Lobos Riding on Biodiesel

John Davis

Students at the University of New Mexico are going to be able to get to class using the green fuel biodiesel.

This story in the university’s newspaper, UNM Today, says the school in Albuquerque is running four of its shuttle buses in the Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) Department on biodiesel:

“Biodiesel was an obvious choice” says Alexander A. Aller, Manager, Public Transit Operations. “Right now, all of our large shuttles are alternatively fueled with either biodiesel or compressed natural gas. Although we have a small fleet, we are pleased to contribute to efforts that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, dependence on foreign oil, and the pace of global warming.”

What has been the reception given to the new vehicles as they hit the routes in and around campus?

“Generally, very favorable,” Aller said. “We could have continued maintaining our existing fleet, but older vehicles are far less reliable and more expensive to operate and maintain. Plus, the publicized overall environmental footprint associated with biodiesel is notably smaller than fossil fuel.”

UNM plans to use the buses for the next 10-15 years.

Biodiesel

Georgia Gets First Solar Cell Builder

John Davis

Atlanta-based Suniva, Inc. has announced it will build its first solar cell facility at Norcross… a first for the state of Georgia as well.

This story posted on Chattanoogan.com says the company will use technological advances developed at the Georgia Institute of Technology to make high-efficiency solar cells:

“This new solar cell facility is a perfect example of the way Georgia’s investment in research and development pays dividends by producing innovative technologies that help companies grow,” said Gov. Perdue. “Suniva’s production commitment and highly-qualified workforce will expand our clean energy success as the nation’s renewable energy corridor into the solar arena.”

Suniva’s new Gwinnett County facility will manufacture high-efficiency, low-cost solar cells. Production capacity of the first line will be 32 megawatts. The company plans additional lines that will scale to more than 100 MW over the next two years, potentially adding more jobs to its workforce.

“As the solar industry looks to bring down costs and compete with conventional power, Suniva has built the team and the technology to execute on our vision of low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy,” said John Baumstark, CEO of Suniva. “We are pleased to be moving into our next phase of growth close to home, and we are interested in working with state and local government to create an ecosystem of clean energy companies in the Atlanta metro area.”

The new plant is expected to employ 100 people in the first year.

Solar

US, UK Firms Team Up to Make Biodiesel

John Davis

An American biofuels company is teaming up with a British company to build several biodiesel plants able to make the green fuel from a variety of sources, including non-food feedstocks.

This story in the Houston (TX) Business Journal says Houston-based Endicott Biofuels will use Davy Process Technology Ltd.’s esterification technology to make the flexible refineries:

Endicott is already developing its first plant in Houston, a 30 million-gallon biodiesel plant financed by Haddington Ventures LLC, a Houston-based midstream private equity firm. The plant should come online by 2010.

Endicott did not release possible site locations for the next round of plants.

“Our goal is to build multiple plants in strategic geographic locations throughout North America to gain logistical advantages,” said Richard Wyatt, a principal at Endicott. “Demand for biodiesel … is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years as fossil-based fuels continue to increase in price as international demand from rapidly growing countries such as China and India pressures supply.”

Biodiesel

Alternative Fuel Movie Gashole to Premiere in St. Louis

St. Louis Regional Clean CitiesGasHole, a new documentary film about the history of Oil prices and the future of alternative fuels, will assist in the fundraising for the St. Louis Regional Clean Cities in St. Louis, MO on June 13, 14 and 15. The film, narrated by Peter Gallagher, features interviews with a wide range of viewpoints from US Department of Energy Officials, Congressional leaders, Alternative Fuel Producers, Alternative Fuel Consumers, Professors of Economics and Psychology and more.

Rising gasoline prices is what peaked the interest of the St. Louis Regional Clean Cities Program to bring this movie to the St. Louis region. The Hi-Pointe Theater at 1005 McCausland Ave, in St. Louis (ironically under the shadow of a giant Amoco sign) will premiere The Film Racket’s new documentary, GasHole.

According to a news release, “GasHole examines US dependence on foreign supplies of oil and poses pointed questions about America’s turn from leading exporter to largest importer and the contributing economic and social forces. Several potential solutions are examined, including untapped technologies, navigating bureaucratic governmental roadblocks, and alternative fuels – all while questioning the American Consumer’s reluctance to embrace alternatives.”

The film is directed and produced by Jeremy Wagener and Scott D. Roberts. This will be the movie’s 17th stop in a nationwide tour that has reportedly been selling out across the country.

For more information on the movie, go to www.gasholemovie.com.

Biodiesel, E85, Government, News, transportation

EPIC Unveils Mascot Edgar the E Man

Chuck Zimmerman

Edgar the E ManAt today’s Annual Meeting EPIC unveiled Edgar the E Man. He’s the official mascot of EPIC and available to members for appearances at events. I got Reece Nanfito, EPIC Director of Marketing to take my picture with Edgar.

The Kansas and South Dakota Corn Growers submitted the winning names which have been combined to become his official name. EPIC held a contest with members to come up with his name. The winners will get Edgar to appear at no charge to one of their events.

