Alternative Fuel Projects Win EPA Awards

John Davis

epaseal1A big rig running on natural gas… a propane-fueled trimmer… gas from a wastewater treatment plant burned to make electricity… these are just some of the projects the Environmental Protection Agency has recognized in its annual Clean Air Excellence Awards Program.

For the ninth year, EPA is honoring 15 recipients from across the United States for their environmental achievements in community action, education, and science and technology. These innovative air quality programs provide environmental benefits and create green products and jobs.

“Each year, our Clean Air Excellence Award winners offer amazing new examples of how we keep our air safe and clean,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “This year’s winners have built on that tradition of innovation to show what is possible in protecting human health and the environment.”

Here are some of the winners using renewable energy projects (from the EPA’s Web site):Read More

biofuels, Government, Propane

Vote Now for FEW’s High Octane Award

Joanna Schroeder

fuel-ethanol-workshop-sublogo1The ethanol industry has spoken and the Few Ethanol Workshop (FEW) now has seven candidates for its 2009 FEW High Octane Award. The award is presented at FEW and given to a person who has had a long-term tremendous effect on the growth of the ethanol industry. 

 

Here are the nominees:

  1. Doug Anderson, Green Energy Group 
  2. Kathy Bryan, BBI International 
  3. Roger Burken, retired, Cornhusker Energy 
  4. William Covey, NobleAmericas Corp 
  5. Mike LoCascio, US Water Services 
  6. Phil Madson, Katzen International 
  7. Patsy Reimche, Ethanol Producers and Consumers 

Cast your vote by May 22, 2009 by sending an email to Sue Conroe at sconroe@bbiinternational.com. Please put High Octane Award Vote in the subject line and in the body of the email include your choice of nominee, your name, company name, company website, phone number. For more information about the High Octane Award visit the FEW website at www.fuelethanolworkshop.com.

conferences, Ethanol

Two New Ethanol Production Systems Now Available

Joanna Schroeder

Two new families of ethanol production systems, or “mini-refineries” are being offered today from Allard Research and Development LLC, a company specializing in small to medium sized ethanol systems.  These systems are available in either a fully automated (EFS) or manual process technology (MES) and are designed for use in business, municipalities, agriculture, and commercial markets. 

efs200-remote2In a company statement, Adam Allard, President of Allard Research and Development said, “Today’s product launch gives our customers a wide range of Ethanol Fuel Systems that will meet their varying output capacity demands. Our forte is the ability to turn ideas into workable products, not only in a short period of time, but cost effectively. With this new line, our customers can make their business ideas become reality.”

The automated Ethanol Fuel Systems are computer touch screen-controlled and feature a UNIX-based operating system on the primary automation computer. The Manual Ethanol Systems  utilize the same components, including the touch screen-controls, but without full automation.

The EFS and MES machines are offered in 100, 200, 500, and 1000 product models representing output gallons per day capacities. If you are looking for more ethanol output per day, the machines with larger output capacities can be custom engineered and manufactured.

Company Announcement, Ethanol

More MN State Vehicles Fueled With Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota state fleet vehicles are using more E85 than ever, according to a new quarterly report from the Minnesota SmartFleet Committee, a group tasked with helping to reduce the state’s use of petroleum fuels in favor of cleaner-burning fuels such as E85 and biodiesel.

Clean Air Choice MNIn the first quarter of 2009, more than 12 percent of the total fuel used by the state’s light-duty vehicles was E85, an 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline blend. The 150,000 gallons of E85 consumed during the three months represents a 37 percent increase over the same period last year, fleet officials said.

The report comes on the heels of Minnesota’s move to a five percent biodiesel blend (B5) at all diesel retail outlets statewide. That move was widely hailed by environmentalists, farm organizations, the Minnesota Trucking Association, and the American Lung Association in Minnesota.

“It is very gratifying to see real progress in the state’s ongoing efforts to reduce the use of petroleum fuels and to opt for a clean air choice like E85 whenever possible,” said Kelly Marczak, director of the Clean Air Choice program for the American Lung Association in Minnesota. “We estimate that the E85 used to fuel the state’s 2,500 flexible fuel vehicles prevented nearly 600 tons of lifecycle greenhouse gases and other emissions from entering the air. With more than 2,500 flexible fuel vehicles currently in the state fleet, the opportunity to reduce air pollution and greenhouse emissions is significant.”

Minnesota has over 360 E85 outlets, more than any other state. A complete list of the retailers and more information on the American Lung Association in Minnesota Clean Air Choice program can be found at www.CleanAirChoice.org.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol

SEC Renewable Energy Expo Tomorrow in D.C.

secMembers of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses will join forces tomorrow with the Sustainable Energy Coalition to host the 12th annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum in Washington D.C.

This year’s EXPO will bring together more than fifty businesses, sustainable energy industry trade associations, government agencies, and energy policy research organizations to showcase the status and near-term potential of the cross-section of renewable energy (biofuels/biomass, geothermal, solar, water, wind) and energy efficiency technologies (see examples below).

Members of the U.S. Congress will offer welcoming remarks in the morning while afternoon speakers will discuss the role sustainable energy technologies can play in meeting America’s energy needs.

As Congress, the Administration, the business community, environmental advocates, and American voters search for options to address ways to stimulate the economy, “green jobs,” higher energy costs, increased reliance on energy imports, and the potential threat posed by rising levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the EXPO will help address the role that sustainable energy technologies might play.

This will include not only the technical aspects of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies but also related issues such as economics, jobs potential, environmental benefits, current and near-term market potential, model programs in the public and private sectors, and institutional, financial and legal barriers.

