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Biodiesel Producer Files for Bankruptcy

John Davis

novalogoA Texas-based biodiesel maker has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an attempt to reorganize and stay afloat.

This story from Reuters says Nova Biosource Fuels of Houston has hit some tough times in the alternative fuels biz, including last week’s posting of an $11 million first-quarter net loss:

The company has up to $50 million of both liabilities and assets, it said in a filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Nova Biosource, which produces diesel from animal-derived fats, greases and vegetable-based oils, lists five refineries on its website.

Those refineries include facilities in Iowa, Montana, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Illinois.

Now, it appears the company is trying to stay in business, and that’s good news for the business. Maybe if they can hold on through these lean times, they’ll emerge on the other side much stronger and built for the long term.

Biodiesel

Zoi Appointed to DOE as Assistant Sec. for EERE

zoiPresident Obama announced the nomination of Cathy Zoi as the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Ms. Zoi has a history of working in the energy sector including: being the founding CEO of the Alliance for Climate Protection; Chief of Staff in the White House Office on Environmental Policy; and manager at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency where she pioneered the Energy Star Program.

Zoi will face the task of helping President Obama deliver on a promise that was central to his campaign: ending American dependence on foreign oil by focusing on renewable energy sources that in the bargain can help create thousands of new, “green” jobs. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama vowed to increase the emphasis on renewable, clean energy. That is a goal the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has been pursuing for years, trying to wean the country from dependence on fossil fuels and find cleaner ways to satisfy its energy needs.

EERE leads the Federal government’s R&D efforts on energy efficiency and manages what it calls “the Department of Energy’s (DOE) diverse energy efficiency and renewable energy applied science portfolio. The mission is to develop and deploy renewable energy sources and conversion technologies, as well as identify efficiency best practices, regulations and technologies that collectively strengthens our economy, protects the environment and increases national security.”

Energy, Environment, global warming, Government, News

Engineering, Consulting Company NEAtech Launched

Joanna Schroeder

There is a contingency of people who are concerned about the future of the renewable energy industry, but new company, NEAtech is not. NEAtech was launched in tandem with the swearing in of President Obama, and is offering engineering and consulting services to companies developing new energy alternatives.

Mark Yancey

Mark Yancey

Brian Duff

Brian Duff

Rafael Nieves

Rafael Nieves

NEAtech is comprised of several former experts from BBI International’s Engineering and Consulting Group.  Mark Yancey, Brian Duff and Rafeal Neives are now assisting companies worldwide in assessing the feasibility of new technologies, and then helping these companies develop and bring to market the technologies with the most promise.

Additional services they provide for the renewable fuels industry include, process engineering for renewable energy technologies; evaluation and selection of renewable energy technologies; anaerobic digestion system design; construction and financing; feasibility studies and financial analysis; market analysis and surveys; and more. To learn more about NEAtech visit www.neatechllc.com.

Biodiesel, biomass, Ethanol

Advanced Biofuels Industry Calls for More Funding

Cindy Zimmerman

A major federal investment in the entire value chain of advanced biofuels and biobased products commercialization is needed to move advanced biofuels and emerging biobased materials to market, according to the executives of companies who are working to make that happen.

BioDuring a teleconference today hosted by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), representatives from cellulosic ethanol and other advanced biofuels companies gave updates on progress being made toward commercializing advanced biofuels and some of the challenges still to be overcome.

BIO Executive Vice President Brent Erickson says they are recommending the implementation of specific policies to provide funding in a number iof areas, including feedstock development, enzymes and fermentation organisms, algal oil production, alternative fuel distribution networks and vehicles, and biorefinery construction.

“We need a new systems approach to advance biofuels throughout the whole value chain,” said Erickson. “We’re actually talking about creating a new energy infrastructure, which this country hasn’t done for over 100 years.”

They are requesting an immediate injection of capitol for biorefinery construction, feedstock development and fuel delivery infrastructure, which can be accomplished through existing programs within the Departments of Energy and Agriculture. They are also recommending an increase in the availability of E85 fuel pumps and flex fuel vehicles, as well as the certification of higher ethanol blends and the extension of the cellulosic producer tax credit.

BIO is holding its annual legislative fly-in this week and members of the organization will be meeting with administration officials and members of Congress over the next two days to communicate their ideas.

algae, BIO, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government

Ethanol Half The Price Of Gas In Brazil

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation Joel VelascoI think Joel Velasco, Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, had the quote of the day here at the Farm Foundation Transition To A Bio Economy Conference.

He said that carbon is the new agricultural commodity and that our incentive is to produce less of it and get paid for it. So, grow a crop, sell it and maybe earn some carbon credits? Who knows where all that will wind up.

Joel wanted people to know that biofuels can not only help mitigate climate change but build energy security. In Brazil they’ve managed to increase the use of ethanol from sugarcane to where they’ve displaced fifty percent of their liquid gasoline. They don’t have gas stations anymore he says, they have “fuel” stations. He says price is the key to the development and use of ethanol and today ethanol is half the price of gas in Brazil.

