“Thumbs” Up for Michigan Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

A $65 million combination biodiesel-soybean crushing plant is being planned for the area of Michigan known as “the Thumb.”

Despite rising costs for soybean oil, Bill Moran thinks his Huron Biofuels plant proposed for near Elkton, MI can make a go of crushing soybeans and selling the feed to local dairy farmers while having the option of turning the oil into food or biodiesel. This story from the Bay City (MI) Times says it would be a one-of-a-kind facility for that area:

Right now, dairy and poultry producers in the Thumb get their high-protein animal feed, a byproduct of crushing soybeans, from a major processing facility in Zeeland, on the west side of the state.

A smaller soybean processor, Thumb Oilseed Producers Coooperative, is located in Ubly, but sells most of its soybean oil and meal for use in the food industry.

If the first phase of Moran’s biodiesel plant gets up and running, it could supply meal to the many large livestock farms in the Thumb, and sell the oil for use in food, depending on the market for biodiesel, [Keith Reinholt, field operations director for the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee] said.

The article goes on to say that Moran hopes to break ground in the spring of 2009 with eventual biodiesel production of 20 million gallons a year, starting in either 2010 or 2011. The project is expected to add $100 million to the local economy and 60 new, full-time jobs. Currently, another company sells biodiesel locally but gets the green fuel from out-of-state sources.

Biodiesel

Ethanol Across America Participates in Memorial Day Parade

CFDC GM AvalancheAccording to a press release issued by the Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC), their flexible fuel GM Avalanche was featured as part of their Ethanol Across America campaign in a Memorial Day Parade held in Washington D.C. The procession was part of Volunteers of Underage Military Service (VUMS) which salutes veterans who are also known as America’s Youngest Warriors. The parade had more than 100,000 in attendance and also focused on the dangers of imported petroleum.

“The mission was not only to recognize VUMS’ service to America but to also highlight the importance of alternative fuel vehicles and non petroleum fuels,” said Col. Holmberg (USMC, ret.), a longtime consultant to the CFDC and a Director of the American Council on Renewable Energy. “We must break the stranglehold of OPEC oil that is threatening America’s national, energy, and economic security. The “Youngest Warriors” wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to convey the message of what must be done to deal with the greatest threat to America’s freedom since World War II.”

Another E85 compatible vehicle in the parade included a 1957 Cadillac El Dorado which reportedly was the first car to travel from coast to coast on the domestically grown fuel in 2005.

Ethanol Across America is a non-profit, non-partisan education campaign of the Clean Fuels Foundation and is sponsored by industry, government, and private interests. For more information, log on to www.ethanolacrossamerica.net.

Photo source: CFDC. Featured in photo: Linn Bumpers, Kimberly Durante, and Veronica Sherrard — the “Fueling Greener in DC Girls” — help spread the word.

Car Makers, E85, Ethanol, News

Fungus Improves Corn Ethanol Process

Cindy Zimmerman

A fungus that can be grown in ethanol production leftovers could help save energy, recycle more water and improve livestock feed ethanol co-products.

That is according to research done by a team from Iowa State University and published this week by Science Daily.

“The process could change ethanol production in dry-grind plants so much that energy costs can be reduced by as much as one-third,” said Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering and the leader of the research project.

Hans van LeeuwenVan Leeuwen and his team recently won the 2008 Grand Prize for University Research from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers for their work on the project.

What they found was that a certain fungus added to the liquid leftover after ethanol processing, known as thin stillage, would feed and grow. The fungus removes about 80 percent of the organic material and all of the solids in the thin stillage, allowing the water and enzymes in the thin stillage to be recycled back into production.

The fungus can be harvested as a livestock feed supplement or it can be blended with distillers dried grains to boost its value as a livestock feed and make it more suitable for feeding hogs and chickens.

The researchers estimate that just eliminating the need to evaporate thin stillage would save ethanol plants up to $800 million a year in energy costs, while allowing more water recycling would reduce the industry’s water consumption by as much as 10 billion gallons per year.

Ethanol, News, Research

Ag Leaders Challenge Ethanol Myths

Cindy Zimmerman

Leaders of five major agricultural organizations and the head of the Renewable Fuels Association joined together Wednesday to try and dispel many of the accusations that have been levied against biofuels in recent months and emphasize the positive contributions of ethanol in particular.

AFBF“Instead of using ethanol as a scapegoat for increased food prices, we should be having a discussion about the business, economic and policy issues that are connected with the world of $130 plus per barrel oil,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. He said the country’s Renewable Fuels Standard passed by Congress in December was the “right thing to do and continues to be the right thing to do.”

NFUStallman was joined by Tom Buis of the National Farmers Union, in a rare show of unity for the two general farm organizations that are frequently at odds over policy issues. Buis listed his top six myths about higher prices being blamed on ethanol, including Mexican tortillas, pasta, rice, bagels, beer and movie theater tickets. “I’m tired of debating these myths,” said Buis. “The last thing we need to do on renewable energy is backslide again because 30 years from now we will be back talking again about our dependence on imported energy.”

Other farmer leaders from the National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and the National Sorghum Producers participated in the conference call with members of the news media, fielding questions from reporters at media outlets ranging from Reuters to the Capitol Press in Idaho.

Agribusiness, corn, Ethanol, Food prices, News

Ribbon Cutting Planned for Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

VeraSun Energy will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house Thursday for its 110 million-gallon-per year biorefinery in Albion, Nebraska.

VeraSunThe plant began operation in October 2007 and VeraSun announced it would acquire the facility from ASAlliances in July 2007. The plant is one of 11 VeraSun ethanol production facilities currently in operation.

