Tampa Could Become Major Biodiesel Port

John Davis

Tampa, Florida could become a major port for alternative fuels… just in time as an area just up the road is expanding its potential to produce biodiesel.

Yesterday, I told you about how Groveland is expanding its biodiesel production capabilities and hopes to rival Houston, Texas in terms of green fuel refining. Now, GreenHunter Energy Inc. of Houston might be building a $70 million facility to store and produce biofuels at the Port of Tampa and has paid $1 million to lease a 22-acre site, according to this story in the Tampa Tribune:

The project would give GreenHunter a “foothold in a deep-water port that handles over half of the transportation fuel used in the state of Florida,” GreenHunter Chairman and CEO Gary Evans said.

The publicly held energy company owns and operates the nation’s largest biodiesel plant, a 105 million-gallon-per-year refinery in Houston.

The company is also developing six wind-power projects in Montana, California and New Mexico. In addition, it recently paid $2.5 million for a 14-megawatt power plant near Tallahassee that uses wood waste to generate electricity.

Biodiesel

Speakers Announced for the 2008 MO Agribusiness Summit

The line of speakers have been announced to participate at the 2008 Missouri Agribusiness Summit on November 12 in Columbia, MO. The purpose of this event is to provide information to agribusinesses and producers regarding current industry topics and to promote the local resources that are available to agribusinesses.

“The 2007 inaugural Summit covered a lot of great topics, and we’re hoping this year’s event is at a similarly high level. Last year, our attendees included producers, biofuel cooperatives, retailers and researchers, so the topics are geared toward that audience,” noted Kari Dowell of Williams Keepers, LLP, a sponsor of the event.

Speakers slated for the event include: Rep. Brian Munzlinger; Michelle Kautz of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition; Jenna Higgins of the National Biodiesel Board; Dept. Ag Director Don Steen; Gary Clark of the Missouri Corn Growers Association and others.

Additional sponsors are: Bryan Cave LLP, the Missouri Agricultural & Small Business Development Authority, Missouri Corn Growers, and Missouri Soybean Programs.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, News

Credit Crunch Helps Wind Turbines Catch Up

John Davis

It’s kind of a good news/bad news thing.

One the one hand, the wait to get wind turbines seems to be easing. But as this article from Greentech Media says, the credit crunch is helping ease that backlog:

“Turbines are available now, which is refreshing,” said Brad Johnson, director of business development at John Deere Renewables, on Thursday. “Before the credit crisis, it was very difficult to get turbines. We are finding a variety of choices.”

Johnson’s comment comes a day after one of the world’s largest wind turbine makers, Gamesa, said it would shut production at some of its factories temporarily, Reuters reported. Gamesa managers said they are waiting for customers to confirm their purchase plans before providing specific sales or production targets for 2009 and beyond.

It wasn’t so long ago when wind farm developers had to scramble to find turbines for their projects. Vestas Wind Systems in Denmark, the world’s largest wind turbine maker, said earlier this year that it had a huge backlog of turbine orders.

The turbine shortage has fueled aggressive efforts by turbine parts makers to increase production. In fact, eight new turbine components factories went online in the United States this year while nine manufacturing centers expanded their production capacity, said the American Wind Energy Association on Wednesday. Nineteen more new factory projects have been announced, the association said.

But the credit crunch and faltering economy are sending a cold breeze through the wind industry, which typically borrows money from banks and other investors to build wind farms.

Another bit of good news is, American wind power production is on track for another record year… and is expected to do even better next year. Sooner or later, the credit crisis will pass as the finance industry jumps back into the wind energy game.

Wind

Mustard Seed Biodiesel for Some CA Buses

John Davis

Some locally grown mustard seeds could soon be powering buses in Monterey County, California.

This story from the San Mateo County (CA) Times says the mustard seed oil could be turned into biodiesel by the end of this year:

By December, Monterey-Salinas Transit officials hope to have refined mustard-seed oil — which will be mixed with regular diesel fuel — from about 3,000 pounds of seeds harvested in August from a 10-acre field in the King City area.

