NEC 2027

Enterprise Expands Hybrid Fleet

John Davis

enterpriseEnterprise Rent-A-Car, already home to the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles, is doubling the number of gas/electric hybrids in its inventory by adding 5,000 of the green vehicles.

This company press release says Enterprise is also designating nearly 80 rental locations across the country as “hybrid branches” that will have a high concentration of the new hybrids available for customers to rent online or over the phone:

The new hybrids will be available at nearly 80 locations in 24 major markets across the country, including the 10 busiest airports for business travelers in the United States. Markets include California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and Fresno); Colorado (Denver); Florida (Orlando, Tampa); New York (Albany, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester); Oregon (Eugene, Portland); Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston); Atlanta; Boston; Detroit; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; St. Louis; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

“Whether they’re traveling for business or pleasure, our customers continue to seek out environmentally friendly vehicle options,” said Jeff Morrell, Vice President of Business Development for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “Doubling our fleet of hybrid vehicles nationally is in direct response to that demand and furthers our commitment to help grow the market for new engine technologies and alternative fuels.”

Enterprise also has designated eight of its branches as “E85/FlexFuel” branches where as much as 30 percent of the local fleets
are FlexFuel vehicles capable of using E85. The company also fills those vehicles at nearby E85 stations.

E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

Carbon Credits for Burning Biodiesel

John Davis

pennfbFarmers in Pennsylvania could soon be earning carbon credits for burning a clean fuel that they help grow right on those farms.

Biodiesel Magazine reports that the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has partnered with Global Emissions Exchange of Closter, N.J. to work out a plan they hope to roll out by the last quarter of this year that will give the credits for using biodiesel in no-till practices:

When the biodiesel-focused portion of the program rolls out, farmers will earn carbon credits at a rate of 19.7 pounds of carbon dioxide reduction per gallon of B100 biodiesel used, according to Philip Gotthelf, managing director for the Global Emissions Exchange. The protocol used to determine the carbon credits earnings for biodiesel was developed in cooperation with Amerigreen BioFuels Inc., a biodiesel wholesaler and blender in Lower Swatara Township, Penn.

“That’s a protocol that can be rolled out to any of the biodiesel distributors,” Gotthelf said. “If someone wants to register their brand, they can go to the exchange to do it in the manufacturer’s registration area or they can contact us directly.”

Gotthelf said the Global Emissions Exchange is a fractional carbon exchange that allows anyone to register any energy efficient product or technology, from a single light bulb to an entire wind farm. He said the system allows for small quantities of emissions reductions to be combined into one-pound and one-kilogram carbon credits, which can then be sold on the exchange.

Gotthelf says biodiesel producers might also be able to purchase carbon credits from their consumers that could be traded for a discount on the biodiesel they buy.

Biodiesel

Pipeline Moves Biodiesel

John Davis

kindermorganAn American company that moves fuels and runs terminals has successfully tested a biodiesel pipeline in the Southeastern United States, joining the firm’s efforts of moving ethanol through another pipeline in the South.

This story from Reuters says Kinder Morgan Energy Partners recently sent 20,000 gallons of 5 percent biodiesel from Mississippi to South Carolina through the Plantation oil products pipeline:

Company spokeswoman Emily Mir Thompson said Kinder would ship the fuel blends along portions of the line that carry gasoline and diesel fuel. That way, any potential “trail back” of biodiesel into jet fuel would be averted.

The Plantation line moves oil products from refineries along the Gulf of Mexico to the Southeast. Kinder expects to move the blends, known as B5, to markets in Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia.

Kinder said late last year [see my November 11, 2008] it is also moving batches of another biofuel — ethanol– through a 105 mile (170 km) products line in Florida.

A Kinder Morgan spokesperson says the company could soon ship ethanol through another pipeline in the U.S. Southeast or West.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

New York Plans for Sustained Renewable Fuel Production

nyserdaThe New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced with a press release that The Pace Energy and Climate Center has been selected to develop a renewable fuels roadmap and sustainable biomass feedstock study that will help guide New York State policy on renewable fuels. The Roadmap was one of several recommendations from Governor David Paterson’s Renewable Energy Task Force report issued in 2008. The project is co-sponsored by the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets; who along with NYSERDA will oversee the development of the Roadmap.

