Funds Available for Alt Fuel Infrastructure in 14 States

epa2The Central States Air Resource Agencies, through its Blue Skyways Collaborative, is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to initiate a Green Gas Stations Pilot Program in fourteen states.

The Green Gas Stations pilot program is designed to promote best practices in environmental stewardship and to advance fuel choices. The program will provide $15,000 in funding for gas stations/convenience store owners to improve their environmental impact by contributing to the expansion of the infrastructure for alternative fuels, improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy at gas stations/convenience stores, as well as to provide a learning experience for motorists to reduce their environmental footprint.

The program will only be available to retailers in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Miscellaneous

LSU Fans Choose Ethanol at College World Series

Joanna Schroeder

14048087 Ethanol is everywhere – even the College World Series. Each June, Omaha hosts the teams and fans who hope to go all the way. This year, fans were able to cheer in style with their “Choose Ethanol” koozies.

The Renewable Fuels Association recently launched the “Flex-Fuel Challenge” Summer Photo Contest. All you have to do is take a picture of yourself on vacation and submit it. Once all the photos are submitted, people will vote for the winner. Now, if this group of LSU fans (BTW, LSU won this year’s College World Series) hasn’t already submitted their photo, they should by July 31st. I might be a tad biased, but the fact they are promoting ethanol should garner them more votes!

Now in case you’re not convinced that ethanol is good for America and our environment, check out the winning video from the kick-off E85 Flex-Fuel Challenge -“Funky Fresh Flex Fuel”.  Groovy Man.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Phibro Ethanol Performance Group Knows FDA

Chuck Zimmerman

Phibro Chem Team at FEWFor those of you not familiar with an FDA, Food Additive Petition (FAP), the folks at Phibro Chem’s Ethanol Performance Group can help you understand what it means to ethanol producers. They market the antimicrobial product, Lactrol.

We normally think of the EPA when it comes to governmental regulations in this industry but FDA is getting more involved. That’s why a company like Phibro, with years of experience dealing with the agency because of the animal health side of their business is probably a little ahead of the curve on this.

I spoke with Richard Coulter, VP, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs and Paul Duquette, Director, Global Regulatory Affairs during the Fuel Ethanol Workshop about this issue. You can see their whole team that attended the conference in the picture.

Richard said they were attending to “talk to producers to inform them of what we’re doing in the regulatory process.” He wants them to know they’re staying on top of it. He says that late in 2008 the FDA decided to join with the EPA and USDA in regulating biofuels due primarily to distillers grains being fed to animals. He says that it’s important for producers to work with suppliers that know how to deal with the total regulatory process. It sounds like Phibro knows how when it comes to the FDA.

Paul says that when it comes to the Food Additive Petition there’s a learning curve going on between the industry and FDA. He says FDA has made it clear that everything that goes into the production of ethanol must be AAFCO approved, GRAS approved, have a regulatory or enforcement discretion letter and then the FAP. Both Richard and Paul say the industry is facing more regulation in the future.

2009 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Richard and paul below:

Agribusiness, Audio, Ethanol, FEW

Ethanol and Biodiesel Details in Climate Bill Compromise

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has provided more details about the compromise worked out this week on the climate change bill expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives on Friday.

RFA“Good faith negotiations and old fashioned horse sense led to a deal that achieves both our energy security and environmental goals,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “By ordering further review of the controversial theory of international indirect land use change, Congress can allow science to catch up with policy goals.”

According to RFA, the compromise contains the following provisions:

The definition of renewable biomass was harmonized with the 2008 Farm Bill language for private lands. Environmental safeguards for public lands were preserved.

The Environmental Protection Agency is prohibited from imposing the unfair penalty of international land use change on biofuels for 5 years while research is conducted to determine the validity of such a theory. After that period, the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy as well as the EPA Administrator must jointly decide to accept or reject the findings. Additionally, Congress will have one year following that decision to act, if it so chooses.

Biodiesel facilities built before implementation of the 2007 energy bill while be grandfathered into the law in the same fashion as ethanol facilities of the same vintage.

Dinneen says House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and their staffs deserve a great deal of credit for getting this bill to a vote. “While just the first step in a long process, the House should move quickly to pass this legislation,” he said.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

FF Bioeconomy Conference to Look at Biofuels

John Davis

ff-transitiontobio-energyThe final in a series of Farm Foundation conferences looking at agricultural issues in the modern economy will be held next week in Little Rock, Arkansas and will focus on extension services and renewable energy.

The Transition to a Bioeconomy: The Role of Extension in Energy conference will be June 30-July 1 at Little Rock’s Doubletree Hotel:

The program features experts working in renewable energy, biofuels, energy efficiency and new energy technologies. Presenters include industry leaders, staff from USDA and the U.S. Department of Energy, and researchers working in energy efficiency, renewable energy and new energy technologies.

Plenary sessions will address the important role of Extension educators in providing consumers with timely information on energy-related programs and research findings. An outlook on renewable energy technologies will also be featured. In addition to plenary sessions, six workshops are planned to allow participants to focus in on specific areas of interest. Workshop topics are:

* Risk Management for Energy Investments
* Making Energy Efficiency Choices
* Energy Crop Agronomics
* Forestry
* Harvest, Storage and Logistics
* Extension and Other Delivery Methods

There still seems to be time to register for the event, but I’m not sure about availability at the Doubletree Hotel.

More information is available at this Farm Foundation Web site.

biofuels, Farm Foundation

Oil Company Launches Battery-Powered Car

John Davis

maya300In what could be considered a paradox, an oil company has a car that won’t need any non-renewable petroleum.