According to VeraSun officials, the ribbon cutting, which will be held at the Boone County Fairgrounds, “will focus on the power of partnership™, recognizing those who contributed to the success of project and are leaving a legacy of creating energy diversity and economic benefits for the communities of Boone County.”

Among those who will be on hand for the event are Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, VeraSun CEO Don Endres, Brian Jennings with the American Coalition for Ethanol, Todd Sneller of the Nebraska Ethanol Board and Randy Uhrmacher with the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.

corn, Ethanol, Facilities, News

Ethanol Focus of Corn Utilization Technology

Cindy Zimmerman

The theme for the 6th Corn Utilization and Technology Conference (CUTC) is “Corn – New Horizons,” and ethanol is definitely a big part of that landscape.

CUTCOrganizers say the theme reflects the continued growing importance of corn as a keystone to a carbohydrate-based economy. The conference has been expanded to include new topics in wet milling, dry grind technologies, value-added products from corn and new uses for distillers dry grains (DDGs) that will be of value to ethanol producers and livestock interests.

Steve Lewis POETAmong the speakers will be POET Chief Science Officer, Steve Lewis, who will discuss POET’s patent-pending biorefining technologies.

Lewis’s presentation on “Cutting Edge Research in Dry Mill Ethanol Production” will focus on POET’s two innovative technologies, BPX™ and BFRAC™.

BPX is a patent-pending raw starch hydrolysis process converts starch to sugar, which then ferments to ethanol without heat. It reduces energy and water usage by up to 15 percent in comparison to conventional processes.

BFRAC separates the corn into three fractions including fiber, germ and endosperm. The endosperm is then fermented to create ethanol while the remaining fractions are converted into value-added co-products, including POET’s Dakota Gold HP™ (a high protein distillers grain feed product), Dakota Bran™ cake, corn germ meal and corn oil.

The Corn Utilization and Technology Conference hosted by the National Corn Growers Association will be held June 2-4 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Mo.

conferences, corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, News

Demo Cellulosic Ethanol Plant to be Dedicated

Cindy Zimmerman

A dedication ceremony is planned this week for a new demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol facility in Louisiana.

Verenium PlantOfficials with Verenium Corporation say the Thursday dedication begins the commissioning phase for the new facility located in Jennings.

“This is a major step forward and a transformational moment for Verenium and the next-generation ethanol industry as we seek commercially-viable alternatives to traditional fuel sources,” said Carlos A. Riva, President and Chief Executive Officer of Verenium. “This is a first for the U.S. and as we take the next step toward commercialization, we are breaking new ground and setting new standards for our industry.”

The demonstration-scale plant in Jennings is rated to produce 1.4 million-gallons-per-year of next-generation ethanol by using specialty enzymes and the Company’s proprietary technology to convert non-food biomass.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News

Analyst: High Oil Prices Good for Biofuels

John Davis

While the rising price of crude oil might be taking a chunk out of your wallet, one analyst says it’s good news for ethanol and biodiesel.

In this story on Grainnet.com, University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist Darrell Good made the comments while reviewing factors supporting the price of corn and soybeans:

“Higher ethanol prices and strengthening prices of distillers grains have offset the higher prices of corn and natural gas,” he said.

“A continuation of relatively high crude oil and gasoline prices would be supportive of continued strong demand even with a lower blender tax credit and reduced mandates.

“The current wholesale price of unleaded gasoline along with a 45 cents per gallon blender’s tax credit, for example, would support ethanol prices 20 cents above current plant level prices.

“Higher fuel prices might also give a boost to soybean oil demand for biodiesel production.”

Good says the use of soybeans in the production of biodiesel has dropped sharply since the peak of August 2007, but refiners are using other feedstocks, such as animal fats, to keep biodiesel production increasing sharply.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

New Mexico Gov Helps Open Biofuels Center

John Davis

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson helped open a new center that will feature renewable fuels.

According to this company press release, Richardson filled up the Cummins-Blue Sun Biodiesel dragster this weekend at the Nambe Falls Travel Center in Santa Fe… a Blue Sun Biodiesel complex that includes retail and wholesale sales of the green fuel:

The Nambe Falls Travel Center is representative of the future of fueling stations, featuring major alternative fuels like biodiesel and ethanol. The Travel Center is only the third store in New Mexico to offer E10, E85, B5 and B20.

Nambe Falls selected premium Blue Sun Fusion™ B20 biodiesel because Fusion delivers greatly improved engine performance over traditional diesel fuel, has lower emissions and enjoys a strong brand franchise throughout the Mountain States.

“We’re glad to have Nambe Pueblo Development Corporation as a partner in New Mexico to bring customers the alternative fuels they demand and to help New Mexico continue on the path to becoming a clean energy state,” said Mike Miller, President and COO of Blue Sun Biodiesel.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

E85 Over One Dollar Under Gasoline in NY

Albany, NY E85 stationThere is no excuse to not purchase E85 in Albany, NY. The cost of the domestically grown, alternative fuel is $1.10 below that of unleaded at $2.95 per gallon! Village Mobil, a member of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, is located at 88 Wolf Road in Albany.

E85 contains less energy than unleaded gasoline and when used in a flexible fuel vehicle, consumers will see less miles driven per gallon. To be adventageous financially to consumers, E85 must be priced under gasoline. According to the NEVC, the price differential should be at least 20%. Village Mobil’s price of E85 is nearly 27% below the price of regular unleaded gasoline.

There are nearly 4,700 flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) in Albany that can take advantage of this pricing, and over 200,000 FFVs in the entire state. For a complete listing of E85 stations, including the 20 in the state of New York, go to www.E85Refueling.com.

E85, Ethanol, Facilities, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News