You can listen to my interview with Joel here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/ff-global-09-velasco.mp3]

You can download the interview with this link (mp3).

You can find photos from the conference here:
Transition To A Bio Economy Conference: Global & Trade Issues Photo Album

Audio, Energy, Ethanol, Farm Foundation, International

Biofuels Policies Do Affect Trade But . . .

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation Seth MeyerSeth Meyer is with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). He’s also a speaker here at the Farm Foundation’s Transition To A Bio Economy Conference.

He talked to us about how biofuels policies are affecting commodity prices and trade but he says there are a lot of other factors affecting export volume. For example, he says that even though we’ve been using more corn to make ethanol we’ve still been able to increase the amount of corn we’re exporting at the same time. However, whether we have biofuels policies or not other factors will come into play like weather, the price of oil and foreign demand.

You can listen to my interview with Seth here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/ff-global-09-meyer.mp3]

You can download the interview with this link (mp3).

You can find photos from the conference here:
Transition To A Bio Economy Conference: Global & Trade Issues Photo Album

Audio, Energy, Farm Foundation, Legislation

Transition To A Bio Economy Conference Continues

Chuck Zimmerman

We’re back in session at the Farm Foundation’s Transition To A Bio Economy Conference: Global Trade & Policy Issues. I’ll be posting live throughout the morning. Feel free to join in.

Farm Foundation

Description Of EU Renewable Energy Mandate

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation Laurent JavaudinSpeaking on behalf of the European Commission To The United States here at the Transition To A Bio Economy Conference was Laurent Javaudin.

His comments focused on the impact of EU mandates for renewable energy. To start with, in the EU they don’t have a mandate of a certain number of gallons of biofuels. Instead they are looking at requiring alternative energy sources like biofuels be a percentage of the fuel consumed and achieve it by 2020. He says that they don’t consider just biofuels but also other alternative sources of energy. The biofuels that are considered must be produced in a sustainable way. They also expect these fuels to obtain at least a 35 percent decrease in green house gas emissions.

He says that the mandate across the EU is still a work in progress and they hope to have it agreed to by the second quarter of 2010.

You can listen to my interview with Laurent here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/ff-global-09-javaudin.mp3]

You can download the interview with this link (mp3).

You can find photos from the conference here:
Transition To A Bio Economy Conference: Global & Trade Issues Photo Album

Audio, Energy, Farm Foundation, International

Ethanol Reducing OPEC’s Price Grip

Chuck Zimmerman

Farm Foundation David ZilbermanWe know that OPEC has had a monopoly control over the price of oil on the world market and we hope that the increase of more environmentally friendly biofuels will force that to change. However, David Zilberman, University of California, Berkeley, has created a model to measure how much impact we’re having.

I spoke to David here at the Farm Foundation’s Transition To A Bio Economy Conference. He wanted to show how ethanol in particular fits into the whole OPEC price situation. His model shows that by increasing the supply of fuel with ethanol you reduce OPEC’s ability to make money. He says that our ethanol production has raised the price of fuel in OPEC’s own countries while lowering it for everyone else around the world.

He says the promise of ethanol isn’t just it’s value to our environment but the ability to lessen OPEC’s grip on fuel prices.

You can listen to my interview with David here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/farm-foundation/ff-global-09-zilberman.mp3]

You can download the interview with this link (mp3).

You can find photos from the conference here:
Transition To A Bio Economy Conference: Global & Trade Issues Photo Album

Audio, corn, Energy, Ethanol, Farm Foundation

Biodiesel Hybrid to Get 100 MPG

John Davis

lh4A Colorado company is getting ready to debut a biodiesel hybrid officials claim will get 100 miles per gallon… if they can get it finished for an upcoming auto show.

KMGH-TV in Denver reports Lightning Hybrids of Loveland is unveiling a vehicle this Wednesday at the Denver auto show… although company Chief Executive Officer Dan Johnson admits they need to finish the prototype, including getting in painted in time:

“We are jazzed, we are really jazzed,” said Johnson.

The company is unveiling the LH4, a biodiesel, hydraulic hybrid.

“It’s a sports sedan, very practical, four-seater, and has some storage,” said Johnson.

The company is also building the LH3, a three-wheeled version that also has four seats.

The hybrid drivetrain uses two different power sources, biodiesel fuel and hydraulics, which helps with the acceleration.

Lightning Hybrids also hopes to get some money from the city of Loveland… a $100,000 cash incentive, $50,000 for a performance agreement and $50,000 after the company hires 25 employees… to get the operation going. They hope to have the cars on the market by the spring of 2011. Better get your financial incentives in order by then if you want to purchase one. Cost is expected to be between $50,000 and $60,000.

Biodiesel