Deere Upgrades Ethanol Management System

Cindy Zimmerman

DeereJohn Deere Agri Services has released an upgrade to its ethanol business management system, which includes a new flow controller interface as an extended option available with their scale automation system. As part of the integrated business system for ethanol facility management, the scale system automates shipping and receiving operations.

The ethanol facility is able to customize the system according to factors such as ID, load number, or destination. When haulers arrive at the plant, the flow controller prompts them for the required information, which is then optionally verified with data in the automated system.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Massachusetts to Get E85 Station

Cindy Zimmerman

Massachusetts drivers will soon be able to get 85 percent ethanol enriched fuel for their flex-fuel vehicles.

Mass E85 StationAccording to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Burke Oil of Chelsea, MA will add E85 to its fueling options next month.

“Waivers and permits were new issues for state and local government agencies as well as for us,” said Andy Frongillo of Burke Oil. The lack of Underwriters Laboratories certification of a dispenser kept the site from opening much sooner.

Frongillo added, “Burke’s gas station has the distinction of being the first in Massachusetts offering biodiesel at the pump. Burke supplies many of the area’s largest biodiesel and bioheat users. To keep pace with growing demand, the company recently opened a Biofuels Storage Facility in Holyoke, Massachusetts.”

Burke Oil tentatively plans to hold a grand opening event on June 26.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

Biodiesel Gets Even More Bio Friendly

John Davis

XcelPlus Global HoldingsAs if biodiesel isn’t green enough. But, Maverick BioFuels has found yet another way to make bio-diesel even more sustainable and XcelPlus Global Holdings is jumping at the opportunity to put this new technology to use. XcelPlus will equip itself with the necessary tools from Maverick to covert glycerin, a byproduct from biodiesel production, to a fuel suitable for use in turbine engines.

Gly-Clene (TM) can be made from any crude glycerol, regardless of the feedstock, including yellow grease. The fuel has the ability to power up turbine engines for electricity production or any other non-aircraft use associated with turbine engines. Gly-Clene can also be used to heat fluid bed reactors as it also performs well in oil gun furnaces.

With the ever-increasing biodiesel production, the glycerin market grows as well. Subsequently, the fear of another glut has concerned biodiesel manufacturers, scratching their heads looking for a stable way to dispose of this by-product. There is currently enough glycerin produced in the U.S. alone for Gly-Clene to produce 27,000 megawatts of electricity per day or over 8 billion megawatts per year without even adding steam turbines to take advantage of the excess heat produced by the turbines.

Visit www.xcelplusglobal.com to view video updates on the Gly-Clene technology.

Biodiesel, Energy, Environment, Production

DOE: Wind Could Provide 20% of US Power

John Davis

A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy says that America could get 20 percent of its power from wind energy in about the next 20 years.

This agency press release says it will mean increasing the amount of wind power by nearly 20 times current production levels… a doable number according to the DOE:

Entitled “20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030”, the report identifies requirements to achieve this goal including reducing the cost of wind technologies, citing new transmission infrastructure, and enhancing domestic manufacturing capability. Most notably, the report identifies opportunities for 7.6 cumulative gigatons of CO2 to be avoided by 2030, saving 825 million metric tons in 2030 and every year thereafter if wind energy achieves 20 percent of the nation’s electricity mix.

DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the U.S. Department of Energy Andy Karsner said, “To dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our energy security, clean power generation at the gigawatt-scale will be necessary, and will require us to take a comprehensive approach to scaling renewable wind power, streamlining siting and permitting processes, and expanding the domestic wind manufacturing base.”

Prepared by the U.S. Department of Energy and a broad cross section of stakeholders across industry, government, and three of DOE’s national laboratories – the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA; and Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM, the report presents an in-depth analysis of the potential for wind in the U.S. and outlines a potential scenario to boost wind electric generation from its current production of 16.8 gigawatts (GW) to 304 GW by 2030.

The report goes on to say that infrastructure will need to be improved, as well as streamlining the siting and permitting processes to meet that goal.

Government, Wind

Canada Ag Minister Defends Biodiesel, Ethanol

John Davis

Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is blasting those opposing a proposed mandate for biofuels in the country.

