Oregon Biodiesel Mandate Ready to Start

John Davis

OregonFlagStarting next month, nine counties in Northwest Oregon will require all diesel to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel. This comes two years after all gasoline statewide had to have a 10 percent ethanol blend.

This story from OregonLive.com says that while the city of Portland has already mandated a biodiesel blend since August 2007, Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook, Yamhill, Polk, and Marion counties will now also require biodiesel:

State officials, including the Department of Agriculture, say biodiesel produces fewer harmful emissions than regular diesel and is a renewable energy source produced in part by Oregon farmers, rather than by foreign sources.

Motorists shouldn’t see any change to fuel economy or performance when using a two percent biodiesel blend, said Stephanie Page, the agriculture department’s renewable energy specialist.

“Pure biodiesel, or B100, contains only eight percent less energy per gallon than the diesel motor fuel currently offered for sale in Oregon,” Page said in a news release. “A two percent biodiesel blend, or B2 blend, has less than two-tenths of a percent less energy that the standard diesel motor fuel. That is such a small difference that motorists should see no noticeable effect on their fuel mileage.”

Officials are cautioning biodiesel users that the fuel actually clean fuel lines and tanks, so they should be ready to change fuel filters after the mandate goes into affect on August 1st.

Biodiesel

Andrew Young Discusses Wind Energy at IFMA17

Cindy Zimmerman

IFMA 17Wind energy is an up and coming technology in the U.S. and central Illinois. Attendees of the International Farm Management Association 17 Congress (IFMA 17) got a chance to learn more about this current, complex energy issue. Andrew Young, CDO of Horizon Wind Energy, addressed the IFMA 17 Congress today in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University. Young’s presentation outlined the wind energy industry, the company itself and the current policies and incentives in place to help grow the industry.

Horizon Wind Energy is the company that manages the wind farm located in McLean County. The Twin Groves Wind Farm is located five miles east of the Central Illinois Regional Airport. The wind farm produces 396 megawatts of clean energy per year enough to power around 120,000 homes in Illinois. With over 240 massive turbines the Twin Groves Wind Farm is one of the largest in the country.

One of the main factors in starting a wind project is getting land owners to sign on to the project. The ideal placement for wind farms is on open range and actively cultivated farm lands, thus relevant to many of the attendees of the IFMA 17 Congress.

Young also stressed the challenges that exist to furthering the wind energy industry in the U.S. Currently, the U.S. energy grid system is not structured to support the full potential capacity for wind farming technology. Lack of connection to the grid has tabled some wind farm projects in areas that are ideal for wind technology. Also, tax credits and incentive programs are another main factor in funding and starting a wind farm project, Also, community opposition and difficulty in obtaining permits can slow a wind project.

Ultimately, tax incentives are critical to wind energy’s success. At the end of the presentation, a man from Australia wondered what the growth of wind capacity would be in the U.S. without tax incentive programs from the government. Young responded, “Very slow, since every form of energy is subsidized in the U.S., there would be no way that this industry could grow without this program.”

Wind

IFMA 17 Delegates Travel on Bio-Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

IFMA 17The International Farm Management Association (IFMA) was not kidding when it came up with its concept for the second Congress ever held in the U.S. Conference planners have woven the theme of “Food, Fiber and Energy” throughout the past few days of the Congress. However, it may surprise a few of the international delegates to learn their transportation is also joining the IFMA 17 Congress to implement the “energy” component of the theme.

Since Sunday, delegates have had the opportunity to ride shuttle buses to and from the Congress’ events. These Peoria Charter Coach buses are currently running on bio-fuels.

This practice is not uncommon for the company, who has been running its shuttles on bio-fuels since March 2004. And in its five year history of using bio-fuels, the company is pleased with their decision.

Bill Winkler, president of Peoria Charter Coach said,” To me, it is a three win situation…It burns cleaner. It’s cheaper, and it helps the farmers.”

As delegates look to the future of the agriculture industry, the issues of sustainability and a poor economy are sure to arise. However, Winkler was quick to mention this clean-burning fuel is mixed locally, reducing the cost. With these incentives, Winkler looks forward to continuing this practice in the future.

