ACE Conference 2026

EPA Opens Comment Period on RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

epaThe Environmental Protection Agency has officially opened a 60-day comment period for proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard. The comment period will be open until July 27.

In addition to seeking comments on the proposed rulemaking announced earlier this month, EPA is also conducting peer reviews of critical aspects of the lifecycle methodology used to determine the greenhouse gas emissions of various fuels.

EPA has also announced a public hearing to be held for the proposed rule which will be held in Washington, DC on June 9.

Environment, Ethanol, Government

Solazyme Testing BlueFire Ethanol Cellulosic Sugars

Joanna Schroeder

bluefirelogoSolazyme, Inc., a company that develops technologies for renewable oil production, is in the process of testing sugars that are produced through a patented process designed by BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. The goal of the technology is to test the compatibility with Solazyme’s renewable oil process to produce the oil cost effectively and at commercial scale production. The sugars used in the process are produced through non-food cellulosic waste.

Arnold Klann, CEO of BlueFire Ethanol Fuels forecasts great results. “Our technologies are a great fit for each other,” he said. “Our patented acid hydrolysis process allows BlueFire Ethanol to utilize a variety of non-food feedstocks to produce sugars that can be used to make a variety of different types of fuels and chemicals. Supplying these low cost sugars to Solazyme’s technology provides them with the option of creating a variety of oils for the renewable energy industry and beyond.”

BlueFire Ethanol is currently focused on developing its first ethanol biorefinery in Lancaster, California. The Lancaster facility will use post-sorted cellulosic wastes diverted from landfills in Southern California to produce 3.9 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol per year. The company was also awarded $40 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for construction of a second plant in Southern California, and has received the first installment of funding from the DOE for the development of the BlueFire Mecca, LLC plant in Southern California.

In addition to the production of renewable oil, Solazyme is also a leading algal synthetic biology company.  The renewable oil produced from algae will not only be used as a replacement for fossil fuels, but also in cosmetics and cleaning supplies that have traditionaly used petroleum as an ingredient.

biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic, Company Announcement

PetroAlgae Opens DC Office

John Davis

petroalgae2President Obama has put the emphasis on renewable energy, and the buzz in the nation’s capitol… and the country… has been about turning algae into biodiesel.

To that end, PetroAlgae is opening a Washington, DC office and has sent three of its best folks there to work closer with the Obama Administration, Congress, non-profit groups, and the business community:

The three new appointments are Andrew Beck, who has joined the company as vice president of public affairs; Michael Gale and George Lyons, who have both joined the company as vice presidents of government relations.

“One of the most effective responses to the challenges of restoring our nation’s economy and responding to our climate and energy crisis is a green recovery,” said Dr. John Scott, Chairman of PetroAlgae. “These three talented individuals will lead PetroAlgae’s discussions with the Obama Administration, Members of Congress and others in the Washington to help educate the country on the ability of clean-energy to help create new jobs and contribute to the nation’s economic recovery.”

Beck, a veteran of the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA, will manage PetroAlgae’s strategic communications, public outreach and media relations operations. Gale was the president of Government Relations and International Trade Strategies and will now manage PetroAlgae’s interactions with government officials with a focus on energy, environmental, tax and international issues. Lyons, who will now manage PetroAlgae’s interactions with government officials with a focus on energy, tax, appropriations, and state issues, was a principal at the Gimga Group.

algae, Biodiesel

Vancouver to Host Hydrogen/Fuel Cell Event

John Davis

hfc2009canadaSome believe the future of renewable energy is with hydrogen. If that’s true, the future… and the world… will be coming to Vancouver next week for Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009… billed as Canada’s premier international hydrogen and fuel cell event.

Organizers say the event, which runs from May 31 – June 3, will “showcase Canada’s leadership in commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technology:”

“Today, customers and end-users around the world are validating the benefits of hydrogen and fuel cells,” said John Tak, Chair, Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009. “There is increasing momentum behind the commercial adoption of this technology, propelling the growth of an industry that provides high-value green jobs and a legacy of innovation.”

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies deliver significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and ensure secure and reliable energy. Made-in-B.C. applications of these technologies in market today include forklifts, stationary power generation, fuelling, back-up power and portable products.

