Biodiesel Not to Blame for MN Bus Problems

John Davis

Officials in Minnesota say that biodiesel is not to blame for stalling school buses in the bitter, bitter cold of Minneapolis. After temperatures… without the wind chill… dropped to -20 to -30 degrees F, the Bloomington School District had to cancel classes, in part, because a dozen buses wouldn’t start.

frozenbiodieselThe bus company was quick to blame biodiesel, required by the state to be run in the buses. But this story from Minneapolis TV station KSTP says the cold is the real culprit:

State officials say all diesel fuel gels up in cold temperatures.

Bill Walsh with the Minnesota Department of Commerce said, “It really has nothing to do with the biodiesel. It’s a diesel fuel issue in the winter and cold weather.”

Officials add condensation getting into storage tanks or a bad blend of biodiesel could have also contributed to the problems.

Biodiesel

Obama Makes Case for Wind & Other Renewables

John Davis

obama31An Ohio wind-turbine parts factory was the backdrop today as President-elect Barack Obama made his case to include renewable energy in his economic-stimulus package.

The Wall Street Journal reports Obama made his push at the Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co. in a Cleveland suburb:

Mr. Obama has pledged to double over three years the amount of U.S. wind, solar and geothermal generating capacity, which is currently around 25,000 megawatts. In a down payment on that effort, House Democrats unveiled an economic-stimulus package Thursday that calls for $20 billion of tax cuts for renewable-energy production and an additional $54 billion of spending to modernize the country’s aging electricity grid, and to make homes, vehicles and buildings more energy efficient. For wind power, the bill would extend by three years a production tax credit currently set to expire at the end of 2009.

On Friday, Mr. Obama tried to connect spending on energy with American jobs, noting that his hosts, Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co., hired two people this week. Mr. Obama said passage of the stimulus plan is critical to helping companies that don’t have access to financing because of frozen credit markets. He said that half the wind projects planned for the U.S. this year could be abandoned without federal aid, and that other countries, including Spain, Germany and Japan, are investing in renewable energy and “surging ahead of us.”

“A renewable-energy economy isn’t something pie-in-the-sky, it’s not part of a far-off future,” Mr. Obama said. “It’s happening all across America right now. It’s providing alternatives to foreign oil now. It can create millions of additional jobs and entire new industries if we act right now.”

A recent survey shows that Americans strongly support the stimulus plan. While some skeptics point out that there’s not enough manufacturing capacity to build all the wind turbines needed for Obama’s goal, it seems to me that a boost from the government would change that… and the goal would be met.

Government, Solar, Wind

USDA Provides Loan for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

In one of his last official acts as Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer announced today that USDA Rural Development has approved the first ever loan guarantee to a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant.

Range FuelsUnder the Biorefinery Assistance Program authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, USDA will provide an $80 million loan to Range Fuels of Soperton, Georgia. When fully operational in 2010, the plant is expected to produce approximately 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year from wood and dedicated energy crops.

“The investment in this facility – which will make cellulosic ethanol from wood chips – has the potential to significantly advance the timetable for second generation ethanol production in this country,” Schafer said. “I visited the pilot plant last October and was excited to see how well the technology works. The funding announced today helps the Bush administration fulfill its commitment to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil by developing alternative, renewable energy sources.”

The Biorefinery Assistance Program promotes the development of new and emerging technologies for the production of advanced biofuels – defined as fuels that are not produced from food sources. The program provides loan guarantees to develop, construct and retrofit viable commercial-scale biorefineries producing advanced biofuels. The maximum loan guarantee is $250 million per project.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News

New Year Brings Requirement for Labeling New Cars

caepa_stickerAccording to the California Air Resource Board (CARB), a division of the California Environmental Protection Agency, beginning Jan. 1, every 2009 model year and newer car built for sale in California is be required to carry a label that clearly ranks the vehicle’s environmental impact (see example left).

