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Ag Secretary Answers Ethanol Questions

Cindy Zimmerman

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack got questions about ethanol during his first official press conference Monday.

VilsackVilsack says he favors improving efficiency in ethanol plants in order to ensure that the industry survives the economic downturn. “We need to make sure that the biofuels industry has the necessary support to survive the recent downturn,” Vilsack told reporters.

“The USDA should research, develop and promote best practices to improve efficiency at corn-based ethanol plants, which have been hit hard by volatile corn prices, followed by a sharp drop in demand for the biofuel, which is more expensive than gasoline,” Vilsack said.

The secretary was also asked if sound science and data supports an expansion of the ethanol blending cap. He didn’t really directly answer that but said that USDA would support accelerating research on ethanol production and promoting second and third generation feedstocks.

“Obviously, we have a serious challenge that has been put forward by Congress to meet the various mandates for renewable fuel within our system. In order to do that, we’re going to have to figure out ways to incorporate ethanol into the fuel system at even greater levels over the course of time.” Vilsack said. “And it’s also clear that within a very short number of years we are going to have to be relying on something other than solely corn-based ethanol, based on the mandates and directives. So all of that is to say, there needs to be lines of communication; there needs to be an effort to promote and extend ethanol use in a variety of ways; and there needs to be a recognition that there are challenges to the expansion of that use, and USDA needs to help meet those challenges.”

You can listen to the Secretary’s entire answer to that question here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/usda/vilsack-ethanol-cap.mp3]
Read a transcript of the secretary press conference here.

Ethanol, News, USDA

Movie Review – Who Killed the Electric Car?

Joanna Schroeder

who-killed-electric-car1“If there are enough David’s in the world, we can win.” S. David Freeman in “Who Killed the Electric Car?”

I’m switching gears this week and watched a documentary that still has momentum, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” If you have a real passion for alternative energy/technology/environment, then you must watch this movie.

The drama begins by telling us that the number one flaw of cars is smog – one of the top environmental problems in California. So in 1990, the state passed a zero emissions mandate, which in essence, said that some cars on the road should have zero emissions, and each year the number of zero emissions cars should grow. Enter the EV1 (electric vehicle) from GM.

Over the next few years, the EV1 was introduced in California followed by several other electric vehicles, while at the same time, GM along with other auto manufacturers sued California to repeal the law. Now why would a company invest billions of dollars into new technology and then try to sabotage its own success with lawsuits and a covert grassroots PR campaign? There are varying opinions on this but ultimately it worked, as by 2001 or so, every electric vehicle was repossessed and ultimately destroyed. The car companies placed the blame on lack of consumer demand, which was ironically, a “loop-hole” in the zero emissions mandate. In simplified terms, if there was no consumer demand then the law would be repealed. 

I don’t have the space to go into details of what transpired, but there were several conspiracies set forth as to who was the culprit of the killing of the electric car.Read More

book reviews

Biodiesel Conference Features Rock Stars, Race Cars & Sustainability

John Davis

nbb-conf-09Less than a week away from the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 1-4, in San Francisco!

Among the headliners for this year’s conference are music superstar Melissa Etheridge and movie star Daryl Hannah.

And journalists, if you haven’t signed up for the premier event in the ever-growing biodiesel field, try this pitch on your editors:
ridedrive
# Driving Green on Biodiesel – Sunday, Feb. 1
Take a spin around San Francisco in Solazyme’s Jeep Liberty diesel SUV powered by 100% Soladiesel™ biodiesel derived directly from algae.
nbbracer# Racecar Driver for a Day! – Sunday, Feb. 1
Here’s your chance to don a racing suit, take to the track, and appease your inner “need for speed!” NBB and Volkswagen Motorsports are teaming up to offer members of the media the opportunity to experience the thrills of a biodiesel-powered lap around the picturesque Infineon Raceway in nearby Sonoma, CA. Ride along with professional race car drivers from the SCCA Pro-Racing Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series in their official 2009 series race cars fueled with B5 biodiesel.