More than 1,000 international delegates are expected to attend Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009, taking place June 1-3 at the new green-designed Vancouver Convention Centre. The conference will feature international experts profiling the latest developments in research, business and government policy, with the opening keynote session featuring addresses from the governments of British Columbia.

Officials say a convoy of hydrogen-powered electric vehicles will be driving from San Diego, California and will arrive in Vancouver on June 3.

Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2009 is jointly organized by the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and the Province of British Columbia. Sponsors include Air Liquide, The Linde Group, German Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network, Air Products, Ballard, Enbridge, AECL, BC Hydro, Canadian Nuclear Association, Daimler, GM, Hydrogenics, IMW, Plug Power, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Iwatani, National Research Council Canada, Natural Resources Canada and BC Transit.

Hydrogen, International

Organization Promotes Advanced Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

A Maryland-based organization is promoting the education, acceptance and use of advanced biofuels.

advance biofuels“The goal of Advanced Biofuels USA is to show the American people, decision-makers and opinion leaders that US farmers and researchers together can produce sustainable and economical biofuels that will directly replace all types of transportation fuels including gasoline and jet fuel.” said founder Joanne Ivancic.

Advanced Biofuels USA was founded last year and earlier this year decided to concentrate the organization’s focus on educational rather than lobbying activities. “We want to make sure the public hears the stories of farmers, foresters, processors, and researchers involved with advanced biofuels,” Ivancic says. “Development of advanced biofuels is not only essential to meeting the challenge of ‘20 by 20’ but more important, is critical to rebuilding the US economy.”

The organization has developed a three-part Advanced Biofuels Primer, available on their website, that provides simple explanations of what advanced biofuels are, why they are important, what key laws and regulations have been passed and implemented to encourage and promote the development of advanced biofuels, and much more. The primer even provides information for teachers and students to use for school projects, as well as advanced research suggestions.

biofuels, biomass, Cellulosic

Green Plains Buys Two Former VeraSun Plants

Cindy Zimmerman

GPREGreen Plains Renewable Energy will acquire two former VeraSun ethanol plants located in Nebraska, to make it the fourth largest ethanol producer in the U.S.

Addition of these plants will increase the Company’s ethanol production capacity by 45%, from 330 million to 480 million gallons per year.

“The acquisition of the plants in Central City and Ord lowers our cost of production and improves our ability to compete in the industry,” said Todd Becker, Green Plains’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “These plants are in excellent locations. Within the 14 contiguous counties surrounding Ord and Central City, there are over 300,000 cattle on feed and approximately 300 million bushels of corn grown annually.”

Sale of the facilities are expected to close in June and Green Plains plans to have the plants fully operational within 30-60 days of the sale closing.

Ethanol, Facilities

Florida Biodiesel Plant Set to Go On Line

John Davis

The first biodiesel plant in Southwest Florida could soon go on line… although some of its first fuel will be sold a loss.

The Fort Meyers News-Press reports that a site for FL BioFuels LLC’s three-million-gallon-a-year plant should be picked in the next couple of weeks, and one of its first customers will get a substantial discount on the fuel it buys:

The plant is capable of producing 3 million gallons of biodiesel in its first year, said Roy Benton Jr., one of the company’s four owners, and that could bring in more than $5 million. As a result, FL BioFuels’ owners hope doing business with Lee County will pay off.

The county agreed in April to give the company $500,000 from a government grant for the plant. The commission is expected to discuss the grant and biodiesel at its meeting Tuesday.

FL BioFuels is contracted to produce 500,000 gallons of biodiesel a year for the county’s vehicles. The company was required to match the approximately $1.60-a-gallon price the county pays for its truck fuel. The company’s owners say the venture will cost them money because their biodiesel is about $1 more expensive per gallon, costing them about $500,000 per year.

“It’s not a big contract with the county,” Benton Jr., said. “What is does is give us tremendous credibility.”

The feedstock for the biodiesel will be leftover restaurant grease, which is why one of FL Biofuels’ owners… the owner of a Hooters franchise… is involved. Plus, the county is currently buying biodiesel from Malaysia, which clears rain forests to grow the palm oil for its biodiesel.