The label will show the simple ranking system that provides consumers practical information that can help them choose the most environmentally friendly vehicle that still meets their transportation needs.

“This label will arm consumers with the information they need to choose a vehicle that saves gas, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps fight smog all at once,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “Consumer choice is an especially powerful tool in our fight against climate change.”

The environmental performance label will have two scores on a scale of 1-10, a Smog Score and a Global Warming Score. The average new car will score five on both scales. The higher the score the more environmentally friendly the car is . The California Air Resources Board also hosts a consumer web site, www.DriveClean.ca.gov, that provides information on the cleanest, most efficient cars on the market.

Car Makers, Energy, Environment, Government, News

Biodiesel Leads ASA’s Priorities to Obama

John Davis

asa_logo1Less than a week before the inauguration, the American Soybean Association (ASA) has given President-elect Barack Obama a list of its 2009 policy priorities… and biodiesel tops that list.

This press release from the soybean advocacy group has details:

“ASA looks forward to working closely with the Obama Administration to achieve these policy priorities, which not only make sense for soybean farmers, but also benefit our entire country through reduced dependence on foreign oil, job creation, increased U.S. exports and a modernized infrastructure system,” said ASA President Johnny Dodson, a soybean producer from Halls, Tenn.

Highlights of ASA’s priorities as submitted to the Obama Administration are as follows:

● Biodiesel: ASA’s top policy priority for 2009 is long-term enactment of the biodiesel tax credit before it expires on December 31, 2009. The biodiesel tax incentive and Bioenergy Program payments make U.S. biodiesel producers more competitive with petroleum-based diesel and with biodiesel imports, which benefit from foreign government subsidies. Biodiesel production reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil while creating jobs and demand for homegrown renewable soybean oil.

The group is also supporting regulations for biodiesel that pay on all gallons, not just incremental production, under the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels.

Biodiesel, Government

Iowa Firm Wins Biodiesel Marketing Award

John Davis

keckenergy2A Des Moines, Iowa-based distributor of biodiesel has won that state’s Secretary of Agriculture award for biodiesel marketing.

This press release from Secretary Bill Northey says Keck Energy is the biodiesel winner of 2009 of the Secretary’s Biodiesel and Ethanol Marketing Awards (see Michelle’s post for the ethanol winner):

Mark Meyer of Keck Energy of Des Moines is the 2009 Secretary’s Biodiesel Marketing Award winner for their efforts to expand the availability of biodiesel and promote it’s usage by their customers. Meyer is President of Keck Energy and has worked to promote biodiesel usage at both the wholesale and retail level.

In particular, Meyer and Keck Energy have been involved on the ground level in preparing for and responding to the issues facing biodiesel and other biofuels.

Iowa is the nation’s leader in biodiesel production with 14 refineries cranking out nearly 318 million gallons of biodiesel each year.

Biodiesel

PA Biodiesel Mandate Kicks In

John Davis

rendellPennsylvania has produced enough biodiesel so that each gallon of diesel sold in the state will have to have a mix of the green fuel.

According to this National Biodiesel Board press release, Gov. Ed Rendell made the announcement at the Pennsylvania Farm Show that the 2 percent biodiesel mandate will kick in a year from now.

“The major challenge we’ve always had is getting fuel out to the public,” said Ben Wootton, President of the Pennsylvania Biodiesel Producers Group (PABPG) and President of Keystone Biofuels, a biodiesel producer. “We repeatedly hear ‘Where can I buy the fuel?’ This legislation helps ensure that the oil companies’ terminals offer biodiesel product.”

The legislation, passed in July 2008, called for a blend of B2 (2 percent biodiesel, 98 percent diesel fuel) in each gallon of biodiesel sold in Pennsylvania. This was contingent upon the in-state production of biodiesel of 40 million gallons, which has now been met. Producers maintained a 3.3 million gallon per-month average for a 90 day period. The twelve month period from this January, until the effective date next January, is to allow infrastructure to be built up to prepare for the additional biodiesel sales.