Tell ’em how you can give a first-person account of just how powerful a biodiesel-powered race car can be AND report on the smooth performance the green fuel gives to any vehicle on any street. Just make sure you sign up online by January 28th on the media registration Web site.

sustainablebiodieselsummitIn addition, starting this Saturday, Jan. 31st, the conference gets a jumpstart a day early as the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit meets for two days at the same location as the biodiesel conference… the Moscone Center in San Francisco:

As you have come to expect, the Sustainable Biodiesel Summit will provide:

*Experienced and Inspirational Speakers from across the Sustainability Community

*Rich & Practical Session Content for Producers, Distributors, and Consumers

*Case Studies on Sustainability within the Biodiesel Industry

*Exceptional Networking Opportunities

cindyzimmermanAnd our own Cindy Zimmerman will be there bringing you all the important events as they happen. If you can’t attend, be sure to check out all the activities as Cindy talks to the movers and shakers of the biodiesel world. Check it out on the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo blog.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Retailer to Add 150 Ethanol Outlets

dw_pumpCrescent Oil is advancing alternative fuel infrastructure through the recent purchase of Dresser Wayne Ovation® iX™ fuel dispensers and the Fusion™ Universal Site Controller. The fuel supplier plans to implement more than 600 new dispensers throughout its more than 150 retail locations across the Midwestern United States. As a result, the sites will be able to sell a wide range of ethanol fuel blends and streamline operations with improved payment security and remote management.

“The Fusion controller’s technology helps us make the most of our equipment,” Phil Near, President of Crescent Oil says. “It is an excellent tool for increasing efficiency and reducing costs.” Crescent Oil selected the Ovation iX fuel dispenser for its flexible hose configuration enables the company’s retail sites to dispense high blend ethanol fuels for flex fuel vehicles through one hose while dispensing lower ratio blends through another hose. It is the first dispenser to offer blended products on multiple hoses.

“This capability is a significant step toward increasing the distribution of eco-friendly fuels, particularly because many states are beginning to mandate dedicated hoses for high-ratio ethanol fuels,” Scott Negley, director of Dresser Wayne North American product management says.

blends, E85, Equipment, Ethanol

Ethanol Part of Clean Energy Economy

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol Report PodcastEthanol industry leaders are looking forward to working with the Obama administration on the creation of a “clean energy economy,” as outlined in the president’s “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.” This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Renewable Fuels Association chairman of the board Chris Standlee of Abengoa Bioenergy and RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen on priorities for the ethanol industry that are in line with the new administration’s goals for stimulating the economy.

You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/ethanol-report-26.mp3]

Or you can subscribe to this podcast by following this link.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol Report, RFA

President Promises Clean Energy Economy

Cindy Zimmerman

Energy is one of the top priorities of the new administration, as outlined by President Obama in his first weekly address to the nation.

Obama used the forum to explain how he believes his “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan” will jump-start the economy.

“This is not just a short-term program to boost employment,” he said. “It’s one that will invest in our most important priorities like energy and education; health care and a new infrastructure that are necessary to keep us strong and competitive in the 21st century.”

Starting with energy, Obama said, “To accelerate the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double our capacity to generate alternative sources of energy like wind, solar, and biofuels over the next three years.”

The traditional president’s weekly radio address is now being called “Your Weekly Address” and is posted on YouTube.

Watch the president’s address on YouTube here:

Energy, Government, News

Eastern Kentucky Looks at Cellulose Biodiesel

John Davis

ekugeneralatomicsEastern Kentucky University has teamed up with energy research and defense manufacturing firm General Atomics to look at the potential to develop cellulose-based biodiesel.

This story from the Business Lexington says the partnership will create the EKU Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT):

EKU President Doug Whitlock said the project is important to Kentucky’s farmers looking for cash crops to replace tobacco as well as making Kentucky a leader in an emergent technology.

“Alternative fuels are going to be a real focus of the Obama administration and for Kentucky, this is a chance to be on the front, cutting edge of a technology that holds a good deal of promise as a source of alternative energy,” he said. “It’s also exciting for Kentucky farmers. Tobacco is still around but it’s not the king of agriculture that it once was so this is an opportunity for life after tobacco.”…

There are a number of different sources the research will look at, according to Dr. Bruce Pratt, chair of EKU’s Department of Agriculture. Those could include corn fodder, wheat stubble, switch grass, and wood products such as wood chips, saw dust and bark. “We’ll take a number different sources of biomass that are high in cellulose and digest that cellulose with an enzyme that will release the sugars in them. We’ll take those sugars and use them as a heat source for algae and grow it in vats,” said Pratt. “The algae will be fed the sugars and other nutrients they need to grow and multiply.”

