Government Releases Biofuels Action Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy today released the National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP), an interagency plan detailing the collaborative efforts of Federal agencies to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry. The departments jointly chair the Biomass Research and Development Board.

USDA-DOEThe plan was developed in response to President Bush’s call to change the way America fuels its transportation fleets in the 2007 State of the Union Address. The President’s “Twenty In Ten” goal calls for cutting U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent over the next 10 years by investing in renewable and alternative fuel sources, increasing vehicle efficiency and developing alternative fuel vehicles.

The NBAP outlines interagency actions and accelerated federally supported research efforts in seven areas including – Sustainability, Feedstock Production, Feedstock Logistics, Conversion Science and Technology, Distribution Infrastructure, Blending, and Environment, Health and Safety.

Among the highlights of the plan is under the area of blending, under which the board advocates the “blending ethanol with gasoline in amounts greater than 10 percent (E10) and will review results of an interagency testing program to evaluate the impact of intermediate blends on vehicle emissions and material compatibility by fall 2008.”

Under Feedstock Production, the plan outlines a feedstock availability and cost study that was conducted and the development of a long-term integrated feedstock research and development plan to be completed by December 2008.

Government, News

Mascoma Announces Funding for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Mascoma Corporation will receive a total of $26.0 million in funding from the Department of Energy and an overall contribution of $23.5 million from the State of Michigan for the development of a cellulosic fuel production facility that uses non-food biomass to convert woodchips into fuel.

MascomaMascoma executives made the announcement Tuesday with officials from the DOE, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, members of the Michigan Congressional delegation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“Michigan is proud to partner with Mascoma as a part of our commitment to lead the nation in alternative energy production,” said Governor Granholm. “This company, and their partners, will create jobs in Michigan as they develop the next generation of cellulosic ethanol that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and make fuel more affordable for our families.”

The facility will be located in Chippewa County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the town of Kinross. The funding provided by DOE and the State of Michigan will accelerate Mascoma’s construction of the facility and the scale-up of its technology process while also paving the pathway to commercial low-carbon and sustainable fuel production in Michigan.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News

DOE Finalizes Funding for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Energy will award more than $76 million to POET for the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol production technology.

POETIn February 2007, POET was selected by the DOE for a total award of up to $80 million in federal funding for the construction of a commercial cellulosic ethanol production facility. The first phase of the agreement was signed in October 2007 and provided POET with an initial $3.7 million for preliminary design, engineering and feedstock collection. The agreement announced today provides the remaining $76.3 million for final design, construction, start-up and continuous operation of Project LIBERTY.

Project LIBERTY, the transformation of a 50 MGPY grain-to-ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa into an integrated corn-to-ethanol and cellulose-to-ethanol biorefinery, is jointly funded by POET and the DOE. Once complete, the facility will produce 125 MGPY, of which 25 million gallons will be from corn fiber and corn cobs. By adding cellulosic production to an existing grain ethanol plant, POET will be able to produce 11 percent more ethanol from a bushel of corn and 27 percent more from an acre of corn while reducing fossil fuel consumption and water use. Construction is projected to begin in 2009 and production of cellulosic ethanol could come as early as 2011.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

New President for Missouri Ethanol Group

Cindy Zimmerman

Missouri RFAThe Missouri Renewable Fuels Association, an organization comprised of Missouri’s six farmer-owned ethanol plants and the Missouri Corn Growers Association, have elected Gene Millard of St. Joseph, as the organization’s 2008-09 president.

Gene MillardMillard, chairman of Golden Triangle Energy in Craig, Mo., assumed the new leadership responsibilities October 1. He succeeds John Eggleston, president of POET Biorefining-Macon and founding MoRFA president.

“John deserves much praise for his leadership and dedication to the ethanol industry during his two-plus years as MoRFA president,” says Millard. “He invested his time and hard work into guiding a start-up organization and his efforts are very much appreciated.”

