Book Review: Hope for a Heated Planet

Joanna Schroeder

0422auAs we approach the 39th celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd I’m integrating a few environmental books into the repertoire. Too many people criticize the “crazy tree huggers” as doing more harm than good, but “Hope for a Heated Planet” author Robert Musil offers a different take to approaching the environmental challenges our world faces, one that in my opinion was too long in being recognized.

hope-for-a-heated-planet5“…if Americans and a new, broader environmental and climate movement are to be successful, we will need to find more successful ways to think and talk about—or frame—global climate change and its serious impacts already becoming visible around the country.” One way to reframe this conversation, says Musil, is show people that the environment is not just around us but inside us. “It is us.”

Musil is a strong proponent of the development of alternative energy but he cautions us not to rely on the government to make this happen. “Now that we have entered a new, audacious era of hope with President Barack Obama, I should warn you and give away my ending. President Obama alone will not save us from the destruction of the planet, nor will the new 111th Congress.”  Read More

book reviews

Valero Finalizes Ethanol Plant Deal

Cindy Zimmerman

The largest petroleum refiner in North America is now officially in the ethanol business.

ValeroThe sale of five ethanol plants and a development site from bankrupt VeraSun to Valero Renewable Fuels officially closed at 12:01 a.m. CDT today. The facilities are located in Aurora, S.D.; Fort Dodge, Charles City, and Hartley, Iowa; and Welcome, Minn., and the development site is in Reynolds, Ind.

Valero Renewable Fuels is a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, North America’s largest petroleum refiner and marketer based in San Antonio, Texas. Valero purchased the ethanol production facilities in Aurora, Fort Dodge, Charles City, Hartley and Welcome, in addition to the Reynolds site, for $350 million.

Valero also successfully bid $72 million for a facility in Albert City, Iowa facility and $55 million for one in Albion, Nebraska, which are expected to close in the coming weeks. VeraSun also expects to close on the sale of its remaining facilities in the next several weeks.

Ethanol

Ethanol and Earth Groups Write EPA

Cindy Zimmerman

NRDCThe Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are calling on the Obama administration to “follow a transparent, science based process in determining the rules for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), including the key issue of greenhouse gas emissions.”

RFA“We must ensure biofuels are done right,” said Franz Matzner, acting legislative director for NRDC. “A key step is for EPA to accurately determine the global warming emissions associated with biofuels by using the best science and economic data available.”

Signing a joint letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Peter Orzag, the groups underscored the need to move quickly to get the rule for RFS on the street. Also emphasized was the need to provide the full spectrum of data, assumptions, and methodologies used to design the program, which mandates 36 billion gallons of biofuel production by 2022.

“Proven science must be the driver behind any effort to calculate the global warming emissions of any fuel, including petroleum and biofuels,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “It is vital that EPA provide full transparency into its process and allow for informed comments on their approach. We urge EPA to issue its proposed rule post haste and begin the process of public commentary.”

Environment, Government, RFA

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Wind & Solar Set Records in 2008

John Davis

ronpernick1Alternative energy, including biodiesel, ethanol, wind and solar power, set a record in 2008.

This column posted on RenewableEnergyWorld.com from Ron Pernick, the co-founder and managing director of clean-tech research and publishing firm Clean Edge, Inc., which is publishing the newly-released Clean Energy Trends 2009 report, points out that the three major clean-energy sectors grew more than 50 percent from $75.8 billion in 2007 to $115.9 billion in revenues in 2008:

The report shows that this significant increase in revenue was due to continued growth in solar PV, wind and biofuels deployment globally. For example, solar PV expanded from 2.8 gigawatts (GW) installed in 2007 to 4.2 GW in 2008. Over the same time frame, biofuels increased from 15 billion gallons to nearly 20 billion gallons, with Brazil using more gallons of ethanol than petrol-based gasoline for the first time. Wind power expanded from 20 GW installed in 2007 to 27 GW in 2008, with the U.S. becoming the largest generator of wind energy in the world after bringing on nearly a third of last year’s global total (8 GW).

We don’t expect to see a repeat performance of such installation or revenue growth in 2009. We project that clean-energy revenues will remain level or decrease slightly, until several key factors begin to turn around. The initial public offering (IPO) market must regain steam — last year saw only 43 total IPOs in the U.S. that raised at least $50 million, compared with 272 one year earlier. As in most other sectors, the credit crisis needs to ease for money to start flowing again for project deployment and new manufacturing facilities. And stimulus-related monies and policies must start to have a direct impact on the market.

Pernick admits that 2009 will be a tough year to get through, but renewable energy continues to have great success. While he doesn’t expect the same growth this year (although he points out what other industry has global growth of more than 30 percent over the past decade), he says the $70 billion in direct spending and tax credits for clean-energy and transportation programs in the U.S. stimulus bill will help a lot.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News, Solar, Wind

Uranium Miner Unveils Algae Biodiesel Plan

John Davis

russellindustriesNevada-based Russell Industries, primarily known for its lucrative uranium mining operations, is looking at expanding into the biodiesel business.

This company press release says it’s moving into algae biodiesel development because of the massive amount of federal money to be poured in to green energy:

At this time the Company is focused on renewable energy, specifically, its Houston Algae Farm Project which will produce Algae oil and Bio mass to be sold as feed stock to bio diesel refineries and to the bio-gasoline, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, bio-plastics and organic industries, respectively. Specifically, in 2009, RIND plans to develop a full scale operational model that will be the first of its type to be located in Houston, Texas. The model will utilize closed photo bio reactors to grow Algae oil and Bio mass for commercial purposes.

“$60 billion has been allocated for alternative energy in the current stimulus bill. Washington has a clear mission to reduce dependence on foreign oil and develop alternative energies. RIND’s timing to market is ideal. Annually the demand in the U.S. for diesel fuel is 80 billion gallons, yet total production of biodiesel is around 450 million gallons, leaving the market for biodiesel virtually underserved,” said Rick Berman, President and CEO.

You can check out more about the company’s plans at www.russind.com.

Biodiesel, Indy Racing

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