Pratt added that these specialized strains of algae have a very high content of oil, some much as 60 percent of their body mass. The algae is harvested and the oil is extracted and can then be converted in biodiesel.

Officials hope the project could produce as much as 50 million gallons of biodiesel annually.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Indy Racing

Teaching… Using Biodiesel Buses

John Davis

cleanairclubbusA Chicago school bus company owner, who was the first in the country to switch 90 percent of his 2,000 bus fleet to biodiesel, is using a modified version of the green-fueled kid-hauler to spread the gospel of biodiesel.

John Benish is the parent of four young children and the owner of the largest privately-held school bus company in the country – Cook-Illinois. He converted one of his buses into a traveling museum to teach kids about alternative fuels and created a website for kids to encourage them to get directly involved in protecting their environment. He says his motivation is to help reduce the rising incidence of asthma among school-age kids:

Exhaust is a major contributor, especially in urban environments. Biodiesel burns cleaner, thereby reducing air pollution kids breathe near school buses. As a parent, he understands his responsibility includes keeping the environment clean for future generations and encouraging his kids to do their part, too.

In addition to switching the buses to biodiesel, and to further his cause, John created the Clean Air Club (www.cleanairclub.net) and “recycled” one of his school buses into a “museum on wheels” that travels around the Chicago area to elementary schools educating children about the environment and alternative energy. The Clean Air Club includes a website and quarterly newsletter that teaches kids fun facts about the environment and what they can do to help. The Clean Air Club bus contains museum-quality exhibits teaching kids about renewable fuels, air pollution and things kids can do at home to reduce air pollutants. John and his employees take the bus to schools all over the Chicago area and kids everywhere give it rave reviews.

More than 1,100 students so far have toured the bus, which is available free-of-charge to Chicago area schools, libraries and community events, and will continue traveling around the metropolitan area throughout 2009. Benish even created an alternative fuels “teacher” packet to assist the elementary school science teachers in incorporating the information into their science curriculum.

Benish has plans to create another Clean Air Club bus this summer for middle and high school kids.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Board, Others Welcome New EPA Chief

John Davis

jacksonepaThere’s a new person in charge of the federal agency in charge of keeping the environment clean, and thus, a friend to the clean, renewable energy field.

The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved Pres. Barack Obama’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson.

Jackson’s home-state newspaper, New Jersey’s Star-Ledger, reported praise for Jackson from Assembly Enivronment Committee chair John McKeon (D-Essex):

“Lisa’s passion for the environment and pragmatic approach equips her to effectively advance President Barack Obama’s plans for a viable energy economy powered by wind, solar and other renewable energies that would help preserve and protect the environment and generate millions of green jobs,” said McKeon.

nbb-logo4And the National Biodiesel Board seems pretty pleased with the pick:

“On behalf of the NBB, I would like to send my sincerest congratulations to Lisa Jackson upon her confirmation, and wish her the best of luck in her new role. The EPA faces substantial challenges, and the U.S. biodiesel industry looks forward to working constructively with Administrator Jackson to achieve the nation’s energy and environmental goals,” said Manning Feraci, Vice President of Federal Affairs for the NBB.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, News, Solar, Wind

Massachusetts Sees Future in Wind

John Davis

devalMassachusetts’ governor wants his state to significantly step up its wind energy efforts over the next decade.

This story from RenewableEnergyWorld.com says Gov. Deval Patrick wants the state to produce 2,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2020, representing 10 percent of today’s electric load and a 300-fold increase from the current 6.6 megawatts currently produced in Massachusetts:

“With the growing interest in wind turbines we see in communities across the Commonwealth [of Massachusetts] and the abundant wind resource we have off our coast, wind power is going to be a centerpiece of the clean energy economy we are creating for Massachusetts,” said Patrick.

Massachusetts has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for one of just two Wind Technology Testing Centers in the country (Texas also was selected), poising the Commonwealth to become a national center for wind power research and development-and thereby offering the potential economic rewards of technology development, entrepreneurship and jobs, the governor’s office noted.

The announcement comes on the heels of the federal government’s approval this week of a massive wind energy project off the coast of Cape Cod (see my post from January 20, 2009).

Wind