ACE Conference 2026

One Earth Energy Ethanol Plant to Open in June

one_earth_energyAs so many ethanol plants have closed in recent months, invester-owned ethanol start-up One Earth Energy LLC is planning to begin production on June 11, 2009. The 100 million gallon plant is located near Gibson City, Illinois.

One Earth Energy, LLC officially organized as an Illinois based Limited Liability Company in November 2005. By acquiring ethanol mills on the cheap, big oil and other players could undercut firms such as One Earth Energy, which spent $166 million to build a plant for distilling corn into fuel.

“The challenge to compete with those new ownerships is they have a lower cost of production because they have less debt,” said Steve Kelly, president of One Earth Energy. Heavy debt loads and historically high corn prices have been lethal to independent ethanol firms.

According to the Los Angeles Times, before launching One Earth Energy, Steve Kelly worked down the road for the Alliance Grain Co. He estimates that the co-op stored about 3 million bushels of corn when he joined it in 1988. The figure reached almost 30 million bushels in 2005, so Alliance needed an outlet for its corn, and One Earth Energy was born.

“It always made sense to me to have the vertical integration, be part of that consumption chain after it leaves the farmer and the storage point,” said Kelly, noting that Alliance will supply One Earth Energy with corn.

Ethanol, Facilities

New City to Run on Plentiful Florida Sunshine

John Davis

The city of the future will rely on the absolutely oldest source of power in the solar system… the sun.
babcockranch

Plans for Babcock Ranch, a 19,500-home city powered entirely by zero-emission solar energy northeast of Fort Myers in Southwest Florida, were recently announced by developer Kitson & Partners as the world’s first city running only on the power of the sun. This Miami Herald story has details:

It will include the world’s largest photovoltaic power plant, which will be operated by Florida Power & Light. Buildings will be certified green and surrounded by thousands of acres of open space.

”We’re out to prove that it works economically,” developer Syd Kitson told The Miami Herald. “And it’s the right thing to do for the long-term solutions in this country.”

Though researchers are working to create storage capability for sunlight-generated power, solar electricity at present is available only during daytime hours.

Kitson’s concept is that FPL’s 75-megawatt solar generator will produce more power for the state’s electric grid while the sun shines than the city will use in 24 hours. That means Babcock Ranch will have to rely on conventional power sources for the evening, but its net effect will a solar-only city.

The solar panels will sit on 350 acres within the development. More than half of the city’s 17,000 acres will be permanently protected as greenways and open space, the developer said, and will adjoin the 73,000-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve that has been purchased by the state.

The city is expected to cost around $300 million to build, and Florida Power & Light says it will add just 31 cents to the average consumer’s bill to pay for it. Considering the city is expected to add 20,000 permanent jobs plus all of the thousands of temporary jobs during construction, it seems like a great investment to me. And besides, you can only use all that sunshine for just tanning for so long!

Solar

Iowa Spends Green to Grow Green Algae for Biofuel

John Davis

iowaenergyindepenceThe State of Iowa is making a major investment to grow algae for biofuel at a southwest Iowa ethanol plant.

Fox News has details:

The 18-member Iowa Power Fund Board approved the $2,085,000 grant this week to assist in the commercialization of algae production technology.

The effort is a joint venture of four companies based in Nebraska, Tennessee, Rhode Island and Ireland.

Kevin Lynch, the chief executive of BioProcessAlgae, says the grant will fund an algae production project at an ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa. The company will test its photobioreactor design there.

Officials expect that if the project is commercially viable, the money will be paid back. Now there’s a REAL stimulus package.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor Hits the Market

John Davis

phettA Longview, Texas-based maker of terminal tractors has introduced a hybrid electric version of the vehicle.