“With federal and state policy calling for increased use of renewable fuels to diversify our fuel mix, it is vital that we have a better understanding of the sustainable feedstock resources for continued in-state renewable fuel production,” said NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray Jr. “The Roadmap will put forth a plan that assesses the economic, environmental, and energy impacts of renewable fuel production while identifying pathways in which energy dollars can be retained within the State.”

The goal of the initiative is to identify the renewable fuels, feedstocks, pathways, and applications that would be sustainable and provide the most benefit to New York State by reducing lifecycle greenhouse gases and dependence on imported fossil fuels. Once the state has a firm understanding on the types of fuels that are sustainable, policymakers can determine how best to bring them to market. Because the renewable fuel industry is changing rapidly, the Roadmap is intended to be updated periodically to identify more economical and sustainable sources of renewable fuels progressing towards carbon neutrality. The Roadmap will address renewable fuels that are currently being used, near-term renewable fuels that are close to contributing to the reduction in fossil fuel use within a three to ten year time horizon, and promising future renewable fuels that may make significant contributions to fossil fuel reductions in more than 10 years.

The Roadmap is scheduled for completion in September, 2009.

Energy, Environment, global warming, Government, Miscellaneous, News

Wes Clark for Growth Energy

Chuck Zimmerman

A post on Ben Smith’s Blog, part of Politico, says that Growth Energy will be announcing General Wes Clark as their new Co-Chairman. We’ll be on the announcement call to confirm this.

General Wes Clark has signed on as a front man for the ethanol industry , a source familiar with his plans said, putting him in the trenches of a high-stakes, if somewhat obscure, Washington lobbying battle.

He’ll announce at a Marriott Wardman Park press conference tomorrow that he’ll be the co-chair of Growth Energy, an ethanol industry group that’s been engaged in a fascinating fight with the Grocery Manufacturers Association over, more or less, the price of corn.

Growth Energy

Book Review – Living Like Ed

Joanna Schroeder

the-day-after-tommorrowI’m sitting in artic Tennessee and feel like I’m an extra in the movie “The Day After Tomorrow” depicting the world in turmoil due to global warming. Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but the bitter cold, along with low gas prices, is a perfect combination to lull me into energy and environmental complacency.

I just finished reading, “Living Like Ed” by Ed Begley, Jr. His book is a “guide to the eco-friendly life.” I read it mostly out of curiosity to see how this long-time environmentalist and celebrity viewed biofuels. It was actually quite surprising in that he is very much in favor of ethanol, specifically E85, even more than biodiesel.

livinglikeed3Most celebrities are out tooling around in their vegetable cars touting biodiesel, and rarely out in their flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) touting E85. (Maybe its because driving with grease is sexier than driving with corn.)

His book has some good tips that don’t border on the extreme – Ed is known to recycle EVERYTHING. But since this is an alternative energy blog, I’ll give you a brief run-down on his “transportation hierarchy.

  1. Walking
  2. Riding his bike
  3. Public Transportation
  4. Electric Car
  5. Hybrid Car
  6. Fly

Read More

book reviews, Miscellaneous

Melissa Etheridge Supports Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

Biodiesel continues to prove it is the most star-powered of renewable fuels.

NBB 09 Melissa EtheridgeSinger/song writer Melissa Etheridge is the latest star to show her support for biodiesel, appearing Tuesday at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Francisco. The artist shared an inspirational story of how her battle with breast cancer led her to want to make a difference in the world and how that in turn led her to start using biodiesel.

Etheridge started using biodiesel after a chance meeting with Willie Nelson on a plane a few years ago which inspired her to use biodiesel in all of her tour buses and trucks, as well as in her own personal vehicle, a Ford diesel Excursion that she fills with biodiesel in her own garage.

Her vehicle is covered with biodiesel stickers and she has become a one-on-one advocate for the fuel in her own personal life. “Any diesel engine can run on biodiesel,” she emphasizes. “When it finally sunk in to me that the diesel engine was meant to run on peanut oil or vegetable oil, I realized that all of the troubles that we are having now with the petroleum industry could be avoided.”

For her efforts and enthusiasm, Etheridge received this year’s Influence award from the National Biodiesel Board, presented to her by NBB CEO Joe Jobe and Daryl Hannah.

