World’s Biggest Camelina Grower Fueling Biodiesel Production

John Davis

The world’s largest producer of camelina is fast becoming the biggest producer of a non-food feedstock for biodiesel.

This press release from Great Plains – The Camelina Company says it has several crushing partners in North America, helping it produce more than 10 million road miles of camelina biodiesel to date… and the company plans to bump that up to 100 million gallons by the year 2012:

The U.S. Energy Bill signed at the end of 2007 increases the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to 36 billion gallons by 2022. But, with the rising cost of consumer goods, this mandate has come under fire recently as the primary reason land is being used to grow crops for fuel instead of for food production. Camelina offers a solution for reaching this biodiesel production goal by providing a sustainable, low-input biofuel feedstock option that does not interfere with food production. Camelina is virtually 100 percent efficient. It can be harvested and crushed for oil and the remaining parts can be used to produce high quality omega-3 rich animal feed, fiberboard and glycerin.

Camelina does not take away from land currently being utilized for food production because it has the ability to grow on marginal land utilizing very little moisture. Camelina also fits into many farming operations as an excellent rotational crop to break the cycle of continuous small grains cropping. Even more important to some growers, camelina has been shown to enhance the yield of subsequent crops such as wheat by up to 15 percent.

Great Plains started commercial camelina production three years ago, paying growers in North America to grow the oil seed. After 10 years of research into camelina, Great Plains has developed higher-yielding, higher oil-content camelina varieties… just in time to feed the current boom in the biodiesel market.

Biodiesel

E85 Grand Openings in Iowa

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association reports that grand opening celebrations will be held at four new E85 pumps across the state of Iowa in the next couple of weeks. This will bring the total of E85 fueling facilities in Iowa to over 100.

The events in the state will include some blender pumps offering E85 and midlevel blends. Below is a listing of the locations and dates of their grand openings:

Unity Biofuels – September 5th
in Olds, IA

Cenex Pump 24 – September 12th
in Forest City, IA

Popkes Car Care Center – September 12th
in Rock Rapids, IA

Galva Holstein Ag – September 17th
in Galva, IA

For additional information regarding E85 in Iowa, go to http://www.iowarfa.org/.

blends, E85, Ethanol, Facilities, News

Biodiesel Board Moves Into Green Building

John Davis

The National Biodiesel Board is moving into some new digs, cleaner and greener… just like the fuel the group backs.

Jefferson City, MO-based board has a new building on the east side of the city in an area that has undergone some massive renovations over the past couple of years. The good folks at NBB will hold a press conference and open house between 10 am and noon at their new location at 605 Clark Avenue in Jefferson City.

Governor Matt Blunt and Congressman Kenny Hulshof, Republican gubernatorial candidate to replace Blunt, along with local officials, will be on hand for the event.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Roadster Goes 200 MPH, Gets 100 MPG

John Davis

High performance and great gas mileage don’t have to be exclusive, as British-based Trident Performance Vehicles proves with its Iceni two-seater sports car.

This article from gizmag.com says the company is nearing production of the green, turbo-charged roadster that can go 200 MPH and still get 100 MPG (although at quite a bit slower speed:

The car’s 6.6 litre turbo diesel V8 develops 550bhp@3800rpm and an arm-stretching 950lb/ft of torque at just 1800rpm, meaning it can be leisurely potter around short-changing at ballistic speeds. Not only does it get to 60 mph in under four seconds (a serious supercar time), it’ll do 200 mph, deliver 70 mpg at 70 mph, and if you treat the throttle very gently, it’ll deliver 100 mpg.

Testers say you would only get the 100 MPG if you drove only 30 MPH.

At about $135,000, the Iceni won’t be in my driveway anytime soon, but it does show that you can have it all, performance and gas mileage… if you can afford it!

Biodiesel

Chrysler’s 2009 FFVs Announced

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition announced today that during model year 2009, Chrysler Corporation, a member of the NEVC, will offer autos/light trucks/SUVs as Flexible Fuel E85 compatible in the upcoming year.

The Chrysler brand 2009 FFVs include:

Dodge:
2.7L Avenger
3.3L Grand Caravan
4.7L Dakota
4.7L Ram
4.7L Durango

Chrysler:
2.7L Sebring
3.3L Town and Country
4.7L Aspen

Jeep:
4.7L Commander
4.7L Grand Cherokee

“We commend Chrysler for their continued production of flexible fuel vehicles,” said Executive Director of the NEVC, Phil Lampert. “As the price of fuel has risen, many consumers are looking for smaller engines in an FFV and the 2.7 liter Avenger and Sebring address that demand. We look forward to the introduction of additional E85 vehicles as Chrysler moves forward in its commitment to produce half of their entire production as flexible fuel by 2012.”

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles

GOP Platform Addresses Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Delegates to the Republican National Convention this week have adopted a party platform that would essentially end the Renewable Fuels Standard passed by Congress and signed by the president in December as part of comprehensive energy legislation. However, they do support the development of cellulosic ethanol and increased flex-fuel vehicles on the road.