“Pennsylvania is one of only a handful of states that has adopted biodiesel requirement legislation,” said Shelby Neal, National Biodiesel Board Director of State Governmental Affairs. “Pennsylvania is improving its environment, enhancing economic development during a challenging time, and helping the US break its dependence on foreign oil.”

Once the state hits 100 million gallons of biodiesel production, a 5 percent mandate kicks in and progressively ramps up to 20 percent at 400 million gallons.

Biodiesel, Government

Florida Funds Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida’s Farm to Fuel initiative is helping to fund the first commercial scale cellulosic ethanol facility in the state.

FL Farm to FuelVerenium Corporation has been awarded a $7 million grant as part of the initiative and will work with Florida agribusiness company Lykes Brothers to build the plant in Highlands county. Lykes will provide the necessary feedstock from approximately 20,000 acres adjacent to the site.

During a press conference in Tallahassee today, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said, “The message today is that Florida’s agricultural industry can produce fuel crops on a major commercial scale without sacrificing food crops. This is a major step forward for our ‘Farm to Fuel’ program and hopefully will serve as a catalyst for additional investment by companies interested in producing renewable energy in Florida.”

This $25 million program provides matching grants to bio-energy firms for demonstration, commercialization and research and development projects utilizing Florida-grown biomass or crops. Verenium was also awarded an additional incentive package from the State of Florida.

Verenium’s conversion process originated from the landmark technology developed by a team led by Dr. Lonnie Ingram at the University of Florida.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Ag Secretary Hearing Touches on Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

President-elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of Agriculture sailed through his Senate confirmation hearings this week and may be confirmed in time to take office on Inauguration Day.

VilsackAs expected, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack faced no opposition in the Senate and no controversial questioning.

With regard to biofuels in general and ethanol in particular, Vilsack stressed the importance of moving quickly into second generation cellulosic ethanol to address the issue of using food crops to make fuel. Vilsack said when it comes to ethanol, it is important to realize it’s “not just corn, and not just the Midwest can benefit.”

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) questioned Vilsack about the “blend wall” issue and the need to increase the level of ethanol approved for regular vehicles above ten percent. While Vilsack did not directly answer the question, he stressed that “USDA has a very, very important role to play in making sure we provide the research and the focus and direction to meet whatever the requirements are,” and said he has already spoken with the nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency about the biofuels issue and how they will work together on it.

Watch Thune’s questioning of Vilsack here on YouTube:

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News

Galva Holstein Ag Winner of Ethanol Marketing Award

galva-holstein-logoIowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently announced that Galva Holstein Ag of Galva, Iowa is one of the 2009 winners of the Secretary’s Ethanol Marketing Award. The award was created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to sell renewable fuels.

“Iowa is the leading producer of renewable fuels and it is retailers and distributors, like [Galva Holstein], [who] are a link between that industry and the customers who are using the product,” Northey said. “Galva Holstein Ag has made promoting renewable fuels an important part of their businesses and these awards are an opportunity to recognize them for their efforts.”

Delayne Johnson of Galva Holstein Ag in Galva is that 2009 Secretary’s Ethanol Marketing Award winner for their efforts to promote ethanol and expand the availability of higher ethanol blends. They have been long-term advocates of renewable fuels and this year were the first fuel retailers in Iowa to install an ethanol blender pump, which allows customers with FlexFuel vehicles to select from a number of different ethanol blends. Galva has one of only 9 blender pumps currently operating in the state.

Galva Holstein Ag has aggressively marketed E85 and as a result has seen very strong sales, even though their pumps are located in rural communities. Their promotional efforts have included newspaper articles and advertisements, radio talk shows, company newsletters, direct mail to owners of FlexFuel vehicles, signage and auto dealer/service technician training.

Johnson was nominated by Lucy Norton from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association

E85, Ethanol, News