit ACE’s or RFA’s website for more information. You can see pictures from the conference in our Flickr photo album.

ACE, corn, Ethanol News, Flex Fuel Vehicles, NCGA, RFA

Ethanol Welcomed at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol was welcomed with open arms at last week’s 69th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota where the Renewable Fuels Association partnered with the popular Buffalo Chip Campground and the Buffalo Chip Gazette to promote the use of ethanol blended fuels as a way to fight dependence on foreign oil.

Robert White RFA SturgisRFA’s Robert White – an avid motorcycle enthusiast – wanted to personally thank the folks with Sturgis for the hospitality:

When I was looking for a way to reach out to small engine and motorcycle enthusiasts about ethanol, you were there. You were there to provide the perfect angle and approach to reach more than 500,000 consumers. You even provided a bonus, which was all of these individuals also own a car, truck or both.

You, along with the Legendary Buffalo Chip, allowed us to teach fellow riders about ethanol and provided a venue to hand out more than 5,000 ethanol koozies, 1,000 ethanol t-shirts and 10,000 information cards about the benefits of using a homegrown fuel. The key points being that it is a domestic product, it is cleaner-burning and it is made from renewable sources. We also had 25 static displays, which encouraged riders to, “Ride Safe, Fuel Right.” You also provided a backdrop to launch a Sturgis Photo Contest at www.e85challenge.com, where riders can win $1,000 for submitting their favorite rally photo. Each night, concert goers were able to see ethanol information on the jumbotrons during such acts as Toby Keith and Aerosmith.Read More

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Newest GM Diesel to Burn B20

John Davis

GM logoGeneral Motors’ latest heavy-duty diesel engine is set to burn a 20 percent biodiesel blend.

This post on PickupTrucks.com says the Duramax diesel V-8 will burn the green fuel to help it meet tough new emissions standards for 2010:

The so-called LML Duramax will be certified to run on biodiesel blends of up to B20, which is 80 percent ultra-low-sulfur diesel and 20 percent biodiesel, in GM’s 2011 model year 2500 and 3500 Silverado and Sierra pickups.

The move finally matches the B20 capability of the current 2007-09 Cummins 6.7-liter inline-six that powers the Dodge Ram HD lineup. The 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 was the only pickup in our last Heavy Duty Shootout that was able to burn B20. B20 is available at many truck stops today, but the current 2007-10 LMM Duramax and Ford’s 2008-10 6.4-liter Power Stroke V-8 are only approved for B5 biodiesel.

Biodiesel

IRFA Hires Menke As Biofuels Manager

John Davis

irfaI always love to report when a fellow Iowan finds his way back home again.

After serving for the past six years as a research assistant for U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in Washington, D.C., Grant Menke has been hired as the Biofuels Manager for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). This IRFA press release has details:

“It is certainly an honor to be joining the IRFA team,” said Menke. “The renewable fuels industry is crucial to Iowa’s economy, so as an Iowa farm boy, I am especially grateful and excited for the opportunity to serve in this role at IRFA.”

Menke was raised on a corn and soybean farm just outside of the northwest Iowa town of Calumet. He received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Humanities from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Menke is accompanied in his return to Iowa from Washington, DC, by his wife, Susie (also a native Iowan), and eight month-old son, J.J.

“IRFA is excited to have someone with Grant’s experience and work ethic joining our team,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “This is a challenging time for biodiesel and ethanol producers and the addition of Grant will help us more quickly respond to the needs of our members.”

Congratulations, Grant!

biofuels

Scientists Trying to Make Fuel from Zoo Poo

John Davis

hippoGet your pooper-scoopers ready, because scientists in New Orleans are tapping into the products of some zoo animals’ backsides to move forward in green energy.

The New Orleans CityBusiness reports that researchers at Tulane University are trying to produce butanol from the waste of animals from the zoo:

A project to identify and genetically engineer bacteria to create butanol has been under way at a Tulane lab for just more than a year. The work is funded in part through a grant the U.S. Department of Energy awarded to the coalition of six Louisiana universities that comprise the Clean Power and Energy Research Consortium.

“We are on the cutting edge here,” said W.T. Godbey, a Tulane assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering who is one of the project’s investigators.

Once the researchers determine the best bacteria for producing biobutanol, they intend to genetically modify them to produce higher yields of the chemical and to digest cellulose so biomass sources that might have otherwise wound up in landfills can be used to produce fuel…

smithericTo date, the Tulane researchers have identified more than a dozen different strains of bacteria capable of catalyzing the butanol fermentation process. The bacteria have been obtained from feces collected from plant-eating animals at the Audubon Zoo.

“It sounds — and is — humorous, the image of scientists running around the backside of a giraffe or hippo,” [Eric Smith, associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute] said, “but these animals evolved an efficient way of consuming cellulose long before we thought about it.”

The scientists say butanol contains significantly more energy per volume than ethanol, blends more readily with gasoline and can be distributed through existing pipelines.

Miscellaneous

Former VeraSun Ethanol Plant Now Farmer-Owned

Cindy Zimmerman

A group of nine farmer-owned ethanol plants in the upper Midwest got together to purchase the former VeraSun plant in Janesville, Minnesota to make it an even ten.

rpmgGuardian Energy LLC, headquartered in Shakopee, Minnesota recently entered into an agreement to purchase the 100-million gallon plant acquired by AgStar Financial Services’ lending group through VeraSun Energy’s bankruptcy in March of 2009. Guardian Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian Eagle Investments formed to own and operate this ethanol facility in Janesville. The group also founded Renewable Products Marketing Group, which will provide marketing services for the facility.

Renewable Products Marketing Group CEO Randy Hahn said, “Our group of farmer owned ethanol producers are very excited to see this purchase come together. We strongly believe that the value generated by converting our locally grown corn into renewable energy ought to stay here at home. We are committed to keeping this facility in the hands of local producers and farmers.”

AgStar has now found new owners for four of the six VeraSun plants they are representing. Another announcement is expected this week for a fifth plant in Dyersville, Iowa.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Facilities

E85 and Biodiesel Promos in Austin, MN

ala-mnTwo E85 and biodiesel promotions will be held in Austin, Minnesota next week. E85 will be sold for 85 cents off per gallon and B5 will be sold for 20 cents off per gallon at both events.

The first promotion will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Freeborn County Coop at the intersection of Highways 56 and 90. Two days later, on Thursday, Aug. 20, the Kwik Trip at 4th St. NW (near the I-90 exit) will offer the same discount on E85 and B5 from 1-3 p.m. There will be a 30-gallon limit per vehicle at both events.

The promotions are supported by Freeborn County Coop, Kwik Trip, Mower County Corn & Soybean Growers, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, the Minnesota Clean Air Choice Team and the American Lung Association in Minnesota.

Minnesota currently houses the highest number of E85 stations within the U.S. with 361 sites. For a listing, click here.

Biodiesel, E85, News