Listen to her comments at the conference here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/nbb/nbb-09-melissa-1.mp3]

Get full coverage of the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference here.

2009 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

Wal-Mart Using Biodiesel, Alternatives to Make More Sustainable Fleet

John Davis

walmart-logoThe world’s largest retailer has increased the efficiency in its private fleet by 25 percent over the last three years, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and fuel use… and it wants to get even greener in the years to come.

This story from ArkansasBusiness.com says Wal-Mart will test trucks that have diesel-electric hybrid motors and recycle grease from its stores to make biodiesel to run in conventional diesel engines:

“In order to meet our goal of doubling our fleet efficiency, we are taking an active role in the development of these technologies,” Chris Sultemeier, senior vice president of transportation for Wal-Mart Stores, said in a news release. “We look forward to determining if these technologies will help reduce our environmental footprint, are viable for our business and provide a return on investment.”

Among the new technologies it is testing is a full-propulsion Arvin Meritor hybrid that will initially operate in the Detroit area. It is a dual-mode diesel-electric hybrid.

Meanwhile, 15 trucks at its Buckeye, Ariz., distribution center will be converted to run on reclaimed grease fuel made with the waste brown cooking grease from Wal-Mart stores. Other trucks here will operate on an 80/20 blend of biodiesel.

The story goes on to say that Wal-Mart will be using other diesel-electric hybrids and running liquid natural gas in trucks in Dallas; Houston,; Apple Valley, Calif.; Atlanta; Washington D.C.; Baltimore; and in southern California

Biodiesel

Propane Fueling Popular F-150s

John Davis

roushf150A Northern New York State auto dealer has become the exclusive installation center of ROUSH Liquid Propane Injection systems in Ford trucks and vans in the Northeastern United States.

This press release from Ferrario Ford in Elmira, NY says it expects to convert thousands of Ford vehicles, especially the very popular F-150 and F-250 models of trucks:

With the introduction of the ROUSH Liquid Propane Injection system for the Ford F-150, ROUSH Performance has instantly become the leading supplier of Alternative Fuel Vehicles of this type. Ferrario Ford is performing F-150 upgrades now, and will begin production of the F-250 and Econoline models later in 2009.

“Every ROUSH Propane Vehicle is one less burning imported gasoline or diesel,” said Don Ferrario. “Although derived from petroleum, over 90% of propane is sourced in the U.S., with an additional 7% from Canada. Individuals, businesses, and municipalities can now purchase a no-compromise vehicle that burns virtually no imported oil.”

Selection as the Northeast U.S. installation center will be a great economic boost for Elmira, NY. Over the next few years, Ferrario anticipates upfitting several thousand Ford trucks. Customers may purchase a completed unit from Ferrario, or work with their local Ford Dealer to send a vehicle to Ferrario for upfit. Ferrario Ford is the ROUSH Propane installation center for customers in CT, D.C., MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, PA, VT, and WV.

Those who convert their F-150 to propane get a federal tax credit of $2,500 and $5,000 for F-250 and Econoline models. In addition, vehicles that burn propane get a 50-cents-a-gallon tax credit. Ferrario says drivers could see up to $2,000 a year in fuel cost savings.

Propane

Beer to Ethanol Fuel

efuelAccording to Green Tech, the inventor of the EFuel100 MicroFueler home ethanol maker has signed on Sierra Nevada Brewing to make ethanol from beer dregs. E-Fuel said that the beer company will start testing EFuel’s refrigerator-sized portable ethanol refineries in the second quarter of this year using discarded beer yeast as a feedstock for ethanol.

E-Fuel last year unveiled its $9,995 home ethanol machine which ferments a mix of water and sugar into ethanol. Sierra Nevada every year generates 1.6 million gallons of “bottom of the barrel” beer yeast waste, which it now sells to farmers as feed. The MicroFueler will be able to raise the alcohol content in that mix to 15 percent and remove water.

Initially, Sierra Nevada plans to use the ethanol in its own vehicles. Once it has excess fuel, it will look to supply employees and distribute through E-Fuel’s distribution network, a company representative said.

In a statement, Sierra Nevada Brewing president and founder Ken Grossman said the MicroFueler has the potential to improve the environment by reducing waste and to make fuel domestically.

Ethanol, News