Congress Takes Cash for Clunkers from Loan Program

Cindy Zimmerman

“Cash for Clunkers” has another $2 billion to get less fuel-efficient vehicles off the road – but the renewable energy loan guarantee program has $2 billion less for research into alternative fuels.

RFARenewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen says Congress should replace those borrowed funds as soon as possible. “While the cash for clunkers idea has merit, it contains no language or direction to steer consumers to alternative-fuel vehicles,” said Dinneen. “As such, a failure to replenish this fund when Congress returns this fall would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. We need not choose between clean fuels and clean vehicles, we need both.”

Dinneen says the loan guarantee program being tapped to provide the cash for the clunkers is critical to bringing next generation biofuels and other renewable energies to the marketplace. “Companies seeking to turn sugar waste and other cellulosic materials into biofuel, for example, were looking to this program as the security they need to take the risks that will accelerate the commercialization of their technologies. Now, those companies are forced to anxiously wait and see if Congress will replace those funds,” he added.

The Senate last week voted 60 to 37 to approve $2 billion in additional funding after approval by the House the week before.

Ethanol News, Government, RFA

Gator Tree Could Be Key to Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

A spiky tree with a reptilian bark may be able to take a bite out of the cost to produce cellulosic ethanol.

gator treeThe tree is often called a sweetgum, but it also goes by the name “alligator tree” because it does look like one. So, it’s appropriate that researchers with the University of Florida – home of the Gators – have found that bacteria growing in its wood may improve the process of making cellulosic ethanol.

As the team from UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences reported in the July issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a strain of the wood-decaying Paenibacillus sp. bacteria named JDR-2 has a knack for breaking down and digesting one of these components, hemicelluloses.

That knack could help modify preprocessing steps for cost-effective production of ethanol.

“The acids, the heating — all of these steps you have to take beforehand are expensive, require a lot of work and, let’s face it, no one wants to work with sulfuric acid on that scale if you don’t have to,” said James Preston, the team leader and a professor in UF’s microbiology and cell science department.

“By engineering the bacteria already being used to produce ethanol to also process hemicelluloses the way this Paenibacillus does, you should be able to significantly simplify the process.”

Preston came across the bacteria a few years ago, as he was using decaying sweetgum trees to grow shiitake mushrooms on his tree farm in Micanopy, Fla. After studying the unusually uniform composition of the decaying wood, he and his colleagues went on to study the genetics of one of the bacteria digesting that wood.

The team has now mapped JDR-2’s genome, and Preston expects that, within the year, they will transfer genes behind JDR-2’s abilities to bacteria used to produce ethanol. This would be followed by the design of processes for the cost-effective production of ethanol from wood, agricultural residues and other potential energy crops.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Research

Illinois Congresswoman Halvorson Supports E15

halvorson3Illinois Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson yesterday voiced her support of increasing the blend of ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent. The Congresswoman, along with many other supporters, spoke at a news conference at the Illinois Corn Growers Association home office.

In March, national trade group Growth Energy submitted a Green Jobs Waiver asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow gasoline blended with as much as 15 percent ethanol. A rule that dates back to the 1970s arbitrarily caps at 10 percent the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline. The report titled “Economic Impacts of Increasing the Ethanol Blend Limit on Top Ethanol Producing States” was released Thursday by Growth Energy. Congresswoman Halvorson announced findings of the report, “I’m proud to say that by extending the ethanol blend in our gasoline mixture to E15, Illinois has the capacity to gain over 4,000 full-time jobs and have $833 million injected into Illinois’ economy. Blending higher percentages of ethanol into our gas is a step we can take right now to create American jobs, local jobs, increase our energy independence, improve our environment, and help many of our local farmers.”

Gene Griffith, secretary of the Illinois Renewable Fuels Association, added, “A significant portion of the Illinois economy is based on renewable fuels, many of which are small ethanol-producing plants. By increasing the cap on ethanol blends from 10 percent to 15 percent, the EPA would enable the renewable fuels industry to grow, which would result in more Illinois jobs, a more stable economy, cleaner emissions and greater energy independence. With high unemployment in Illinois, there couldn’t be a better time to implement this new plan.”

July 20 marked the end of the EPA’s 90-day public comment period on the waiver application. The EPA has until December of this year to decide if it will allow up to a 15 percent ethanol blend in the American fuel supply.

blends, Ethanol, Government, Growth Energy

Ethanol Industry Concerns About EPA Peer Review

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency’s peer review of the renewable fuel standards lifecycle analysis released today is being characterized by corn and ethanol industry groups as biased, bizarre and puzzling.

EPAThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says the EPA “stacked the deck against biofuels in its process to “peer review” the agency’s indirect land use change analysis (ILUC) conducted for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) proposed rule” by including as reviewers “several noted anti-ethanol and anti-agriculture activists, including environmental lawyer Timothy Searchinger.”

“EPA has asked the foxes to guard the hen house on this issue,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “By adding lawyers and advocates to a scientific review panel, EPA bureaucrats have made a mockery of the Administration’s commitment to sound science.”

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, responded to the release of the study today by calling on Congress to repeal the ILUC provision in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.

“We need to stop this nonsense. This is the most bizarre concept I have ever seen. EPA’s peer review proves that too much uncertainty about the economic modeling, data and science exists to allow this to ever become regulation. Even the peer review committee could not agree,” Buis said.

National Corn Growers Association president Bob Dickey says they are disappointed in the lack of objectivity in the review.

“We are dismayed by EPA’s complete disregard for an approach that is fair and balanced. We are also puzzled as to why the United States Department of Agriculture, which has extensive knowledge related to this issue, was in no way included in the peer review process,” Dickey said. “We call upon the EPA to modify its approach to reflect the commitment of President Obama to adhere to policies based on sound science and a transparent process.”

According to EPA, the peer reviewers “are recognized as leading experts in their respective fields, which include: lifecycle assessment, economic modeling, remote sensing imagery, biofuel technologies, soil science, agricultural economics, and climate science.” EPA will consider the peer review results along with public comments received, and implement the reviewer’s technical recommendations to the greatest extent possible.

corn, Environment, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Indirect Land Use, NCGA, RFA

Chrysler’s 2010 FFVs

2010 Dodge Grand Caravan SXTChrysler’s sale to Fiat has not stopped them from rolling out their line of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in 2010. Chrysler will have seven vehicles able to use E85 in their 2010 line up:

4.7L Dodge Dakota
4.7L Dodge Ram
3.3L Dodge Grand Caravan
2.7L Dodge Avenger
3.3LChrysler Town & Country
2.7L Chrysler Sebring Convertible
2.7L Chrysler Sebring Sedan

The 2010 FFVs will be available for purchase in all states excluding: California, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhone Island, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol News, News

Book Review – The Gort Cloud

Joanna Schroeder

The Gort CloudHey all you marketers out there – listen up! This week I reviewed a book on how to successfully market your environmentally friendly product through the “Gort Cloud”.  What is the Gort Cloud you ask? “The vast but invisible community that has the power to make or break green brands and much of this community and interaction is done online. The Gort Cloud is the discovery of marketing and branding expert Richard Seireeni who is the author of this week’s book, The Gort Cloud: The Invisible Force Powering Today’s Most Visible Green Brands.

The book consists mainly of a number of case studies from varying industries including energy, that detail the marketing and branding strategies green companies have taken to become powerful brands. Most of these brands have never used traditional advertising such as print ads and TV ads, but have used the power of public relations and the immense network of green adopters who have created communities on the web.

gort-012809Some components of the Gort Cloud include providers, provider support, rule makers and watchdogs, advocacy groups, special – interest authorities, information disseminators, green search engines, social networks, lifestyle movements, reuse, recycle, in-person exchange, competitions, campaign and fundraisers, education and career. Seireeni talks in detail about these components and how to tap into them.

The Gort Cloud is one of the best marketing books I’ve read with regards to developing a green brand and marketing it. As more and more traditional media disappear and the internet becomes an even more powerful medium, this book will help you navigate the web to better reach your target audience.

You can buy this book or any book I read by visiting “Joanna’s bookstore“. In addition, if you have a book that you would like me to review, email me at jomschro2071@gmail.com.

book reviews

Phibro’s Process Optimization Seminar Successful

Joanna Schroeder

With today’s economic climate, everything an ethanol plant can do to increase efficiencies helps the bottom line. As a plant changes constantly due to inputs and environmental shifts, its important for employees to understand how process aids  including Enzymes, Yeast, Antimicrobials, and Water Treatment function alone and in conjunction with other inputs. Another area of focus was to learn about situations that can occur before, during and after fermentation.