This press release from Capacity of Texas announces the PHETT… Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor:

“As a leader in the terminal tractor industry, we are pleased to offer our Pluggable Hybrid Electric Terminal Tractor. Developed and built in Longview, TX, through a grant from the Texas Environmental Research Consortium and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, this product will change perceptions and reduce operational expense of terminal tractors. The PHETT(TM) will also reduce emissions at all Ports, Intermodal Yards and Warehousing/Distribution Centers not only in North America, but throughout the world,” stated Phillip Ford, President of Capacity of Texas.

The PHETT is a charge sustaining series hybrid that utilizes a constant and efficient rate generator to supply power, reducing fuel consumption by 60% and audible db by 30%. With the lowest operational cost per hour, the PHETT also incorporates an AC traction motor and on-board grid-charging system. Integration and introduction of this technology into the flagship Capacity Trailer Jockey(R) line included review and redesign of front & rear axles, steering system, frame structure, suspension and isolation of components as well as adjustments for cab interior space requirements; all resulting in optimum performance and design for terminal tractor applications.

Capacity of Texas is the biggest American owned manufacturer of terminal tractors in North America.

Miscellaneous

Show Me Ethanol Raises Funds to Stay Alive

showme_ethanolAlthough the ethanol plant said it needed $10 million to stay in business just four months ago, Show Me Ethanol in Carrollton, Mo. has reached a loan agreement and will afloat after raising $5.9 million from shareholders.

The group that financed the construction of their 55 million gallon per year plant, FCS Financial, formed another agreement with the ethanol plant. Show Me owed its biggest shareholder, Ray-Carroll Grain Growers of Carrollton, $15.5 million on forward purchase contracts. Ray-Carroll agreed to cancel $2 million of that debt, accept a $1.5 million payment and convert the remaining $12 million into a promissory note. Show Me was able to count the $2 million in debt cancellation as part of the $5.9 million in new capital.

Show Me Ethanol posted a net loss of $18.98 million just two weeks ago, including a $14.1 million loss on forward contracts to purchase corn.

Miscellaneous

Univ. of GA Partners with Ceres on Switchgrass Study

ceresThe University of Georgia will soon be collaborating with Ceres, Inc. to study high yielding switchgrass techniquest. The crop can yield 6 to 10 dry tons in the Southeast, is considered an ideal product for biofuels.

switchgrass“This project allows us to expand our internal and collaborative plant breeding activities in a region where we believe the industry will have a strong presence,” said Ceres plant breeding director Jeff Gwyn, Ph.D. “There’s a lot of headroom for improvement and I’m confident that working together we can continue to drive up yields at a robust pace,” he said.

A press release from Ceres notes that plant breeders, agronomists, support scientists and the Noble Foundation will collaborate on this project to develop improved seed varieties.

In December, Ceres launched the first switchgrass and sorghum varieties developed for bioenergy, which are sold under the company’s Blade Energy Crops . Ceres has established the largest field-trial network for dedicated energy crops in the United States, including more than a dozen leading universities and institutions.

Cellulosic, Ethanol

Has Gasoline Consumption Peaked?

Joanna Schroeder

The oil loving Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published an article today about the “peak of gasoline”.  Many analysts are predicting that with the rise in biofuels production, fuel economy and gasoline prices (although they are holding steady around $2.00 per gallon on average) and the current depressed state of the economy, we’ve seen “peak” gasoline use, at least in the U.S.pumping-gas3

According to information released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), drivers pumped 371.2 million gallons of non-ethanol gas every day in 2007. EIA anticipates a 6.9 percent decrease in 2009 to 345.7 million gallons, citing reduced gasoline demand and increased use of ethanol blends. Although some sources report that gasoline use today is higher than last summer, the EIA predicts that future gasonline demand will never exceed 2007 levels.

In addition, WSJ reports that, “Demand for all petroleum-based transportation fuels — gasoline, diesel and jet fuel — fell 7.1% last year, according to the EIA. This is the steepest one-year decline since at least 1950, as far back as the federal government has reliable data.”

