New North Commissions Study on Cellulosic Ethanol

Joanna Schroeder August 12, 2009

For 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 August 12, 2009

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 August 12, 2009

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.

RFA’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 August 11, 2009

General 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 August 11, 2009

I 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 August 11, 2009

Get 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…

To 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 August 11, 2009

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.

Guardian 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

August 11, 2009

Two 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

Solar Generated Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman August 11, 2009

Bioengineering firm Joule Biotechnologies of Massachusetts recently unveiled a new technology that uses sunlight to directly convert carbon dioxide into ethanol. The process, called Helioculture™, produces what the company is calling SolarFuel™ liquid energy.

According to Joule, the conversion requires no agricultural land or fresh water, and leverages a highly scalable system capable of producing more than 20,000 gallons of renewable ethanol or hydrocarbons per acre annually.

“There is no question that viable, renewable fuels are vitally important, both for economic and environmental reasons. And while many novel approaches have been explored, none has been able to clear the roadblocks caused by high production costs, environmental burden and lack of real scale,” said Bill Sims, president and CEO of Joule Biotechnologies. “Joule was created for the very purpose of eliminating these roadblocks with the best equation of biotechnology, engineering, scalability and pricing to finally make renewable fuel a reality—all while helping the environment by reducing global CO2 emissions.”

Biofuel System Follows the Crop

Cindy Zimmerman August 11, 2009

A Maryland-based biotech/biofuel company is working on the development of a portable biofuel production system called “Follow the Crop.”

Atlantic Biomass Conversions president Bob Kozak recently explained the concept to Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD 6th) at his Go Green Energy Expo in Frederick, Maryland. According to Kozak, instead of bringing biomass to biorefineries, the bioconversion technology will go to the crops.

Following the model of combines that follow the harvest season, “Follow-the-Crop” modules will be deployed nationwide as energy grasses and crops are harvested.

These modules will convert biomass into high density biofuel intermediates, such as highly concentrated sugars, using the Atlanitc Biomass fast, low-cost enzyme system.

By creating a viable market for environmentally suitable “energy” grasses and agricultural residues grown in stands as small as 10 acres, the deployment of this system would improve the income of small and medium growers. This positive impact would greatly help rural economies throughout the country.

biomass, Cellulosic, Ethanol News, Research

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