Peoria Charter Coach Company has served over 400,000 passengers since its start in 1941.

For a complete itinerary of IFMA17 events, visit: ifma17.org.

biofuels

USDA Undersecretary to Keynote Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

American Coalition for EthanolThe American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has announced that Dallas Tonsager, Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will give a keynote address at the organization’s national ethanol conference set for next month in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

ACE’s 22nd Annual Ethanol Conference & Trade Show will be held August 11-13 at Milwaukee’s Midwest Airlines Center and registration is now open online at www.ethanol.org.

As Under Secretary for Rural Development at USDA, Tonsager oversees programs that provide financial assistance to America’s ethanol producers and will be a key participant in the new Biofuels Interagency Working Group recently announced by President Obama.

Tonsager will speak on Wednesday afternoon, August 12. View the full agenda here.

ACE, conferences, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Efficient Irrigation Can Improve Biofuels ROI

Cindy Zimmerman

ZimmaticLindsay Corporation, maker of Zimmatic® irrigation systems, has produced a new biofuels brochure called “Improving Biofuel ROI Through Efficient Irrigation Solutions.”

The eight-page full-color brochure includes information on key biofuel crops, the benefits of biofuels, market growth opportunities for biofuels, and irrigation management recommendations to help growers optimize the yield, size distribution and quality of biofuel crops.

“Several factors are influencing a growing worldwide interest in biofuels, including climate change, rising oil prices, future oil supplies, and exploration and drilling costs,” says Dirk Lenie, vice president of marketing and export sales at Lindsay. “Lindsay is committed to helping growers meet the increased demands of a fuel-hungry world and to providing growers with the tools needed to produce more biofuel per gallon of water used.”

The Lindsay brochure provides a step-by-step guide to properly plan and successfully complete a biofuels irrigation project. Key biofuel crops discussed include canola, corn, jatropha, miscanthus, soybeans, sugar beets, sunflowers, sweet sorghum.

For a copy of the biofuels brochure, go to the downloads section at www.zimmatic.com.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farming

Wind Could Spark Minnesota’s Economy

John Davis

Minn2020In these times of tough economic news, a new wind could be blowing opportunity into the Midwest.

This story from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal says a report from the think tank Minnesota 2020 says that state, already the fourth largest provider of wind energy in the nation, could create more than 2,200 jobs and generate about $9 billion in economic development over the next several decades by constructing 4,059 megawatts of wind generated power:

A good portion of the jobs created would be in the manufacturing sector, according to the report, an industry that has been hit hard during the recession.

In order to achieve this, the report states that Minnesota should focus on localizing wind turbine building and ownership, which has a greater impact on stimulating local economy.

Since 2005, Minnesota rapidly increased its wind capacity, growing by about 31 percent each year.

The increase in wind energy would help Minnesota get closer to its mandate that utilities must generate 25 percent of their power from renewable resources by 2025.

Wind

Iowa State Biodiesel Work Wins “Oscar of Invention”

John Davis

And the Oscar goes to… researchers at Iowa State University for their work on biodiesel.

This ISU press release posted on IowaPolitics.com says the team won a 2009 R&D 100 Award, dubbed the “Oscars of Invention” by the Chicago Tribune and handed out by the editors of R&D Magazine that salute the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year:

leeuwenA team of 10 ISU researchers led by Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and president and founder of MycoInnovations, for their work to use a microscopic fungus to produce biodiesel from plant processing wastes…

The special biodiesel they developed, now being commercialized as Mycofuel(tm), is made from lignocellulosic biomass. The process involves treating switchgrass, corn stover or forestry wastes with ammonia and naturally occurring white-rot fungi to degrade the cellulose. The resulting sugars are used to grow a different, fat filamentous fungi – mold that’s about 60 percent oil. The oil is released using an ultrasonic treatment, which causes the fungal cells to explode. The oil is then recovered by extraction with an improved organic solvent system.

A catalyst – along with some added ethanol or methanol – aids in rapid transformation of the oil into a biodiesel fuel. A byproduct of the leftover fungal biomass can be used as a high-protein animal feed. The water can be reused in the fermentation process.