This story from the Lloydminster (Alberta, Canada) Meridian Booster has more details:

Ritz defended the plan in the House of Commons against criticism from the New Democratic Party, which once supported the use of biofuels but has switched its position. The bill would mandate a five per cent ethanol mixture in gasoline by 2010 and a two per cent mixture of biodiesel by 2012.
“It’s an excellent situation for the environment, it’s a great thing for farmers, and a great thing for rural communities,” said Ritz.

The NDP’s about-face comes after a number of studies have been released indicating that using wheat and corn-based ethanol could drive up food prices in light of what some experts are calling a global food shortage. The United Nations recently called biofuels a “crime against humanity” for diverting food away from hungry mouths.

Ritz says this situation doesn’t apply to Canada where the price of basic food commodities actually dropped slightly in February. The government estimates it would take five per cent of total production capacity to produce the three billion litres of ethanol which the plan would require. He says the weather has more impact on Canada’s agricultural output than five per cent.

The article goes on to say that Ritz points out that the United Nations has said there’s enough food. The issue is getting it to where it needs to be at the right time.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, International, Legislation, News

Steelman Calls Out Lawmakers for Biofuels Action

John Davis

Missouri State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, who is also running for the Republican nomination in the state’s gubernatorial race, has labeled Missouri lawmakers “cowards” for changing a law that kept those same lawmakers and their family members from investing their own money in ethanol and biodiesel plants in the state.

This AP story posted on the KY3 (Springfield, MO) web site says Steelman oversees a program that provides state money to assist in investing in biofuel plants and has been barring companies from getting the money if there was even just one investor who is an elected state official, department director or a relative of those people:

The policy outrages some lawmakers who are investors in ethanol and biodiesel plants. Senators voted 21-10 about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday to overturn Steelman’s policy by allowing the incentives so long as state officials own less than 2 percent of the business. The provision is an amendment to a larger tax credit bill and was approved on a head-count vote, avoiding a written record of who voted “yes” or “no” that would have been kept had they taken a roll call.

Rural lawmakers, many of whom invest in the plants, say Steelman’s policy is not fair. They argue it punishes Missouri residents simply because they have invested in the same facility as a lawmaker.

The policy has prevented incentives from going to the $82 million Show Me Ethanol plant because its investors include Rep. John Quinn, R-Chillicothe; his wife, Mary; and Andy Blunt, a brother of Republican Gov. Matt Blunt.

“They were cowards, and didn’t want to do what they did in the light of the day, because they didn’t want the people of the state to realize they were protecting their personal interests,” Steelman, a former senator, said later Wednesday.

Some senators say Steelman was out of line by insisting on an unreasonable conflict of interest policy.

Steelman’s actions have ruffled the feathers of many of her fellow Republicans, who invest in the plants. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as she tries to woo those same Republicans to vote for her in her primary race to see who faces presumptive Democratic nominee Jay Nixon for the governor’s seat as incumbent Republican Blunt is not running for re-election.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, Legislation, News

Joint Venture Creates Cellulosic Ethanol Company

Cindy Zimmerman

Two leading scientific and biotechnology companies have joined forces to create what they are calling a “world leading cellulosic ethanol company.”

DuPontDaniscoDuPont and Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, have formed DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC to develop and commercialize technology for low-cost production of cellulosic ethanol.

The partners plan an initial three-year investment of $140 million, which will initially target corn stover and sugar cane bagasse. Future targets include multiple ligno-cellulosic feedstocks including wheat straw, a variety of energy crops and other biomass sources.

DuPont HollidayDuPont CEO Chad Holliday says the venture is a critical step toward cellulosic technology commercialization. “There is a compelling opportunity here for truly sustainable alternative energy,” he said. “I am extremely pleased with the partnership between Danisco and DuPont, two leaders in the biofuels industry.” Both companies have been working on cellulosic technologies for over five years.

Danisco knutzenDanisco CEO Tom Knutzen says the timing is perfect for the partnership to deliver a low-cost solution for advance biofuels production. “Danisco through its Genecor division is a pioneer in cellulosic ethanol,” he said. “In fact, we paved the way for commercializing enzymes which convert biomass into fermentable sugars for ethanol.”

