Biodiesel, Wind Lose in Tiff over Energy Policy

John Davis

The fight between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, DC has hurt the biodiesel and wind energy programs in this country.

The Des Moines (IA) Register reports that Congress, deadlocked and heading for its August break, failed to renew tax credits for wind power and biodiesel that are due to expire at the end of the year:

Republicans have successfully blocked the tax package and other legislation from getting through the Senate because of the Democratic leadership’s restrictions on what GOP energy proposals can be put to a vote.

Greg Wetstone of the American Wind Energy Association said today that the delay in acting on the tax credits is creating uncertainty among investors in his industry.
However, he said he still he expects Congress pass the extensions before the end of the year.

“This is an issue that is popular on both the Democratic and Republican side of the aisle. Sadly, it’s been a very difficult climate to legislate in,” he said.

The biodiesel industry is heavily dependent on a $1-a-gallon tax credit that is at stake in the bill. The primary feedstock for biodiesel is soybean oil, and prices for that have been so high recently that biodiesel producers have been struggling to stay in operation even with the subsidy.

The August break is a chance for lawmakers to go back home and hear from their bosses… the people who elected them in the first place. Maybe its time they got an earful from all of you for them to get their heads together and get these important tax credits passed… before they run out at the end of the year.

Biodiesel, Legislation, Wind

CNN’s Biodiesel-Fueled Trip Hits Hoover Dam

John Davis

CNN’s trip across the country (as we first reported this past Monday) in a 1978 International Scout running on biodiesel has made it to Hoover Dam, (with acknowledgments to Chevy Chase’s “Vegas Vacation”) where they shot some dam video, filed some dam reports, and did some dam blogging!!! (Where can I get some dam bait?).

Seriously, though, CNN.com producer Cody McCloy and web developer Brian Hardy are out to prove during the two-week, cross-country trip that started earlier this week how viable biodiesel is as a fuel for a road trip of this magnitude. Here’s one of their latest entries:

[A]s we attempt to drive from California to Georgia on biodiesel fuel, our 1978 Scout is thirsty, and Haycock Petroleum came through for us. Haycock is a wholesaler to area Sinclair stations, which in turn sell B5 to retail consumers. Although we aren’t a retailer, Haycock let us fill up the Scout and a fuel can with their higher-blend fuel. Maybe this will get us to Grand Canyon.

The duo is also testing other green energy measures, such as solar panels to power their computers and video gear. You can follow their progress by clicking on the CNN interactive map of the trip here.

Biodiesel

Ethanol Reality Versus Fantasy

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen called on representatives of Florida’s growing biofuels industry to join him and the rest of the industry nationwide in setting the record straight on ethanol and other alternative fuels.

Florida Farm to Fuel Ed SchaferAt the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit on Thursday, Dinneen told the group that opponents of ethanol have created a “fantasy world that rivals anything Walt Disney could have created.”

“The reality is, the US ethanol industry is producing both fuel and food,” Dinneen said. He went through all of the attacks and misconceptions about ethanol that have been perpetuated by the media.

“I think the group that is assembled here reflects the fact that American voters understand the reality, but only if we are all doing our jobs in telling our public policy makers to continue the investment in domestic and renewable fuels,” Dinneen continued. “There is no good ethanol and bad ethanol – it’s all better than petroleum.”

“My plea to you today is to work with us to move forward,” Dinneen concluded. “I want to hear ads in the state of Florida that we should start our engines everyday with 100 percent, all natural Florida ethanol.”

The Summit also heard from Brian Dean, U.S. Executive Director for the Interamerican Ethanol Commission and Gordon Quaiattini, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Ethanol, News, RFA

Ag Secretary Addresses Florida Farm to Fuel Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida Farm to Fuel Ed SchaferU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer traveled to Florida to address the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel Summit in Orlando.

“This is the theme park capitol of the world, it is a city of dreams and the power of imagination,” Schafer told the group. “As we sit here in the land of imagination and dreams, it’s up to all of us to meet the needs of the future through renewable fuels and we can change from wild imagination to realizable dreams.”

