ACE Conference 2026

Renewable Energy in First 100 Days Progress Report

Cindy Zimmerman

Secretary of Agriculture Tom VilsackU.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack counted progress toward energy independence among the Obama administration’s first 100 days accomplishments.

During a meeting in Washington DC with agricultural journalists this week, Vilsack said implementing the 2008 Farm Bill was his number one priority when he took the office of secretary. “The president gave me an instruction when he hired me to continue to promote renewable energy and biofuels, and for that reason we’ve been very focused on making sure that the energy title of the Farm Bill was accelerated in terms of rule making and in terms of making resources available to farmers and rural communities across the country,” said Vilsack.

Together with the Department of Energy, Vilsack said USDA has made $25 million available for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value biobased products.

Energy, Ethanol, Government, USDA

Farm Bureau Supports Increasing Ethanol Blend Level

Cindy Zimmerman

afbfThe American Farm Bureau Federation believes the federal government should increase the ethanol blend level up to 15 percent to help protect the environment, create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil.

In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Lisa Jackson, AFBF president Bob Stallman said increasing the ethanol blend level up to 15 percent from the current level of 10 percent is critical to the sustained health and expansion of corn and cellulosic ethanol production in the United States. AFBF sent the letter to Jackson in response to a request for public comments by EPA on a proposed waiver of the Clean Air Act to raise the ethanol blend level.

“Increasing our use of domestically produced biofuels is key to helping improve our nation’s energy security,” said Stallman. “If recent events have taught us anything it is that our nation should develop energy resources right here at home. Increasing the blend ethanol level shows our nation’s commitment to renewable fuels as we work to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

AFBF is the nation’s largest general farm organization, representing the interests of farmers and ranchers in all parts of the country.

Ethanol, Farming, Government

Record Crowd at Biomass Expo

Cindy Zimmerman

biomass expoThe 2009 International BIOMASS Conference & Expo this week in Portland, Oregon boasted a record crowd of more than 1,000 attendees representing 25 nations, according to organizer BBI International.

“Biomass will change the world’s energy future,” said Mike Bryan, CEO of BBI International, who gave the opening remarks. “[Biomass-derived power] will do this in a way that does not create global conflict … as an ambassador for peace.”

The importance of biomass as a solution to ever-increasing energy demands was emphasized by each opening speaker. America’s dependence on foreign energy sources was a particular concern highlighted by all.

“Oil is the single-largest cause of inflation,” said Michael Grainey, the Oregon Director of Energy, who welcomed the crowd to Oregon and the conference. “We spend nearly a billion dollars a year on energy in the state of Oregon. But that bill would be nearly a billion dollars higher without the steps we have taken to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy.”

The conference runs through Thursday April 30.

biomass, conferences

Several POET Plants Earn Safety Award

Joanna Schroeder

logo2The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF)has recognized eight POET plants with the Annual Product Stewardship Award  for their records of safe transport. BNSF presents the award to shippers who transport a minimum of 500 loaded tank cars of hazardous materials during the previous year with zero non-accident incidents. Earlier this year, several plants received a safety award from Union Pacific.

“We are proud that our partnership with BNSF has helped keep transport of ethanol safe and efficient,” said, POET CEO Jeff 7042_poet_logo4Broin. “These POET plants work hard to ensure that safety remains a top priority.”

POET Biorefining plants in South Dakota recognized in the award are Chancellor, Mitchell, Big Stone City, Groton, Scotland, and Hudson. POET plants in Iowa are Coon Rapids and Corning.

Company Announcement, Ethanol, transportation

Truckers: More Study Before MN Biodiesel Mandate

John Davis

Friday will mark a historic day as Minnesota becomes the first state in the nation to require all diesel sold in the state to have a 5 percent biodiesel blend.

A biodiesel mandate is nothing new for the land of 10,000 lakes. The state has had a 2 percent requirement since 2005. And in 2012 the mandate jumps to 10 percent and 20 percent in 2015. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that although they’ve softened their stance against the green fuel after seeing firsthand that it can work, some groups are still concerned about biodiesel:

John Hausladen, president of Minnesota Trucking Association and a member of the state task force [appointed to study any possible issues with the increasing mandates], said he’s not too worried about the 5 percent increase, but he is worried about the fuel price fluctuations and future increases in biodiesel concentration.

And even though the mandates will be eased during the coldest winter months, Hausladen said he still thinks there needs to be more performance testing on biodiesel.

“It’s one thing to test in a lab, but it’s another thing to test biodiesel in a truck on the road in below-freezing temperatures,” he said.

Before the 2005 mandate, the Minnesota Trucking Association was one of the biggest opponents of biodiesel, arguing that the fuel was unproven and would cause serious problems. But since then, the group’s position has softened.

“We’re not against biodiesel, we just want to make sure it’s used properly,” Hausladen said.

Other members of the task force believe any kinks in Minnesota’s biodiesel mandate will be worked out and serve as a good example to the rest of the nation.

Biodiesel

Buffalo Biodiesel Expands Capacity

John Davis

buffalobiodieselA biodiesel maker in Upstate New York has expanded its capacity to turn waste vegetable oil into the green fuel by five-fold.