The new company plans to have an initial pilot plant operational by the end of 2009 and a commercial scale demonstration facility in production by 2012. The joint venture will be headquartered in the United States and intends to license its technology package directly to ethanol producers as either a “bolt-on” to an existing ethanol plant or as the design basis for a stand-alone cellulosic ethanol facility.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Group Honors Actor

Cindy Zimmerman

Actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. was honored this week at the 2008 Alternative Fuels and Vehicles conference and expo “for his passionate commitment to living lightly on the planet.” Begley was presented with the “Vision 20/20 Award” by the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi).

As an actor, Begley is best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the long-running hit television series, “St. Elsewhere.” However, he has become better known in recent years for his environmentalism. He serves on a number of environmental boards, stars with his wife, Rachelle Carson, in their own reality television series called Living with Ed, and is the author of a new book, Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life.

AFVIThis week was the 14th annual Alternative Fuels and Vehicles conference and expo, featuring alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies.

Tuesday was Fleet Day featuring a Ride-n-Drive event offering test drives in the latest alternative vehicles on a mapped out course. Indy Racing League team owner and former Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal did the honors of opening the event by cutting the green ribbon and then jumping into a flex-fuel vehicle with Begley to take a spin around the course.

Pictured from left to right are Robert White with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, Rahal, Annalloyd Thomason with AFVi, and Begley.

Miscellaneous

Clean Diesel Hot Topic at Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Expo

John Davis

av.pngThe Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Expo in Las Vegas that I mentioned in an earlier post is wrapping up and participants have expressed excitement about sustainable fuel choices. Supporters of clean diesel for example, say the fuel offers more power, improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. Gale Banks, chief executive officer of Gale Banks Engineering, says clean diesel turns conventional diesel thinking on its head.

“With clean diesel power, drivers can have approximately 30 percent better fuel economy and 50 percent more torque, as well as reduce emissions by up to 25 percent, when compared to gasoline-powered passenger car engines. With clean diesel no longer are fuel economy and performance mutually exclusive,” Banks said.Read More

Biodiesel, Car Makers, Energy, Production, transportation

Team Ethanol Supports Youth Voting at Indy 500

John Davis

92nd Indianapolis 500In about a week, I’ll be heading to Indianapolis for the 92nd Indianapolis 500. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council will be spearheading all kinds of activities and events for members of Team Ethanol as usual. But, Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay will be involved in more than autograph signings, meet-and-greets and exciting Indy racing. Ryan will also join Indy racing colleagues Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal and Ed Carpenter for the non-profit youth voting campaign, Declare Yourself. Ryan and his track mates will help stress the power of exercising the right to vote through video segments that will be aired throughout race weekend.

Danica Patrick, Marco Andretti, Graham Rahal, Ed Carpenter and Ryan Hunter-Reay recorded the video spots this week and all have registered to vote at www.declareyourself.com. The PSAs will air on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway jumbotrons for several days leading up to the anticipated May 25 race, as well as on www.indycar.com and www.indy500.com.

Declare Yourself“The Indianapolis 500 is one of the great sports traditions in our country,” said Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself. “Millions of young people are fans of the IndyCar Series, and we couldn’t have a bigger platform than this exciting race to get our message out. The recent presidential primary in Indiana brought out an unprecedented number of young voters, and we believe our Indy PSAs will keep young fans engaged as we race toward the election.”

“You’ve been given the opportunity for your voice to be heard. If you’re not taking advantage of that, you’re only short-changing yourself and your future. So get out and vote. In the time it takes me to do two laps, you could have registered to vote at DeclareYourself.com,” said Ryan Hunter-Reay.

The Declare Yourself Indy event will also include a special viewing opportunity of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. The copy will be on display at Speedway Museum. The document belongs to Declare Yourself founder, producer Norman Lear. It was created on the evening of July 4, 1776 and is one of the 25 remaining original copies of the Declaration of Independence.

Declare Yourself will also have an educational multimedia exhibit that features a video segment from actress Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon is a descendant of one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibit will also feature a theatrical reading of the document that includes a distinguished group of actors such as Mel Gibson, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Spacey, Michael Douglas, and Renee Zellweger, among others.

Cellulosic, Energy, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing, Video