Under the agriculture section, the platform talks about food versus fuel concerns and states that the “U.S. government should end mandates for ethanol and let the free market work.”

GOP 2008Under the energy section, the platform states that we “must continue to develop alternative fuels,
such as biofuels, especially cellulosic ethanol, and hasten their technological advances to next-generation production” and says that “because alternative fuels are useless if vehicles cannot use them, we must move quickly to flexible fuel vehicles.”

The Renewable Fuels Association expressed concern about the Republican platform. RFA President Bob Dinneen called it “inconceivable that the Republican Party would adopt a platform that limits the energy options available to the American people.”

“Fortunately, many leaders in the Republican Party, including the President of the United States, understand the importance of a strong renewable fuels policy,” said Dinneen. “Regardless of the outcome of this year’s elections, the American ethanol industry stands ready to continue working with Congress to provide a clean, safe and secure alternative to foreign oil and gasoline.”

RFA will be among many organizations and companies participating in an AgNite event in conjunction with the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis Tuesday evening, sponsored by the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council. The event is designed to celebrate America’s food, agriculture and energy industries and educate delegates and other attendees about their importance to the nation. Stay tuned for reports from the event here on Domestic Fuel.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, politics

Biodiesel May Replace Ethanol Plans in Florida

Cindy Zimmerman

Plans for an ethanol plant near Tampa have been scrapped, but a biodiesel plant could take its place.

EnvirofuelsAccording to the St. Petersburg Times, legal problems caused Port Sutton EnviroFuels to shelve plans to build Florida’s first ethanol plant but a Texas company has stepped in to take over Port Sutton’s 22-acre lease and build a biodiesel plant instead.

Green HunterGreenHunter Energy, based near Dallas, reportedly plans to invest up to $100-million in a biodiesel plant and terminal that will produce 50-million gallons a year.

U.S. EnviroFuels, one of the investors in the proposed ethanol plant, is currently in the process of developing a 20 million gallon per year ethanol plant in Highlands County, Florida using sweet sorghum as the primary feedstock. Earlier this year the company received a $7 million grant from the state of Florida for that project.

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Hurricane Debris Could Provide Energy Resource

Cindy Zimmerman

As Hurricane Gustav storms its way toward the coast of Louisiana, a New York-based lumber company is preparing to swoop in afterward to clean up the debris.

Green Energy ResourcesGreen Energy Resources says it will take up to 10 million tons of hurricane storm wood in 2008, if it becomes available. The company is asking for the public’s assistance to help procure the wood from FEMA and the Gulf States through the purchase of Green Energy Resources carbon offset credits.

Green Energy Resources is a global supplier of wood fiber fuels to the power generation industry. Wood biomass has multiple applications including ethanol production, co-firing with coal, direct burn and gasification.

Energy, Ethanol

Funding Sought for East Coast Ethanol Plants

Cindy Zimmerman

A company seeking to build ethanol plants in four southeastern states needs to raise over $800 million to get the job done.

East Coast EthanolEast Coast Ethanol already has about $10 million in seed money, but they are looking for at least $254 million from equity investors to complete the four 110 million gallon a year plants in North and South Carolina, Florida and Georgia.

The company was formed in September of last year with the merger of Mid Atlantic Ethanol, Palmetto Agri-Fuels, Atlantic Ethanol and Florida Ethanol – all of which were separately developing ethanol plants in the four states.

According to a July 21 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said the “four facilities (if and when they become operational) can supply ethanol to the Southeast United States at a much cheaper rate than imported ethanol because of reduced transportation costs given our geographical location.”

Fagen, Inc. is expected to design and build all four of the planned ethanol production facilities.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Corn Growers Provide Ethanol Facts and Free Bumper Stickers

Cindy Zimmerman

***Post Update*** The National Corn Growers Association is regretfully out of these free bumper stickers. Thanks for your support of American Farmers!

Ethanol FactsThe National Corn Growers Association has updated its Ethanol Facts website. The Web site provides information on ethanol production, blends, suitability for engines and economic and environmental impacts, as well as a glossary and links to other online resources. Among the changes to the updated site is printer-friendly formatting.

“Given how much misinformation about corn ethanol can be found on the Internet, this update provides a timely service to consumers, policy makers and the news media,” said Steve Ruh, chairman of the NCGA Ethanol Committee and a grower from Sugar Grove, Ill. “This is a comprehensive resource that will help make sure the truth prevails in any ethanol debate.”

Corn Bumper StickerThe corn growers are also trying to get the word out that they are capable of meeting the nation’s needs for food, feed and fuel by bumper sticker. While supplies last, they are offering free bright yellow bumper stickers that proclaim “US Farmers – Producing Food, Feed and Fuel” to anyone who wants to help them get that message out on the road. For a sticker, email NCGA at corninfo@ncga.com.

corn, Ethanol, News