Other 2008-09 MoRFA officers elected include: Vice President, Ryland Utlaut, Mid-Missouri Energy; Secretary, David Vogt, POET Biorefining-Laddonia; and Treasurer, Bill Becker, LifeLine Foods, Inc.

Ethanol, News

HEC to Build Hydrogen V8

John Davis

Algona, Iowa-based Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. has teamed up with Eliminator Performance Products with the intention to build the largest spark-ignited hydrogen V8 engine ever.

This press release from HEC says it’s designed for large hydrogen-fueled electrical power generation systems and for buses:

Ted Hollinger, HEC Founder, says “This 572 cubic inch engine will give us a much needed power source. Hydrogen is very light and it takes a lot of displacement for every kW of power produced. Compacted Graphite Iron will increase the strength and life of the engine by more than five times and thus give very long engine life which is essential for engines running 24/7. This is our first Distributed Generation engine. After years of work I believe that HEC has an engine that can achieve the efficiency and durability that the industry has long been looking for. We are also proud to build this engine in the United States.”

Michael Bowery states “Eliminator Performance Products, Inc. is proud to manufacture the new 9.3L Oxx Power® block and cylinder heads designed for a wide variety of industrial applications. Eliminator will provide Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. with 100% American made blocks and heads, which includes both castings and machining.”

The release goes on to say that the new Oxx Power® blocks and heads are made of Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI), based on a recipe used in current NASCAR blocks.

Hydrogen

Biodiesel Maker Now Making Diesel Additive

John Davis

A biodiesel refiner from Georgia has re-tooled its business a bit and now is cranking out the nation’s first, non-petroleum diesel additive.

This story in the Macon (GA) Telegraph says Alterra Bioenergy is producing DieselMaxx, touted as lubricating and improving diesel engine performance while cutting down on polluting emissions:

“When I started this business, I expected to buy, process and sell traditional biodiesel locally as a basic fuel, and now it’s taken on all these other dimensions,” [Alterra President Wayne Johnson] said. “With a little ingenuity, we turned it into a value-added product.”

Johnson said DieselMaxx has been distributed in Colorado and close to 200 locations in Georgia for the last 60 days. It’s sold at truck stops and auto parts stores in gallon jugs that will treat about 400 gallons of fuel each, he said.

Johnson anticipates rolling out nationwide distribution early next year at a price that is cheaper than many products in the $5 billion American diesel additive market.

DieselMaxx has some testing to back up its emission-reducing, fuel-extending claims. The University of Georgia found that it cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 10 percent, while showing promise in fuel efficiency.

Biodiesel

Indiana Has Special Events Along I-65 Corridor

Four E85 stations in Indiana held promotions today to celebrating the opening of a four-state “biofuels corridor” along Interstate 65. According to the American Lung Association of Indiana, this will mark completion of the two-year project which began with a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand biofuels infrastructure in Indiana. Drivers of flexible fuel vehicles can now travel the entire length of I-65 in Indiana and the next E85 station with a quarter of a tank to spare.

The events today included those at the Family Express in Demotte; Gas City in Hammond; Gas America in Greenwood; and Thorton’s in Clarksville.

“The American Lung Association of Indiana joined in this celebration because vehicles that use E85 and B20 biodiesel instead of traditional petroleum fuels produce significantly less emissions that can be harmful to lung health,” said Brett Aschliman, health promotions manager for the American Lung Association of Indiana.

Other corridor partners included: Energy.IN.gov, Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance, General Motors, South Shore Clean Cities, BioTenn, Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn, US Department of Energy and American Lung Association of Indiana.

Biodiesel, E85, News

Corvette Powered by Cellulosic Ethanol Wins Green Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

The Corvette Racing team of Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows went down in history as the inaugural winners of the Green Racing Challenge. The 1,000-mile Petit Le Mans win also cinched the American Le Man Series GT1 championship for O’Connell and Magnussen.

Corvette WinsThe No. 3 Corvette C6.R also had the best score in the Green Challenge, securing the team award in the GT class for Corvette Racing and the manufacturer award for General Motors. Powered by cellulosic E85R ethanol made from waste wood, the winning Corvette had the best overall score in the competition based on based on performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact.

