NEC 2027

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

Bill Elliot to Attempt NASCAR Record with E85

e85_mustangTomorrow, Brent Hajek Motorsports will put Bill Elliott behind the wheel of an E85 powered Mustang FR500C Cobra Jet at Talladega Superspeedway in an attempt to break the NASCAR speed record. the current NASCAR top speed record sits at 212.089 mph and was set by Elliott in 1987 at the same track by a Ford Thunderbird.

The Mustang Cobra Jet that will be used to defeat the 22 year old record has already reached 252 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah under direction of Brent Hajek Motorsports.

bill_elliottRacing legend Bill Elliott has built one of the most distinguished records in NASCAR Cup history. Since 1976, Elliott has participated in close to 750 races, achieved 44 wins, collected 55 career poles and amassed winnings of some $73 million. With all of his incredible success, he still remains humble, stating, “We are all motivated by certain things. Of course, winning is one of them, but for me, the fans have always been the biggest motivational factor. I’ve said this over and over-our fans are the backbone of this sport and they are the reason we are able to do what we do.”

E85

Corn Ethanol Done Right

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn growers and ethanol producers have joined forces for a new ad campaign stressing how corn-based ethanol gets biofuels right. The campaign includes a full-page ad running in Politico, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

The print ad stresses important facts about corn and ethanol, such as the increase in yields over the last 20 years, the decrease in the amount of energy used to produce corn and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions, and that using ethanol helps cut GHG by up to 59 percent.

Collaborating with the National Corn Growers Association on the advertisement are Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, and the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

See the ad here.

ACE, BIO, corn, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA

Soybean Growers Fight Back on EPA Rules

John Davis

asa_logo1As I posted before, the debate over the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rules for the expanded Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS-2) continues to rankle the folks who grow the biggest feedstock for biodiesel: soybeans.

The crux of the problem is that the under the new rules, biodiesel made from soybeans has been deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by only 22 percent… while it must reduce those emissions by 50 percent if it wants to count toward the RFS 1-billion-gallon goal by 2012. And soybean biodiesel makers are worried their green fuel will be left out in the cold… a bitter pill for many of tm to swallow considering how they’ve been in on the ground floor of greenhouse gas reduction for some time.

According to Southeast Farm Press, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has made their displeasure known in comments to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research:

ASA sees numerous potential flaws in the approach EPA is using for indirect land use changes in its proposed rule. Further, there are numerous factors that ASA believes refute the possibility that significant international indirect land use change would result from the relatively small increase in U.S. biodiesel production called for under the RFS-2.

“The approach EPA has used in its proposed rule on RFS-2 implementation is significantly flawed and would do unnecessary and irreversible harm to the competitive position of the U.S. soy biodiesel industry,” said ASA President Johnny Dodson, a soybean producer from Halls, Tenn. “EPA’s projections of indirect international land use changes resulting from a quite small increase in biodiesel production are built on faulty assumptions, flawed analysis and misplaced penalties.”

ASA included a detailed list of the flaws in EPA’s assumptions in its comments to the Subcommittee. These comments are available here.

When calculating the life cycle GHG impact of biofuels, the statute directs EPA to consider direct and indirect emissions, including indirect land use, of all stages of the fuel and feedstock production. The primary area of concern and disagreement has emerged over the international indirect land use assumptions that EPA has proposed to use in conducting their updated life cycle GHG analysis.

The article goes on to point out how land use change has been going on long before biodiesel was even as part of the picture. And it says the way the EPA is extrapolating land use change for the future based on 2001-2004 cropland conversions is “illogical.”

Biodiesel, Government

Verenium Reports First Quarter Financials

Joanna Schroeder

Commission of Verenium's first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facility in Jennings, LA

Commission of Verenium's first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facility in Jennings, LA

Verenium Corporation today announced its first quarter earnings for 2009 reporting total revenues for the quarter ending March 31, 2009 at $14.4 million. Earnings are slightly down from first quarter 2008 when the Company reported $15.2 million in total revenues. 

According to a company news release, President and Chief Executive Officer, Carlos A. Riva, commented on the company’s financials by saying, “We had a strong start to 2009, beginning with the announcement of our 50/50 joint venture with BP for developing commercial cellulosic ethanol facilities. This critical partnership firmly positions us, along with BP, to be a first mover in the field of next-generation ethanol. As we look toward commercial operations, we continue to be very encouraged by the political climate and support for alternative energy and, specifically, biofuels.

Verenium has had several big announcements in the past few months including the consolidation of the company’s R&D headquarters to Jennings, LA; announced the second phase of the BP partnership to develop cellulosic ethanol from non-food feedstocks, and announced Highlands County, Florida as the location for their first commercial cellulosic ethanol facility. In addition, launched a new enzyme for the food and beverage industry called Veretase.  Visit www.verenium.com for more information about the Company’s financial report.

Cellulosic, Company Announcement