“Biofuels are an important part of the solution to our nation’s energy challenges and they are an important part of the economic future of rural America as well,” Schafer said. “That means that agriculture is going to be right in the middle of the game.”

“Here in Florida, the sheer variety of agriculture really make you a state that is a great laboratory for the future,” he added. “When breakthroughs come, I’m really counting on Florida to lead the way.”

He commended Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and the state legislature for the state’s efforts to stimulate innovation with the Farm to Fuel program.

Listen to Secretary Schafer’s remarks here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/florida-fuel/f2f-08-schafer.mp3]

Audio, conferences, Ethanol, Farming, Government, News

Florida Governor Promotes Alternative Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida Farm to Fuel Governor CristFlorida Governor Charlie Crist spoke to a group of over 450 gathered for the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel summit in Orlando Thursday, following an address by US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.

“You know that Florida is a top agricultural state already,” Crist told the group. “The development of ethanol and other biofuels is incredibly important to Florida’s future and America’s future. I truly believe that investing in renewable and alternative energies in the Sunshine State can propel us as a leader, no question about it.”

Governor Crist highlighted Florida’s historic, comprehensive energy and economic development legislation, which was created by the 2008 Florida Legislature and signed by the Governor at last month’s 2008 Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change in Miami. As proposed by the Governor, the legislation expands the previously existing renewable energy grants program to include energy efficiency projects. The 2008-09 budget includes $7 million for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, with another $8 million for bioenergy projects to be administered by the new Florida and Energy and Climate Commission, also created by the legislation.

Listen to Governor Crist’s remarks here: [audio:http://www.southeastagnet.com/audio/interviews/f2f-08-crist.mp3]

Audio, conferences, Ethanol, Government, News

Central Florida Buses Go Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

Farm to Fuel buses Florida biodieselThe Central Florida Regional Transit Authority LYNX system will become the nation’s first transit agency to build its own biodiesel blending facility at Rosen Shingle Creek in southeast Orange County.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist joined LYNX CEO Linda S. Watson, Orange County Mayor Richard T. Crotty, State Senator Lee Constantine and Jeremy Susac, executive director of the Florida Energy & Climate Commission, to officially sign the contract awarding $2.5 million for the project.

The project will enable LYNX to reduce its use of fossil fuel by 1.2 million gallons and lower its carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 26 million pounds each year. LYNX will be the first transit agency in the nation to own, operate and produce “on demand” blending to fully convert its fleet. It will also be the first to distribute custom blending to a partnership of other local governmental agencies such as the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando Utility Commission.

The conversion should take place by next July. Ground breaking for the facility should be in October 2008.

Biodiesel, Government

Florida Farm to Fuel Summit Underway

Chuck Zimmerman

Sec. Ed SchaferThis morning the Florida Farm to Fuel Summit got underway. I think this is the third one. We missed our old friend Charlie Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, although he’ll be here later this afternoon. We did see him on video though.

Right now our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, is speaking. I’ll add a link to some audio after his remarks and press availability. The Secretary is here to speak on Food, Conservation and the Energy Act of 2008.

Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson believes that Florida can be a leader in the effort of producing energy from crops and timber because of the vast amount of farm acreage in the state and its mild climate, which permits crops to be grown virtually year round.

conferences, Ethanol, Government, News

New QC System for U.S.’s Largest Biodiesel Refinery

John Davis

The nation’s biggest biodiesel refinery has installed a quality control system that promises to cut testing times from hours to minutes.

This press release from Cognis Corporations’ QTA (Quality Trait Analysis) says GreenHunter BioFuels in Houston, Texas, which produces 105 million gallons of biodiesel a year, has put in QTA’s new biodiesel testing system:

“Biodiesel quality testing traditionally requires gas chromatographs and a trained chemist” said Kerry Staller, Corporate Engineer with GreenHunter. “As such. quality control is difficult to integrate with operations because testing needs to be done in a separate lab by a chemist with the results coming up to an hour after a sample was taken. But with Cognis’ QTA System, our operators are able to conduct the quality tests right in the control room and see easy-to-understand results that they can act upon–all in less than 2 minutes after the sample is taken.”

