ACE Conference 2026

AURI Releases Aitkin County Biomass Assessment

Joanna Schroeder

grassBBI International recently completed a county-wide biomass assessment and economic feasibility sponsored by The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. The report is now available on the AURI website.

The report, authored by BBI in the fall of 2008 through spring of 2009, intended to define the amount of economically available biomass available in the county as well as explore the financial viability of several different conversion technologies.

Aitkin County is a unique geographical location in Minnesota. The 1,995-square- mile county is a transition zone that forms the northern border of the corn/soybean/wheat region of the state and the southern border of the heavily forested northern region of the state. The area is predominantly deciduous forests, wetlands and grasslands.

Ross Wagner, Aitkin County economic development & forest industry coordinator said, “We felt we had an economically viable biomass resource, but it was all based on anecdotal evidence. Until we could quantify what we actually had, any discussions of a project would be just talk.”

The report will now be used by the Aitkin County Economic Development agency as they work to leverage the abundant biomass supply in their county for economic growth and jobs.

Agribusiness, biomass, Research

Biodiesel Hydroplane Flies Past Polluters

John Davis

BoeingU787_2A biodiesel-powered hydroplane has been successfully tested at a Seattle-area boat race.

Biofuels International reports the Boeing U-787 hydroplane skimmed across the waves… and past non-renewable-powered competitors… in a demonstration proving the green fuel’s versatility this weekend:

The U-787 was tested repeatedly at the annual Chevrolet Cup, each with a greater proportion of biofuel, culminating in the 100% blend being used in a run on Sunday. Hydroplane driver Chip Hanauer reported no drop in performance as the percentage of biofuel was increased.

The tests were conducted under normal operating conditions including rapid acceleration and deceleration and tight cornering.

The feedstock for the biofuel comprised 85% camelina, 14% jatropha and 1% algae. This is a ‘drop-in’ replacement developed by Seattle’s Targeted Growth. This same biofuel mixture helped to power the test flight of a Japan Airlines Boeing 747-300 in January.

You can check out the U-787 in action in this cool video below.

Biodiesel

Oregon Becoming Latest State with Biodiesel Mandate

John Davis

OregonFlagOregon has become the latest state to require diesel sold in the state… well, at least in nine counties in the northwest part of Oregon starting August 5th and the rest of the state by October 1… have a mix of biodiesel.

The 2 percent biodiesel (B2) requirement received the praise of the National Biodiesel Board:

“Oregon recognizes the proven track record of biodiesel performance as well as its benefits for green jobs, energy security, the environment, and more,” said National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe. “The NBB has resources in place to assist in implementation, including an information hotline for anyone with questions.”

Oregon follows the lead of Minnesota, which started with a B2 requirement and kicked it up to B5 this past May, and Washington State and its B2 requirement. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have biodiesel mandates expected to start in 2010.

Biodiesel, NBB

Soybean & Biodiesel Boards Dispel RFS-2 Misinfo

John Davis

USBNBB-logoThe biodiesel industry and the soybean checkoff have teamed up to try to dispel some of the misinformation being used that would basically disqualify soybean-based biodiesel, the bulk of the nation’s biodiesel, from the proposed federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2).

This United Soybean Board press release says the National Biodiesel Board’s (NBB) Sustainability Analysis and Awareness project, funded in part by the United Soybean Board and soybean checkoff, is building on the limited amount of information about biodiesel and Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC):

“It is necessary to use science-based research to help ensure people are well-informed and educated regarding soy biodiesel,” says Chuck Myers, USB Chairman and a soybean farmer from Lyons, Neb. “All Americans can benefit from soy biodiesel, not just soybean farmers. Soy biodiesel remains a critical part of our renewable energy solution this country badly needs.”

Since the soybean checkoff helped establish the biodiesel industry in the 90s, sales of the fuel have grown from two million gallons in the year 2000 to over 700 million in 2008. With the checkoff funding, NBB has put together a team of land use experts consisting of
economists, leaders in the field of life cycle analysis, commodity experts and environmental engineers to analyze the Environmental Protection Agency’s initial estimation of biodiesel Green House Gases (GHG) due to ILUC used in the RFS-2.

A few inaccuracies that have already been brought to the forefront include that the soybeans were not given a significant GHG credit for fixing nitrogen in soil and biodiesel production did not receive a GHG credit for the production of glycerin as a valuable co-product.

NBB also showed that the development of the RFS-2 did not account for the the value of 80 percent soy protein meal as a significant portion of the market value for the entire crop and did not allow for expected steep increases in soybean yield in coming years.

Biodiesel, NBB

Promoting Ethanol at Sturgis

Chuck Zimmerman

RFA at SturgisBike riders at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally are seriously appreciating their ethanol koozies. Here’s market development staff members from the Renewable Fuels Association posing by one of their banners at the Buffalo Chip Campground. Throughout the event they’ll be handing out all kinds of materials to participants. Sounds like rough work but that’s what’s needed to get the ethanol message out directly to the people who will use it.

Robert White, pictured on the left, is uploading photos from the event. Check out his online photo album to see more.

Education, Ethanol, RFA

Feed-In Tariffs Could Help Small Solar, Wind Power

John Davis

A proposal that would require utilities to buy power from small-scale renewable energy producers could end up being a boon for solar and wind power in America.

The New York Times reports that two Democrats in the U.S. House have introduced a bill to do just that:

Inslee1Reps. Jay Inslee of Washington and Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts are preparing a bill that would require utilities to purchase small-scale renewable energy from developers at rates equal to the cost of production plus a premium. The so-called feed-in tariffs proposal would set European-style guarantees for investors that many credit for a recent boom in solar energy in Germany.