“We’re going to be using our oil late this year,” said Hunter Harvath, assistant general manager of the transit agency.

The timing depends on when the seed can be pressed and refined. Presses are in short supply this time of year because the wine grape crush is under way, he said.

The mustard seed experiment began in February on 20 acres owned by San Bernabe Vineyards near King City. Pacific gold and wild California mustards were planted to determine which variety of the plant would produce the most seed oil.

The ton and a half of seed will produce about 750 to 800 gallons of biodiesel. Like other biodiesel, the mustard oil will constitute 20 percent of the fuel mixture that powers the buses, he said.

The article goes on to say the experiment with the wild mustard seed ran into a snag when the field was overrun by turnips.

Biodiesel

More Biodiesel for Central Florida

John Davis

An area in Central Florida already touted as a mecca for biodiesel production could be getting another biodiesel plant.

Back on August 15th, I told you how Groveland, just 30 miles west of Orlando in Lake County, was poised to have three biodiesel plants by the end of 2009. Now, this story in the Orlando Sentinel says yet another refinery wants to move into the area:

Raptor Fabrication & Equipment on State Road 50 asked for $10,000 to pay a consultant who specializes in writing grant applications in the area of renewable-energy technology, company officials said.

Commissioners unanimously approved the request as an incentive for Raptor to expand here.

The Groveland City Council also voted Monday to provide the company with a letter of intent that shows the city is willing to make eight municipally owned acres on Sampey Road available for Raptor’s proposed expansion.

Raptor produces biodiesel, which it touts on its Web site as a “clean, renewable and economical substitute for petroleum diesel fuel.”

The article goes on to say that if all the potential biodiesel production comes to fruition, the area could end up rivaling Houston, Texas in terms of biodiesel output.

Biodiesel

E85 Offered at Massachusetts’ Logan Airport

Gulf Oil, LP has opened the second E85 fueling location in the state of Massachusetts. The facility will be servicing flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) that travel to and from Logan Airport at 100 Service Road in Boston.

“We are proud to be among the first to open this alternative fueling location, and we look forward to the day when many more choices — from e85, biodiesel and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from primarily domestic sources form the foundation of a new energy future,” said Gulf Oil CEO Joseph Petrowski. “We look forward to remaining a market leader in alternate fuel development and are proud that our home of Boston and the Northeast are in the forefront of this transformation.”

The opening of this E85 site is the result of a partnership between Gulf Oil and the station’s operator Energy North and its President Mr. Ken Black who is committed to broaden its fuel options from traditional petroleum to a more varied and secure domestic source of biofuel. The second partnership is between the public and private sectors.

Petrowski went on, “The partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and the leadership of Massachusetts Representative Delahunt, Governor Deval Patrick, and Energy Secretary Ian Bowles is an important example to the nation of how the public and private sectors can work constructively to solve one of the most important issues of the 21st century: our nation’s energy security.”

E85, Ethanol, Facilities, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Government, Miscellaneous, News

Ethanol Not Driving Food Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

Global InsightA Reuters report from the UK today quotes an economic expert as saying higher food prices this year were driven by speculators, not ethanol.

Heavy demand for corn from ethanol makers was seen as a key driver of corn futures to record highs in June, but since then the sharp decline of corn along with other commodities shows that belief was mistaken. Corn is down about 50 percent from its record high in June, even as the amount of the grain used to produce the renewable fuel in the United States remained the same.

The article quotes Stewart Ramsey, senior economist for Global Insight, a Philadelphia-based company that provides economic, financial, and political analysis and forecasting. “The record high prices were a speculative bubble,” Ramsey says in the article.

Analysts said soaring corn prices were a symptom of big shifts of investment money into corn and other commodities. As big money began shifting out of stocks a few years ago, commodity markets like corn futures began climbing. “There was a speculative bubble in the market and that’s one of the bigget things that came out of the market is just that equity markets weren’t good and for a while the money came into commodities,” Ramsay said.