This is great news for ethanol producers, especially as there are an estimated 300 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol ready and waiting to enter the fuel market. The historical barriers to an increased market for ethanol have been lack of infrastructure for E85 and mid-level blends and the need to raise the ethanol blend wall. Last month the ethanol industry joined together to file an E15 waiver, which is currently under EPA review and there is talk about the possiblity of biofuels infrasture funding from the federal government.

In the meantime, it appears that Big Oil is taking the decrease in gasoline production to heart and is activiely pursuing entry into the biofuels market.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Miscellaneous, transportation

Verenium Introduces Veretase

Joanna Schroeder

Verenium Corporation today announced a new enzyme for the food and beverage industry called Veretase.  This enzyme was pic_global_header_logo4developed for the liquefaction of starch-based mashes and slurries specifically for use in food and beverage applications. The enzyme improves saccharification and fermentation efficiency and consistency.

“Verenium is pleased to introduce this unique enzyme specifically designed to improve the economics and efficiency in the sweetener and beverage alcohol production market,” said Janet Roemer, Verenium’s Executive Vice President, Specialty Enzymes Business. “Veretase will offer customers greater operational flexibility in the plant reducing processing costs considerably.”

The company also produces specialty enzymes for the cellulosic biofuels market and is currently engaged in a joint venture with BP to develop and bring to cellulosic ethanol to market.

Cellulosic, Company Announcement, Ethanol

Valero Invests in Biofuels Company Terrabon

Joanna Schroeder

valerorenewables_logoBP has been marketing itself as “Beyond Petroleum” for several years now but it appears that Valero is vying for the top spot in “green energy”. Valero has now invested in Terrabon, a company that is developing technology to produce “green” gasoline through the conversion of trash from landfills to energy. Terrabon’s main technology for biofuels is MixAlco, an advanced bio-refining technology that converts inexpensive, non-food biomass into a “biocrude” that is then converted into chemicals and fuels such as ethanol and gasoline.

Just last month, Valero  became the largest player in ethanol ownership with its purchase of seven VeraSun Energy plants. Last year the company invested in two cellulosic companies Solix, a Fort Collins, Colorado-based company that makes biofuels from algae, and this past January, invested in ZeaChem, a Lakewood, Colorado-based company also using biomass to produce cellulosic ethanol.

Speculation about the affects of Valero’s major entry into the biofuels market is rampant. InfoCast recently hosted a Webinar, “Who Will Benefit from the Biofuel Industry’s Current Distress?” that in part discussed the industry impact of Valero’s ownership of ethanol plants. But the question is much broader than Valero’s impact. The bigger question is which of the seven sisters (Big Oil) will be next to enter the biofuels marketplace? Shell is already invested in cellulosic ethanol and Marathon has owenership in several ethanol plants. I’m not placing my bet on ExxonMobil.

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol

Interior Secretary: Wind Could Replace Coal

John Davis

salazar2Wind turbines churning off the East Coast have the potential to replace nearly all of the coal-fired power plants. That bold pronouncement comes from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar during a recent public hearing in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

EnvironmentalLeader.com has details:

Salazar said at the public hearing that wind resources along the East Coast can generate 1 million megawatts (MW) of power, although he could not estimate how many windmills might be needed to generate this amount of power, according to the AP report. This is equivalent to 3,000 medium-sized coal-fired power plants, or nearly five times the number of coal plants now operating in the United States, according to the Energy Department.

Salazar is hosting four regional public meetings in April to discuss the future of offshore energy development. He also said in Atlantic City that offshore energy production might not be limited to wind power.

Salazar also told participants at a recent summit meeting of 25X’25 America’s Energy Future that U.S. offshore areas hold enormous potential for wind energy development in all coastal metropolitan centers, and the wind potential off the coasts of the lower 48 states could exceed electricity demand in the U.S.

According to the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), there’s already more than 1,000 gigawatts (GW) of potential wind power off the East Coast with a total of more than 2,000 megawatts of offshore wind projects currently proposed in this country.

Wind