Barbara Stefl, Cognis’ Global Business Director, said, “One of the benefits of our fast biodiesel testing process is that quality testing and general operations can now be more tightly linked. Efficiencies improve due to reduced handoffs between chemists and operators and quality increases due to the ease of doing more frequent testing.”

Cognis’ QTA patented Biodiesel Analysis starts by digitizing the light spectra of a fresh biodiesel sample using proven infrared technology. Those spectra are then sent, via the internet, to Cognis’ central database where algorithms convert the spectra, in real-time, into highly accurate standard quality measurements that are viewed online by plant personnel. All this occurs in less than two minutes.

QTA says the service is subscription-based and does not require capital investment.

Biodiesel

Soybean Growers Help Dispel Ethanol, Biodiesel Myths

John Davis

Battling the myths and misinformation that swirl around both ethanol and biodiesel seems to be a fulltime job these days. While some groups, such as the American Soybean Association and the Renewable Fuels Association, fight these battles daily, they could use a little help from the novices and those interested in the success of biofuels. That’s why the ASA is giving them the tools to beat back those naysayers against the green fuels.

The ASA has created the document called “Myths and Realities Behind Rising Food Prices“:

Anyone who buys groceries or eats in a restaurant knows that food prices have increased, but few people truly understand the global factors that are driving the present situation…

All things considered, the demand for biofuels has played a relatively small role in rising food prices. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, the primary reasons underlying the escalation in food prices are an explosion in energy costs driven largely by the price of petroleum, the surging demand for food and livestock feed from a growing and increasingly prosperous middle class in countries like China and India, drought and other weather patterns that reduced yields in numerous regions of the world, the declining value of the U.S. dollar, and export restrictions imposed by some countries.

Higher energy prices have greatly added to the costs of transporting, processing, manufacturing, storing and distributing the food we eat. Higher energy prices also have dramatically increased the prices U.S. farmers are paying for the inputs they need to plant, grow and harvest their crops. Compared to just two years ago, farmers today are paying twice as much for the diesel fuel they need to run their tractors, combines and grain trucks. Fertilizer, which requires a great deal of energy to produce, has quadrupled in price.

The fact sheet goes on to point out how, worldwide, ethanol and biodiesel have cut the amount of non-renewable petroleum crude oil by a million barrels a day… saving the world $43 billion in savings each year.

My suggestion is to print out the fact sheet and have it ready the next time some loud-mouthed, Big-Oil backer starts bashing biofuels. Then, you can bash back with FACTS!

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Rock n’ Roll Farmer Supports Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Chuck LeavellTrue rock and roll fans will recognize the name Chuck Leavell as keyboardist for the Rolling Stones – in addition to many other well-known rock legends such as The Allman Brothers and Eric Clapton.

He is also a Georgia tree farmer and an environmentalist who actively supports the development of ethanol production from woody biomass. “I think it’s one of the most important things we can do right now,” Leavell says. “And we are doing it. There’s a number of pilot programs out there getting off the ground. It’s not perfected yet, but that’s the great thing about this country is that we put our minds to it and we can make it happen.”

Leavell points out that trees are organic, natural and renewable. “And we will be using parts of the trees that are normally not used – the slash, the twigs, the limbs, and so forth.” He advocates harvesting forest waste to make biofuel, which at the same time helps to protect against wildfires. “If we take care of the forests, they’ll take care of us,” he said.

Leavell has taken an active interest in the development of Range Fuels, a cellulosic pilot project in his home state of Georgia using woody biomass, and he thinks the southeast is becoming very aware of the potential for this technology in the future.

You can listen to an interview with Chuck Leavell here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ams/ams-08-leavell-1.mp3]

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News