Delahunt1“We have some brilliant Americans with brilliant business plans with brilliant technologies, but they don’t have financing,” Inslee said at a briefing last week on Capitol Hill. “The charm of the feed-in tariff is solid, take-it-to-the-bank security and confidence for the investing community.”

Proponents say feed-in tariffs can be more effective than renewable-energy standards, such as the one included in the House climate bill by Democrats Henry Waxman of California and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, because they offer staggered rate incentives for each energy source based on current production costs. The initial rate that utilities would pay for solar energy, for example, would be higher than payments for less-expensive wind energy.

Backers of the bill also point to the model in Germany, where, after passing its own Renewable Energy Sources Act in 2000, Germany was able to become the world’s largest market for photovoltaic systems and wind energy and more than doubled its supply of renewable energy between 2000 and 2007.

Solar, Wind

Company Intros Portable Ethanol, Biodiesel Analyzer

John Davis

With more and more blends of biodiesel and ethanol available out there, especially with government tax incentives and regulations based on the percentage of the biofuel, it’s more important than ever for producers and users to know what they are putting in their tanks. Enter the InfraCal Blend Analyzer.

InfraCal-Ethanol-Biodiesel
This post on EnvironmentalExpert.com says the analyzers from Connecticut-based Wilks Enterprises are rugged, compact, portable and easy to use by non-technical personnel, while providing readouts of the percentages of biodiesel and ethanol in the blends just about anywhere in less than a minute:

The InfraCal Blend Analyzers are fixed-filter infrared analyzers that, unlike FTIR spectrometers, have no moving parts and an insignificant optical air path making them portable, rugged and suitable for use in a field environment. Weighing less than 5 lbs., they can be operated from a battery pack or a cigarette lighter adapter cable and include an RS 232 interface for data transmission to a PC. For analysis, the fuel sample is placed directly on the exposed ATR sample window, a “run” button is selected and the result is display in 15 seconds. After analysis; the fuel is easily cleaned off with a wipe. Biodiesel has a characteristic infrared absorption band at 5.7 microns (1754 cm-1) and ethanol at 9.6 microns (1045 cm-1).

The analyzers are good up to B100 or 98 percent ethanol.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Green Plains Restarts Ethanol Plant

green_plains_renewable_energyGreen Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. has restarted their Central City, NE ethanol plant which was recently acquired by VeraSun.

“The Central City plant is on-line and operational after we made some necessary repairs and capital improvements to the plant,” said Todd Becker, Green Plains’ President and Chief Executive Officer. The Central City plant has been idle since November 2008.

The Central City site, along with another in Ord, were purchased from a lending group led by AgStar Financial Services for about $123.5 million. Green Plains took ownership of the plants during the VeraSun bankruptcy.

Based in Omaha, NE, Green Plains owns four ethanol plants in Iowa, Indiana, and Tennessee. It sells its own ethanol and markets ethanol for other producers. The company, founded in 2004, also owns grain storage facilities.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Ford Adds 4 New FFVs in 2010

ford_logoFord Motor Company will offer four new flexible fuel vehicles (FFVS) to their line-up in 2010 totaling eleven models.

Following will be the 2010 models offered through Ford Motor Company with E85 compatible engines.

3.0L Ford Fusion
3.0L Mercury Milan
3.0L Ford Escape
3.0L Mercury Mariner
4.6L Ford Crown Victoria
5.4L Ford Expedition
5.4L Ford F-150
4.6L and 5.4L Ford E-Series Van/Wagon/Cutaway
4.6L Mercury Grand Marquis
4.6L Lincoln Town Car
5.4L Lincoln Navigator

Ford Motor Company began producing FFVs in 1995 with the Ford Taurus. They have made a commitment to allow half their vehicle line as E85 compatible by the year 2012.

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, News

Economist Barry Flinchbaugh Talks Indirect Land Use

Joanna Schroeder

BarryFlinchbaughYesterday during the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress/Ag Media Summit, a “Great Debate” ensued between retired K-State ag economist Barry Flinchbaugh and former Texas congressman Charlie Stenholm. Their topics were ag policy and trade but a lot of the focus was on the new cap and trade legislation, climate change and indirect land use.

I had a chance to speak with Flinchbaugh for a few minutes after the session to have him expand on climate change and renewable fuels.

“Front and center is renewable fuels and climate change and you can’t separate the two. And the question is global warming a hoax is a stupid question because the political system worldwide has decided that its for real and things are going to happen,” said Flinchbaugh. “The Supreme Court gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. So to pretend we can whip this, we being agriculture is ridiculous. We can’t whip this and we need to get inside the tent and help make the decisions.”

Although his comments on how current climate change policy will affect both America and the international communities are insightful, I wanted to know how the cap and trade bill would affect the profitability of farmers in America. To put his answer in perspective, Big Oil receives 2 percent in credits and agriculture receives 7 percent.

“I think we can come out a net winner but we need to refine the current law to do this,” answered Flinchbaugh. But what happens when you add the policy surrounding indirect land use (which has been deferred for five years)?

“No. Absolutely not. And this whole indirect land use issue is an emotional bogus issue. One of the things that Colin really got done was put this off for five years. One of the things we can do in the next five years is prove this is bogus issue.”

Listen here to the joint interview with myself and Kansas Ag Network reporter Greg Akagi.

Agribusiness, Audio, biofuels, Indirect Land Use, News