The Sustainable Energy Coalition brings together more than 60 national and state-level business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations.

Energy

Book Review: Everyone’s Guide to Atoms, Einstein and the Universe

Joanna Schroeder

atomsWhen people are discussing energy, how many conversations revolve around physics and its role in developing better renewable energy? I’d venture a guess and say for most people, the answer is never. Until now. This week I read, “Everyone’s Guide to Atoms, Einstein and the Universe” by Robert Piccioni. Had I had Piccioni for my Physics 101 class, I would have had a much better grade.  

albert-einstein1Although I enjoyed the entire book, I’m going to focus on two chapters, “Energy, Mass and E=mc2”and “Smart Energy”. Einstein brought to the world its understanding of mass and energy and demonstrated that the two are united and that mass can be converted to different forms of energy. But what exactly is energy? “…energy is the currency of existence….Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another.”

The definition above is very apropos considering we are entering into a new energy economy that will have its own currency (hopefully one that is less expensive than our fossil fuel based energy currency we now have).  But what is the best way to convert mass to energy?

Read More

book reviews

Encore Energy Buying Up More Biofuels Plants

John Davis

encoreenergyEarlier this year, I told you how Encore Energy was targeting troubled biodiesel plants… ones producing below their capacity… for acquisition (see my post from March 16, 2009). This company press release says that Encore is now making that happen in five biofuels facilities with its new business development partner, Hardin Fuels:

Four production facilities are located in Mississippi with one facility located in Texas.

An announcement will be released as each facility is acquired and begins production.

Fuel distribution and feedstock allocations have been located for these projects and will be further announced as shipping commences.

In anticipation of explosive demand, the Company continues targeting distressed biodiesel asset purchases and bio-fuel production and distribution agreements.

We’ll need to keep an eye on this to see if this is a trend that takes out the small operators that help keep the biodiesel industry diverse… or if its a way to keep the overall green industry in the black.

Biodiesel

Bacon Fat Biodiesel Station Opens in WI

John Davis

bio-blend-fuelsA green fuel that also gives you the intoxicating aroma of bacon as you drive? It’s as if half of Homer Simpson’s brain had been implanted into Al Gore! A small, startup company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin has opened its first biodiesel station with the feedstock being the pork fat left over from making pre-cooked bacon.

This story from the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter says husband and wife Dan and Tracy Kaderabek have opened their Bio-Blend Fuels filling station in the city on the western shore of Lake Michigan:

“The pork gets run through microwaves to make precooked bacon, the grease falls off and that’s what we use,” Dan said. “Americans’ bad eating habits ensure our supply.”

While the Kaderabeks view producing biodiesel as an environmentally friendly “green” industry, their business model for success doesn’t depend on what direction political winds are blowing.

“We’re not relying on government handouts or rebates or tax credits,” said Tracy. “Those would be a bonus, but you can’t rely on those in running your business.”

Success will be based, they said, on having low overhead and selling the biodiesel cheaper than regular petroleum diesel.

On Monday, Kirt filled his tank with a 50-50 blend of biodiesel and regular diesel for $2.09 a gallon, compared to about $2.20 for 100 percent fossil fuel, “dino diesel.”

The Kaderabeks’ blend of 20 percent biodiesel-80 percent regular diesel sold for $2.17 Monday while “B99” (almost all fuel from the pig fat) was $1.99.

There are ideas to one day change to algae as a feedstock.

While this is certainly no where close to some of the big operations… or even some of the medium-sized operations… it’s nice to see a couple of regular Joes (or in this case, a couple of regular Kaderbeks) making it with their own version of a green vision. And as a plus, it involves BACON! Brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it (or is that drool from my mouth?).

Biodiesel, Energy

Petition Shows Support for Increasing Ethanol Blend

Cindy Zimmerman

ACEAn on-line petition drive sponsored by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has gathered more than 5,000 signatures in the past month from people in all 50 states who are in favor of the government increasing the amount of ethanol allowed per gallon of gasoline to 15 percent.

“People want more ethanol, and the number of names signed to this petition in just a month’s time demonstrates widespread grassroots support for ethanol,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE. “It’s significant that the people who have signed the E15 petition come from all 50 states, because this shows that ethanol is not just a Midwestern issue. People all across the country recognize that big oil’s monopoly at the pump must be broken and that more ethanol represents meaningful consumer choice.”

The online petition can still be signed through May 21, which is the end of the EPA public comment period. The petition and all of the names, listed by state, can be viewed and signed at www.ethanol.org/petition.

ACE, blends, Ethanol

More Corn for Ethanol and Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting more corn to be made into ethanol and exported overseas this year, but less to be fed to livestock.

USDAAccording to the May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released on Tuesday morning, total U.S. corn use for 2009/10 is projected to be three percent higher than the current year with higher expected food, seed, and industrial (FSI) use and exports more than offsetting a decline in projected feed and residual use.

Total usage in the FSI category use is projected seven percent higher with a 350-million-bushel rise in ethanol corn use accounting for most of the increase. The 4.1 billion bushel estimate for ethanol reflects the increase in the Renewable Fuels Standard, as well as improved blending incentives as higher gasoline prices increase demand for ethanol.

At the same time, exports are projected to increase by nine percent “as world corn trade and feeding are expected to recover
modestly in 2009/10, partly reflecting a reduction in global supplies of low-cost feed quality wheat.”

USDA is also forecasting that the amount of corn used to feed livestock will be down two percent this year due to reduced animal numbers and the increased availability of the ethanol by-product distiller’s grains used for animal feed.

corn, Ethanol, USDA