This story in Biodiesel Magazine says Buffalo Biodiesel Inc. can now crank out 5 million gallons each year:

According to Sumit Majumdar, president of Buffalo Biodiesel, the expansion project took approximately two months to complete. Buffalo Biodiesel, which collects and renders yellow grease from restaurants within the New York and Pennsylvania areas, has the capability to produce 5 MMgy of biodiesel at its facility in Tonawanda; however, the plant is currently producing approximately half the volume of its maximum rate due to lack of demand for the biofuel along with competing demand for bio heating oil use in the Northeast, according to Majumdar.

“There really is no demand [for biodiesel] at a price higher than heating oil,” he said. “Right now we need to push more volume [of biodiesel]. Until the fuel prices go up, every biodiesel producer will continue to sit on the sidelines for now.”

Mujumdar said that the expansion of Buffalo Biodiesel’s feedstock processing segment will allow the company to enter into contract negotiations with current biodiesel producers who are interested in buying its rendered yellow grease as feedstock for biodiesel production. At press time, Mujumdar didn’t disclose potentially interested parties for its feedstock.

The article goes on to point out that the feedstock sold to producers can help those producers turn it into a profit.

Biodiesel

Galva Holstein Adds Third E85 Station in Iowa

galva-holstein-logoGalva Holstein Ag will celebrate the opening of their Renewable Energy Center located at 211 North Main Street in Holstein, Iowa with a tailgate party on May 5. The E85 and biodiesel fuels will be discounted 11 am to 2 pm that Tuesday.

According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Galva Holstein’s Renewable Energy Center is one of the first stations to take advantage of the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Soybean Association. Through the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program, Iowa Corn and IRFA will partner with retailers for grand openings for E85 and ethanol blender dispensers and Iowa Soybean and IRFA will partner with retailers for grand openings for biodiesel dispensers.

Galva Holstein Ag started offering E85 in 2005. This is their third E85 fueling location. They look to add E85 stations in Storm Lake and Odebolt in the future.

“Galva Holstein Ag is a renewable energy leader for Northwest Iowa,” said Lucy Norton, IRFA Managing Director. “Through a commitment to biofuels promotion and consumer education, this small town business has built a loyal consumer following, driving sales that rival its big city competitors.”

Biodiesel, E85, News

Indiana Governor Signs E85 Bill

S115-03A.JPGIndiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed House Enrolled Act 1193 that will help campuses and school grounds in the state install E85 stations.

“Grants to invest in E85 pumps and fuel tanks are currently available to retailers and local governments,” said the sponsor of the bill, State Sen. Ron Alting. “This legislation would extend those grant opportunities to school corporations and universities so they can install E85 fuel tanks on campuses.” He also noted that the bill could also save schools money by giving them access to state tax breaks and incentives currently offered for those who produce and/or use biofuels.

Currently, petroleum marketers such as Crystal Flash Petroleum in Marion County and Family Express Corp. in LaPorte County have taken advantage of some of the $135,000 in grants to add E85 in the past year. Alting said that these funds were made available at no cost to taxpayers but from corn check-off funds.

“There is a growing opportunity for our state to be one of the nation’s leaders in promoting the use of renewable fuels,” Alting said. “Hoosiers are some of the country’s largest producers of corn and soybeans – products used to create biofuels.”

E85, Government, News

Ethanol Nameplate to Run at 67% Through 2010

Joanna Schroeder

18bioindex_pages_200The ethanol industry received some negative news today compliments of the newly released Soyatech Biofuels Monitor, a publication from HighQuest Partners. The study projects that for First Quarter 2009 the U.S. ethanol industry will operate at 67 percent of nameplate capacity through 2010. The study authors, in part, based their predications on data from the USDA Planting Intentions report that was released on March 29, 2009 that estimates the corn crop in 2010 will remain stagnet around 12.15 billion bushels or approximately 85 million acres of corn.

According to an article from Biofuels Journal, “At that level, given current corn demand estimates for food, feed and exports, there would be only 3.4 billion bushels of corn available from the 2009 corn crop for the 2010 production of ethanol, or enough to produce approximately 9.6 billion gallons.”

Hunt Stookey, co-author of the study and managing director of HighQuest Partners was quoted in the article as saying, “This is against forecast industry nameplate capacity of 14.4 billion gallons by the beginning of 2010 and an RFS mandate of 12.0 billion gallons.”

Pundents have criticized the ethanol industry for taking a growing share of the corn market but according to Stookey, “The ethanol industry is benefiting from the current economic crisis which has reduced demand for livestock, dairy and poultry, thereby reducing competing demands for corn.” Typically, when there is a shortage of corn, the ethanol industry absorbs the loss.

When the industry will see a turn-around is unknown but the study predicts this should occur at some point during 2010.
Company Announcement, Ethanol, Production, Research

Vote in the Green Choice Awards 2009

Joanna Schroeder

Earth Day 2009 may have come and gone but organizations doing great things for the environment happens all year long. The eco-friendly-7762232organization “Great Nonprofits” wants you to vote for their Green Choice Awards which honors local nonprofit environmental organizations that are doing great things in your neighborhood, community or the world.

The environmental organization (entrees must be for nonprofit associations) that receives the most positive reviews will not only win a Green Choice Award but will also receive national media coverage. People who submit reviews are eligible to win prizes including an autographed copy of Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman, a getaway to Joi De Vivre hotels, gift certificates to Whole Foods, coupons for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and much more.

So rev up your computer and warm up your fingers and start pecking away. Entrees are due by April 29, 2009.

Environment, Miscellaneous