“It’s not just about making the engine more efficient and more environmentally friendly,” explained GM Racing Group Manager, Steve Wesoloski. “We looked at things like reducing wheel bearing friction and aerodynamic drag to win the Green Challenge. Alternative renewable fuels are an important part of GM’s gas-friendly to gas-free program, and GM already has more E85-capable vehicles on the road than any other manufacturer. Green Racing ties in with what the corporation is doing in production vehicles.”

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), and SAE International, the “Green Challenge” put the spotlight on emerging fuel technologies, including the international debut of a hybrid electric prototype race car utilizing E10. Cars were measured on performance, fuel efficiency and environmental impact.

“The Green Challenge is not only a revolutionary concept in motorsports, but it is also providing a valuable testing ground for new technology that will ultimately benefit the average motorist,” said Toni Nuernberg, executive director of EPIC. “This race demonstrates the performance and environmental benefits of using ethanol enriched fuels which is something we can all do today to make an impact.”

Cellulosic, EPIC, Ethanol, News

California Ethanol Lawsuit Blasted

Cindy Zimmerman

Both the California-based New Fuels Alliance and the LA Times have taken fuel refiner Tesoro to task for suing the state over a regulation that would boost ethanol consumption in the state by 2010.

TesoroThe company, which operates refineries in Los Angeles and the city of Martinez, says “the new fuel specifications could conflict with the state’s push to cut greenhouse gas emissions and could have ramifications for the environment and U.S. food prices.”

New Fuels AllianceThe New Fuels Alliance, a group that includes the California Renewable Fuels Partnership, released a statement calling the suit “a blatant attempt by Tesoro to try to use the regulatory and legal process to gain competitive advantage in the market place. Other oil companies are moving toward increased ethanol use to extend gasoline supply, lower cost, and even increase profits. Tesoro didn’t see this market shift coming and is now trying to gum up the works based on a feigned and disingenuous concern about climate change and food prices.”

The Alliance is calling on the California Air Resource Board to request immediate dismissal of the case.

The LA Times blog GreenSpace points out that the “text of the lawsuit, filed in Sacramento Superior Court, says precious little about Tesoro’s worries over food supply and prices. Rather, the company’s core complaints are that California Air Resources Board’s new rule: takes effect too quickly, forces companies to pay for emissions offsets if they don’t meet the 2010 deadline, and requires expensive refinery modifications that might not be compatible with California’s still-evolving Low Carbon Fuel Standard.”

Reporter Elizabeth Douglass concludes, “The problem for Tesoro and other refiners is that the whole move to biofuels is eating away demand for its products. That might have something to do with the company’s sudden concern about ethanol’s impact on the environment and the nation’s food supply.”

Ethanol, News

DuPont Biofuels Goals on Track

Cindy Zimmerman

DuPontA DuPont executive says plans to bring advanced biofuels programs to market are on track and making significant technical progress toward the commercialization of biobutanol and the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks economically into biofuels.

DuPont John Ranieri“Biobutanol and cellulosic ethanol have the ability to transform the biofuels industry,” Vice President & General Manager John Ranieri told an investor conference last week. “Our flexible business models allow us to penetrate different geographies with the ability to convert various feedstocks to meet the significant global demand for biofuels.”

DuPont is developing and commercializing an upstream biofuel technology to produce cellulosic ethanol that will use non-food energy feedstocks such as corn cob and switchgrass, and a downstream biofuel technology to produce biobutanol, a high-performance biofuel that can be delivered through existing gasoline distribution channels.

In May, DuPont announced a joint venture with Danisco to deliver low cost, sustainable cellulosic ethanol technology. In July, the DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC joint venture announced a partnership with the University of Tennessee to build a pilot and demonstration facility for the cellulosic ethanol technology, groundbreaking scheduled later this month. DuPont is jointly developing biobutanol with BP in a partnership first announced in 2006.

biobutanol, Cellulosic, Ethanol