This article from the Gas2.0.org Web site says ExxonMobil is introducing the Maya 300, a lithium-ion battery powered car that can drive up to 120 miles on one charge… but looks and feels like a gasoline-powered car:

The Maya 300 was developed in conjunction with Electrovaya, a pioneer in the development and manufacturing of Lithium Ion SuperPolymer battery systems. The two companies have worked together to, “develop the innovative urban vehicle that will be a ‘game changer’ in advancing transportation alternatives.” ExxonMobil actually developed the lithium-ion battery separator film and was the first company to introduce the lithium-ion battery in 1991.

The Maya 300 charges in 8-10 hours, plugs into a regular household 110 volt outlet and will be available to consumers for around $20-25,000 in 2011. To my knowledge, this will be one of the most affordable consumer electric vehicles on the market. The Tesla Sedan sells for around $50,00, the Chevy Volt is expected to retail around $30,000 and the bare-bone Toyota Prius starts at $22,000.

The article goes on to say that ExxonMobil and Electrovaya have teamed up with the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore to educate residents and visitors, including being able to rent the Maya 300 to get a real feel for how it drives.

Car Makers, Electric Vehicles

Growth Energy CEO Optimistic About Ethanol Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

The 25th annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop was the first for Growth Energy, the ethanol industry organization formed late last year, and CEO Tom Buis was impressed with the turnout at the conference despite current economic conditions.

Tom Buis“I think everyone is really interested in moving forward,” Buis said. “Obviously we are going through some rough spots, economically, but I think people are optimistic and at the end of the day we will all win.”

Buis has only been on the job with Growth Energy for three months, but like the ethanol industry, his roots are in agriculture, operating a grain and livestock farm with his brothers in Indiana before moving to Washington DC and spending the past ten years with the National Farmers Union. His agricultural background allowed him to see the importance of the ethanol industry to the nation as a whole. “What we do in this industry is right,” he says. “Whether it’s creating jobs in rural America, or providing a profitable market for farmers, or revitalizing our rural communities, protecting our national security or reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

Buis is very excited about the announcement made at the FEW that the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) has united with Growth Energy to become Growth Energy Market Development. “They’ve spent well over a decade working on the marketing components of ethanol, the flex-fuel vehicles and E85 pumps,” he said. “We have to deal with the legislative and policy front, but we have to deal with the marketing component as well.”

Listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Tom Buis from FEW here:

Ethanol, FEW, Growth Energy

USDA Loan Helps Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Expand

John Davis

usda-logo2A Minnesota biodiesel facility is getting a $25 million USDA Rural Development loan that will help the refinery expand the number of feedstocks it is able to turn into the green fuel… including the by-product of another green fuel:

soymorUSDA Rural Development is providing SoyMor Biodiesel a $25 million guaranteed loan to purchase equipment that will enable SoyMor to convert multiple types of feed stocks, including an unrefined corn oil waste product from nearby ethanol facilities, into biodiesel. In its current configuration, the plant only has the ability to process soybean oil.

The loan is the second USDA Rural Development has made under the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program of the 2008 Farm Bill.

USDA officials say the loan will restore nearly 30 jobs to the local Albert Lea community after the biodiesel plant had to suspend operations just more than a year ago. In addition, it will add value to the area’s ethanol industry.

Biodiesel, USDA

Cornell Opens New Biofuels Research Lab

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest national biofuels research facility opened this week in at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

cornell biofuelsThe main focus of the new $6 million, 11,000-square-foot Cornell Biofuels Research Laboratory will be on cellulosic ethanol.

“The Biofuels Research Laboratory catapults Cornell to the forefront of renewable energy research and becomes the centerpiece of the university’s broad portfolio of work on cellulosic biofuel and bioproducts,” said Cornell’s Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences Susan Lynch during a ribbon cutting ceremony. “Many stand to benefit from the work of the Biofuels Research Laboratory, which holds great promise for transforming our economy and alleviating our nation’s energy crisis,” Henry said. “New York farmers will see new opportunities to grow the plant material used as inputs, workers will see job growth in the bioenergy sector, and we all gain from a more sustainable energy supply.”

Henry is pictured here in a Cornell University photo with professor and principal investigator Larry Walker, New York Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and Cornell President David Skorton.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Research

Book Review – Energy Shift

Joanna Schroeder

energy-shift-coverThe world’s energy paradigm is shifting and this shift is going to affect every company, CEO, and person in the world. But how? It’s a question I’ve often wondered about so this week I read, “Energy Shift: Game-Changing Options for Fueling the Future.” This book was unique in that it targets business leaders and helps them understand the major forces that are changing how business is being done today. The authors Eric Spiegel and Neil McArthur both work for Booz & Company.

Although the authors cover off on a lot of topics, I wanted to highlight one thing in particular. The authors point out that meeting the world’s growing demand for electric power while limiting the emissions of greenhouse gases is the most urgent imperative for energy policy in the twenty-first century. Developing alternatives to coal has been much talked about as has how to store electricity. However, what you don’t hear as often and that the authors stated quite succinctly as it relates to handling the increase in global demand for electricity is this.

exhibit_8-21“One additional factor that may push demand even higher in the future is the advent of electricity as an alternative energy source for transportation: the the extent that plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles succeed in the marketplace, they will increase the demand for electricity in proportion to the decrease in demand for petroleum that they create.”

Despite all the attention to the world’s energy situation, the authors note that there has not been sufficient change in the reality of energy production to significantly shorten the timetable for the energy shift. How fast this will happen, they say, depends on how the three major areas of uncertainty are resolved.

  1. 1.  The future of greenhouse gas regulations.
  2. 2.  Energy Security.
  3. 3.  The pace of technological innovation.

So what happens when you mesh these three challenges together? No one knows. But the authors do make suggestions on how this transition can be smoother, faster and more effective, but you’re going to have to read the book to find out.

Click here to buy “Energy Shift”.

book reviews