100_0002To help the ethanol industry, Phibro Ethanol Performance Group along with Fremont Industries, Fermentis, and Novozymes held a hands on seminar in Minneapolis on July 29-30. Participation was limited to ensure the ability for one-on-one instruction and the seminar was sold out with 78 participants. The particpants are giving the seminar rave reviews.

Sponsor and participate Steve Rust, the director of marketing for Fremont Industries said of the seminar, “The first Process Optimization Seminar was very successful. The four companies that sponsored the event provided knowledge that was relevant and useful. The goal of providing training for plant personnel to more effectively do their jobs was met. Fremont Industries is committed to providing support for the ethanol industry.”

Phibro is planning on having another seminar before the year is out. Tom Slunecka, VP of Marketing for Phibro Ethanol Performance Group noted, “The agenda was packed with education and everyone learnd a lot. Participants have told us numerous times that the seminar was a tremendous value. We look forward to announcing the next meeting soon.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News

California Biodiesel & Ethanol Co. Patents Algae Dredger

John Davis

CircleBioA maker of parts for biodiesel and ethanol operations says it has been awarded a “Notice of Allowance” by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a device that is supposed to make it easier to harvest algae to make biofuels.

This press release from San Marcos, California-based Circle Biodiesel & Ethanol Corporation says the company received the notice for its Suction Dredge System and Method:

The most important step in making biofuels from algae a successful business is the recovery of the algae from its environment. Until now nobody had a safe, environmentally-friendly and economical way of recovering the algae. Circle Biodiesel & Ethanol Corporation has solved the issue of feedstock recovery by developing a dredge system that can recover algae in massive volumes in a continuous fashion without the need for human swimmers to handle or clear the dredge. The patented dredge head has an automatic obstacle-clearing feature. When an obstacle blocks the intake, it is automatically and immediately cleared by the dredge head itself, and then immediately the dredge head goes back to dredging again. That means there is no need to shut down and clear the dredge head. The process is nonstop.

“We have solved the issue of feedstock recovery by developing a dredge system that can recover the algae in massive volumes. The cost savings are from the lower labor headcount and continuous dredging of higher volumes of algae than were previously possible before our invention. The increased safety for operating personnel who can now stay completely onboard is also a consideration,” said [CEO Peter] Schuh.

The company also has a separate utility patent application for its method of removing algae oil from the green microbe.

algae, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

New Biodiesel Plant Opens in East Tennessee

John Davis

TennBiodiesel1A new biodiesel plant in East Tennessee is the first of its kind for that part of the state.

This article from the Southeast Farm Press says officials with the University of Tennessee, as well as state and local officials and members of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy were on hand for the ribbon cutting of the facility that will produce the green fuel and clean up used kitchen grease:

Built with an Alternative Fuels Innovations Grant from TDEC in partnership with SACE, the community-based biodiesel production unit aims to convert waste fryer oil from local restaurants into useable fuel. The production unit, which is located on the University of Tennessee agricultural campus, will also be a research center for other ag fuels like soybean oil and oilseed crops.

“We are excited about participating in another effort to provide the region and state with affordable, sustainable biofuels,” said DiPietro. The UT Institute of Agriculture is well known for partnering with DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol to produce cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass at a biorefinery in Vonore. That plant is under construction and expected to be operational by the end of the year. “The answers to our energy problems lie in a combination of sustainable, affordable, homemade and homegrown fuels, both cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel,” he said.

TDEC Commissioner Jim Fyke agreed. “Making cleaner-burning fuels more readily available while providing additional education and research capacity is an important step toward a clean energy future in Tennessee,” he said. “The biodiesel production unit on the Knoxville campus will increase use of alternative fuels and create public health benefits for area communities.”

When fully operational, the plant will be able to produce 380,000 gallons of biodiesel a year, fueling the university and the community and recycling the grease of at least 30 local restaurants.

Biodiesel

Wind Company Getting Into Biodiesel Biz

John Davis

NatWindSolutionsA Texas wind energy company is getting into the bioidesel business.

The Houston Business Journal says National Wind Solutions Inc. has just bought a biodiesel plant for $3 million:

The plant, located in Atascosa County just south of San Antonio, produced biodiesel for commercial transportation uses before being mothballed due to high soybean oil prices.

Houston-based National Wind intends to modernize the plant to reduce processing costs and retrofit it to process less expensive feed stocks such as algae and jatropha.

National Wind Solutions is also in the fuel cell business with a wholly owned subsidiary, Zero Emissions Energy.

algae, Biodiesel, Wind