To hear more about the story of Edgar, I interviewed EPIC Executive Director, Toni Neurnberg. She describes the whole purpose behind the mascot initiative: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/epic/epic-annual-mtg-eddgar.mp3]

EPIC, News

EPIC Keynote Speaker Dr. Robert Zubrin

Chuck Zimmerman

Dr. Robert ZubrinThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Annual Meeting is underway with keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Zubrin, on stage.

He’s the author of Energy Victory and we’ve featured an interview with him here on Domestic Fuel previously.

This is the first large scale annual meeting of EPIC and well over 100 members are in attendance. The meeting allows them to hear first hand from staff and vendors about all the projects underway to help promote ethanol and educate the general public.

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Biofuel Battle at UN Summit

John Davis

World leaders are meeting this week in Rome, Italy to discuss the current world food crisis.

While some there are trying to blame biofuels for the recent spike in food prices, this CNN story says the industry has some heavy-hitting allies who argue before the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization that green energy is not to blame for more green being spent on grocery bills:

The president of Brazil, whose country’s sugar cane has long been used to produce ethanol that fuels cars and trucks, delivered an impassioned defense of biofuels.

“It is frightening to see attempts to draw a cause-and-effect relationship between biofuels and the rise of food prices,” said Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. “It offends me to see fingers pointed against clean energy from biofuels, fingers soiled with oil and coal.”

And U.S. leaders are there as well to dispute claims that biodiesel and ethanol production are fully responsible for raising food prices worldwide by 30 percent or more:

While agreeing that sustainability and innovation are needed, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer insisted that biofuels contribute only 2 or 3 percent to a predicted 43 percent rise in prices this year.

“The use of sustainable biofuels can increase energy security, foster economic development especially in rural areas, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without weighing heavily on food prices,” Schafer said in his address.

The talks continues through Thursday.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Report: US Workers Ready for Green Economy

John Davis

A new report says millions of workers in the U.S. will benefit from a green economy… and many workers already have the skills to make the jump to clean energy jobs.

The National Resources Defense Council, a coalition of environmental organizations, has released a report titled “Job Opportunities for the Green Economy.” The paper, put together by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, takes a look at the potential of green jobs in 12 key states. This press release from the NRDC says the state-by-state report looks at existing jobs skills and how those skills will translate into clean energy jobs:

“Achieving a clean energy economy through green industries like wind and solar are just part of the story. This report is also about job security. Making homes and offices more energy efficient not only saves money and energy, but also represents growth opportunities for workers who build our communities and keep them running,” said Dan Lashof, director of NRDC’s Climate Center. “We’re talking about jobs at every skill level from construction to research, already available here at home.”

Hundreds of thousands of workers in the U.S. already possess the vast majority of skills and occupations necessary to reduce global warming and make the shift to a clean energy economy. For instance, constructing wind farms creates jobs for sheet metal workers, machinists and truck drivers, among many others. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings through retrofitting relies on roofers, insulators and electricians, to name a few.

“Everyone is talking about how the transition to a clean energy future will create millions of new ‘green-collar’ jobs,” said Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club. “This report shows that millions of Americans are already working in exactly the kinds of jobs we’ll need to build that clean energy future. Those millions and millions more—from steelworkers to software engineers—stand to benefit from implementing the clean energy solutions we need to fight global warming.”

The report breaks down the clean energy climates of 12 states: Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The full text of the report is available here.

Miscellaneous

EPIC Holding Annual Meeting

Chuck Zimmerman

EPIC Launch PadThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is holding its annual meeting in Omaha starting today.

This is the launching pad to the event, which is the entrance to the main meeting room for the sessions that are being held at the QWest Center in downtown Omaha. I’m attending and actually making a presentation on web communications this afternoon.

I’m sure I’ll have some more information for you during the meeting which runs through tomorrow afternoon.

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Siemens to Open Wind Research Center in Colorado

John Davis

Siemens Energy has announced it will open a wind research and development center in Colorado.

This story in the Denver Business Journal says the German energy company made the announcement at the American Wind Energy Association annual conference in Houston that the center will bring 50 new green-collar jobs to Boulder:

“We are very pleased to establish our first wind turbine R&D competence center in Boulder. The proximity of important institutions such as NREL and the NWTC, as well as the support received from the State of Colorado and the City of Boulder, make Boulder the perfect location for a R&D center in the U.S.,” Randy Zwirn, head of Siemens’ Energy Sector in the U.S., said in a statement.

“This is another great testament to Colorado’s growing New Energy economy,” Gov. Bill Ritter said in a statement. “We continue to establish ourselves as a worldwide leader in renewable, sustainable and modern energy. The arrival of Siemens Energy’s U.S. wind turbine research center draws particular attention to the creative and groundbreaking work being done in energy R&D in Colorado.”
The Siemens Energy facility will focus on testing basic wind turbine characteristics, performance-enhancing characteristics, and reliability in severe weather conditions. It also will partner with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on a pilot wind project for the National Wind Technology Center.

The AWEA conference wraps up tomorrow (June 4th) with sessions on a variety of subjects ranging from making decisions about wind turbine supplies to dynamics of structures and rotors.

Wind