When it is opened, it will be Florida’s third biodiesel plant.

Biodiesel

No Serious Injuries in Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Fire

John Davis

brewsterfirePeople in the Southwest Minnesota town of Brewster are back in their homes after a spectacular weekend fire at a nearby biodiesel forced their evacuation.

This story from KSFY-TV in nearby Sioux Falls, SD has more details about the Minnesota Soybean Processors Plant fire (and some pretty cool video if you click on the picture to the left):

The fire was so big that the Nobles County sheriff’s officials went to each and every house asking people to leave, including one mother KSFY Action News caught up with.

“When we woke up this morning it was really really a good feeling to know that everything was safe and we could go back home again,” said Bibi Spartz of Brewster.

She and her daughter Breanna were rattled by the explosion. Breanna was babysitting at the time and could hear the explosions and see the fire from a mile away.

“Actually I was pretty petrified, like I didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Breanna. “I didn’t know where we were going to go, so it was really intense.”

Deputy State Fire Marshall Investigator Steve Kellen hasn’t ruled what caused the fire and says the determination of the cause will continue throughout the week but the loss for the plant is substantial.

No serious injuries were reported from the fire.

Biodiesel

Warm Spring Puts Oregon Biodiesel Plant Back On Line

John Davis

sequentialpacificThe SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel plant… the largest biodiesel plant in Oregon… is opening back up for business a month after it had laid off some of its workforce.

This story in the Salem (OR) Statesman Journal says warmer weather is helping move more biodiesel in the state:

SeQuential Pacific Biodiesel in Salem was built to produce 5.8 million gallons of biodiesel per year.

Running at full capacity proved to be impossible after the company couldn’t sell enough biodiesel to continue running its plant. It had to store 250,000 gallons for weeks in early spring until it could find new customers and increase sales to existing customers.

But now, its customers are buying fuel blends that have a higher biodiesel content — blends that sometimes gel in cold weather. The city of Portland’s water bureau fleet, for example, moved from a 20 percent biodiesel blend to a 99 percent biodiesel blend April 15.

“That helped dig our inventory down,” said plant manager Tyson Keever, enough so that last week six people laid off at the end of March were hired back.

The article goes on to say that the closure of the Imperium Renewables biodiesel plant, in nearby Hoquiam, Washington has helped eliminate some of SeQuential’s competition. The Salem refinery will be running at about half capacity.

Biodiesel

ASA: New EPA Rules Undermine Biodiesel Industry

John Davis

uscapitolMembers of the American Soybean Association (ASA) were back on Capitol Hill… this time testifying before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare and Trade that the new proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules are undermining investor confidence in the biodiesel industry.

Biodiesel Magazine reports that the ASA complained the EPA rules, which excludes soy-based biodiesel from the fuels counted under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), will hurt small biofuels producers and family farmers:

At the top of ASA’s list of regulatory policy concerns is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for implementation of the expanded RFS2. This Proposed Rule, released on May 5, includes several very obvious and immediate flaws and concerns.

asa_logo11“The proposed rule as released contains unprecedented, untested and far-reaching indirect land use assumptions and projections which will adversely impact markets for U.S. farmers and impede our national efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil and thus impede efforts to improve our environmental footprint,” said ASA Vice President Ray Gaesser, a soybean producer from Corning, Iowa. “We are concerned that EPA has attributed an undue degree of land use causation to U.S. biofuels production and that EPA’s assumptions do not adequately consider the other market factors (population growth, food and feed demand, timber prices, etc.) that have historically driven international land use decisions.”

“We are also very concerned with the potential under the EPA Proposed Rule to require renewable fuel manufactures to prove that their feedstocks meet the definition of renewable biomass,” Gaesser said. “The Energy Independence and Security Act included a prescriptive definition of renewable biomass and the EPA Proposed Rule would limit eligibility to biofuels produced only from feedstocks grown on existing cropland. This requirement could result in the need to provide feedstock certification. Such feedstock certification would be onerous and unworkable.”

You can read all of ASA’s testimony here.

Biodiesel