“Biodiesel production from traditional oil-rich crops is limited by land availability, climate, and environmental and social issues regarding the use of feed and food crops for fuel,” Van Leeuwen said. “This method of producing biodiesel is green, sustainable and doesn’t compete with food crops.”

Last year, Van Leeuwen picked up a 2008 R&D 100 Award for his work improving the efficiency of the corn-to-ethanol conversion process using a different fungal process.

Biodiesel, Research

Homebrewing Biodieselers to Meet in DC

John Davis

While the big National Biodiesel Conference is geared toward the big producers, there is a gathering for those folks who like to brew up a batch of the green fuel in their garages.

joshtickellAfter spending the last three years in Colorado, the Collective Biodiesel Conference is being held at American University in Washington, DC. This year’s meeting features Josh Tickell, author and director of the biodiesel film “Fuel,” which used to be known as “Fields of Fuel,” winner of a Sundance Film Festival award in 2008. Tickell will give his presentation, “The Trillion Dollar Energy Breakthrough.”

Josh will discuss ground-breaking technologies enabling the creation of biofuels from non-food sources. These technologies include: algae, biomass generated by sustainable means, and the use of innovative farming techniques which not only generate non-food sources for biofuels, but also provide food and support the environment. Josh will settle the debt of the mythological public view of biofuels, and will be map out solution pathways to fuel and energy independence for the United States.

In addition, conference attendees will get a free ticket to the screening of “Fuel.”

For more information and registration, click here.

Biodiesel

Growth Energy Submits Comments to EPA

growth_energyOn the last day of the Green Jobs Waiver public comment period, Growth Energy joined with tens of thousands of Americans in submitting formal comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in favor of increasing the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline to 15 percent. Growth Energy submitted its 37-page analysis which outlines the overwhelming scientific evidence that increasing the blend to 15 percent has no adverse impact on a car’s performance, maintenance or emissions.

“Tens of thousands of Americans spoke loud and clear in favor of increasing the amount of ethanol in our fuel supply to 15 percent. I commend them for standing up for a domestic fuel that helps create jobs and makes our nation more energy independent,” said Tom Buis, Growth Energy CEO. “While many will continue to say more testing is necessary, our waiver request contains the testing and data to support EPA granting the E15 waiver. More testing is just another politically-motivated barrier to prevent this nation from reducing its addiction to foreign oil.”

epa2Already the ethanol industry has helped create and support half a million jobs across the country. Increasing the blend to 15 percent will create and support more than 136,000 new green-collar jobs.

Growth Energy submitted the waiver request on March 6, 2009, on behalf of its members and an additional 54 ethanol producers. Over the course of the 90 day public comment period, groups and individuals submitted more than 20,000 comments in support of the waiver. EPA has until December 2009 to rule on the waiver.

Ethanol, Government, Growth Energy

Volvos to be Fueled with E85 at Conference in Denmark

strawVolvo’s vehicles will be fueled by second generation bioethanol at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Denmark in December. IAssisted by Partnership for Biofuels, Inbicon, a DONG Energy subsidiary, Novozymes and Danisco will help supply the straw based E85.

“As host nation, Denmark makes an effort to secure a green and climate friendly Conference in December. It also wants to showcase to the conference delegates some of the new technologies that could contribute to solving the climate challenge. Second generation bioethanol, ethanol made from waste and residues, is one example on such a new technology,” said Svend Olling, Head of Department in the Foreign Secretary.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is therefore happy that it in co-operation with the Partnership for Biofuels it has succeeded in reserving some of the first liters of second generation bioethanol produced in Denmark for the transportation of important guests within Copenhagen during the conference.”

Inbicon has been developing its technology at pilot plants in Denmark since 2003, and is constructing a demonstration model of its Inbicon Biomass Refinery in Kalundborg. The plant will convert wheat straw into ethanol and other green products. The facility will open in December 2009 in time for the Copenhagen climate summit.

Inbicon is also working with existing grain-based ethanol plants in the U.S. to add a 20 million gallon per year biomass stream from corn stover or wheat straw that can offset fossil fuel use 100 percent in the entire operation.

biofuels, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News