Ethanol, Food prices

Candidates on Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

McCain ObamaOver the past two weeks, key energy advisors to the McCain and Obama presidential campaigns have shared their views on ethanol with Agritalk Radio host Mike Adams.

Heather Zichal, the policy director for energy, environment and agriculture for the Obama campaign spoke on behalf of Senator Obama, while Jim Moseley, former Deputy Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture and a member of the McCain-Palin farm and ranch team represented Senator McCain.

The appearances on the syndicated radio program which is heard on 70 stations nationwide were supported by the Renewable Fuels Association in an effort to draw attention to ethanol as an issue in the presidential campaign. RFA president Bob Dinneen said, “Heather and Jim clearly understand the issues and were outstanding representatives for their respective candidates. We thank them both for their participation.”

Full transcripts of each program are available as links below:

Heather Zichal for Senator Obama

Jim Moseley for Senator McCain

Ethanol, politics, RFA

USDA Clarifies Ethanol Plant Loan Comments

Cindy Zimmerman

Comments made to the press last week by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer regarding the possibility of USDA loans to ethanol plants that have been hurt by commodity market speculation this year have caused quite a stir. USDA has been working to get the word out this week to clarify that this is not any kind of a “bail out” for ethanol plants, nor is it a new program that was created to help plants that made bad investments.

World Food Prize Ed SchaferSchafer said the government could provide up to $25 million per company to refinance through a “guaranteed loan-type program for operating capital.” These types of loans are available through the Rural Development’s existing Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program. Under that program, the loan must be secured by a private lending agency – USDA does not make a direct loan.

Regardless, livestock industry groups are up in arms about the possibility of helping ethanol plants in trouble. Eight major livestock organization leaders wrote to the secretary this week protesting what they view as preferential treatment for the ethanol plants. “Many of our producer and processor members also took long positions on corn and soybeans and are paying above-market rates right now,” they wrote. “We in animal agriculture are particularly concerned that you would consider adding one more level of support for the corn-based ethanol industry.”

However, Secretary Schafer said this week that ethanol plants should be treated no differently than other agricultural companies that can take advantage of the existing loan guarantee program.

Ethanol, Government, News

Another Record Year for Wind Power

John Davis

Another nearly 1,400 megawatts (MW) of wind energy has been installed during the last three months, putting the U.S. wind energy industry on a record-setting pace again this year.

The American Wind Energy Association says the latest figure brings this year’s total to 4,204 MW:

With even more reported under construction, the industry is on track to surpass the banner year of 2007, when 5,249 MW were installed, with a total of about 7,500 MW this year (7,500 MW would generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 2.2 million homes).

In welcome news for the economy, the industry is also aggressively expanding its manufacturing base in the U.S., creating jobs and fostering investment and growth even in a difficult financial climate. AWEA’s report tallies the opening of eight new wind turbine component manufacturing facilities this year; the expansion of nine facilities; and the announcement of an additional 19 facilities. As a result of recent manufacturing investment, AWEA estimates, the share of domestically made components in wind turbines has risen from about 30% in 2005 to 50% today. The new facilities will create an estimated 9,000 jobs.

“The convenient truth here is that wind power provides a stimulus for our economy, as well as a climate change and energy security solution,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “The market, in spite of all its turmoil, clearly points to wind power as one of the most attractive energy options available today. But if we are to keep this momentum going, the new President and Congress will need to put in place what the majority of the American people support but the country still lacks: a long-term renewable energy policy.”

Texas led the way in the wind energy expansion, adding 693 MW. That gives the state more than 6 gigawatts (GW) of capacity… ranking tops in the nation and fourth worldwide. West Virginia is the state with the fastest wind power capacity growth, tripling its existing capacity with the addition of a 164-MW project and another 100-MW project is scheduled to come online by the end of this year.

Wind