Missouri Senate Approves Biodiesel Mandate

John Davis

senstouffer11.GIFA requirement that all diesel sold in Missouri contain at least 5 percent biodiesel has passed the State Senate.

Radio station KWMU (St. Louis) reports the measure, set to go into effect in 2010 if it becomes law, passed by a wide 20-11 margin:

The bill’s sponsor, State Senator Bill Stouffer (R, Napton), says B-5 will cause less pollution and reduce wear and tear on commercial trucks.

“It gives us an opportunity to raise fuel in Missouri and keep those dollars inside the state, instead of going to Texas, or the Mid-East or Venezuela,” Stouffer said.

The measure now goes on to the Missouri House. If it passes there, Governor Matt Blunt has indicated he will sign the bill. Blunt called for the mandate in his State of the State address in January.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

“Biogasoline” Could Compete With Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

ShellShell and Virent Energy Systems of Wisconsin have announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components instead of ethanol.

VirentAccording to the companies, “the sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switch grass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane.”

Virent’s BioForming(TM) platform technology uses catalysts to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules like those produced at a petroleum refinery. Traditionally, sugars have been fermented into ethanol and distilled. These new ‘biogasoline’ molecules have higher energy content than ethanol (or butanol) and deliver better fuel efficiency. They can be blended seamlessly to make conventional gasoline or combined with gasoline containing ethanol.

The companies have so far collaborated for one year on the research.

corn, Energy, Ethanol, News, Research

Corvette Ready to Run on Cellulosic E85

Cindy Zimmerman

CorvetteThe Corvette Racing team will make its debut race on cellulosic E85 in the upcoming American LeMans Series Acura Sports Car Challenge in St. Petersburg, Florida April 4-5. GM Racing program manager Doug Fehan says they are very excited about it.

“GM is the leader in the production of flex fuel vehicles, we produce over 2.5 million and we are the largest producer in the world,” Fehan said during a teleconference on Wednesday. “Corvette has always tried to position itself as a leader in GM and within the racing community and this was a chance for Corvette again to demonstrate that leadership.”

Fehan says they had some challenges perfecting the fuel cell for using E85 in the race car, which kept them from using the fuel in the ALMS Twelve Hours of Sebring but they have resolved that issue. Comparing E85 to gasoline, Fehan says there is a difference in fuel mileage “but from a power and performance standpoint, it’s virtually the same.”

Johnny O'ConnellThe Corvette Racing C6.R driven by Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows captured ninth overall and first in the 12 hours of Sebring in Florida, the season opener for the American Le Mans Series.

O’Connell agrees that performance with the cellulosic E85 is identical. “There has been absolutely no loss in performance at all (running the E85 in the Corvette) it’s as amazing as it’s always been,” he says. Because of the lower fuel mileage he says they do have to carry a little more fuel which makes the car a little heavier at the start, but “we’ll make that up on the other side” when the car is lighter.

O’Connell is especially pleased with the environmental benefits of running E85. “We all want to be as green as we possibly can and recognize that we do need to change things to keep racing in our culture as we go forward,” said O’Connell.

Corvette Racing has a technical partnership with the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council to spotlight E85 in the ALMS, and the cellulosic E85 for the race is being provided by KL Process Design Group of South Dakota. Two other teams – the Intersport Racing Lola and the Drayson-Barwell Racing Aston Martin – are also running on E85 in the ALMS series.

Listen to part of the press conference here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/epic/corvette-conference-edit.mp3]

American LeMans, Audio, Cellulosic, E85, EPIC, Ethanol, News, Racing

Biodiesel Motorcycle on the Road

John Davis

Last September, a motorcycle that runs on biodiesel hit a record 130 miles per hour (see my Sept. 17, 2007 post). Now, the folks at the Oakland, California-based The Crucible want to run it up to 160 mph!

But first, this YouTube video posted on InventorSpot.com shows them taking out on the road:

biobikevideo.jpgExtreme motorcycle modification is nothing new. So when Michael Sturtz decided to make an extreme motorcycle with a diesel motor, not much was said, until now.

Sturtz and his team from an industrial-arts group called the Crucible based out of Oakland, California started with an older model motorcycle. They found a diesel V6 from a BMW and began the painstaking process of merging the 2. After spending over a month rebuilding the frame, running hoses and cables and designing a biodiesel friendly fuel system, the computer locked up. A built in security system flagged the car as stolen and only after some “hacking” and a few calls to BMW could the problem be remedied.

Biodiesel

BioTrucker Fuel Card Hits the Streets… and Highways

John Davis

biotruckercardfrontsmall.jpgThe first-ever biodiesel fuel card has been unveiled. National Biodiesel Foundation (NBF) today introduced the BioTrucker Fuel Card, which highlights the availability of biodiesel with a network of truck stops that carry biodiesel.

This press release from the National Biodiesel Board, the parent group for the NBF, says the card allows truckers and fleets pay a cash price (while having the convenience of a credit card) on all fuel and no fuel transaction fees for biodiesel at in-network of 4900 truck accessible retail stations across the U.S. In addition, Sapp Bros. Travel Centers (Peru Ill.), Waddy Unocal 76 (Waddy, Ky.) and Drivers Truck Stop (Ft. Worth, Texas) are giving card holders a two-cent-a-gallon discount:

“Being one of the first truck stops to offer a discount for BioTrucker Fuel Card holders is very exciting to us,” said Kevin Cassidy, Marketing Manager, Sapp Bros. Travel Centers. “We are huge supporters of biodiesel and this program will generate interest and awareness.”

The initial in-network list of 149 truck stops will continue to grow as more truck stops sell biodiesel and accept the BioTrucker Fuel Card. In-network truck stops include large chains and independent stops.

“We are pleased that our stop is part of the BioTrucker Fuel Card network,” said Karlene Saunders, Owner, Stockton Travel Centers. “This is a great program for helping truckers find biodiesel.”

The BioTrucker Fuel Card gives trucking companies and owner operators an easy way to pay for fuel, access cash advances, and pay for repairs and other expenses while on the road. Card holders pay the cash price for all fuel, instead of a credit price. ProMiles mapping software is a partner that provides incentives for using its software – the only mapping software for the trucking industry that shows biodiesel locations. Discounts on repairs and tires as well as road side assistance are also available through the card.

Those who want to sign up for the Biotrucker Fuel Card and to find out more information can click on the BioTrucker.com web site.

Biodiesel

Ethanex Bankruptcy

Cindy Zimmerman

EthanexA company with ambitious plans to have ethanol plants in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska is now planning to file for bankruptcy after being unable to raise $1.5 million in necessary interim financing.

Ethanex Energy at various times announced plans to buy Midwest Renewable Energy in Nebraska and build plants in Waltonville, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri and northeast Kansas. (see previous Domestic Fuel posts)

According to the Kansas City Star, the Kansas-based company has ceased operations and dismissed all but three of its employees.

The company website is no longer up.

Ethanol, News

Consumer Group Blames Refiners for Higher Gas Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

A new report from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) blames higher gas prices on major U.S. oil refiners creating tighter markets.

CFAThe report looks at why gas prices continue to rise despite declining gasoline consumption, high inventory levels and increased production of ethanol.

“For half a decade the major oil companies have exercised their market power,” said Dr. Mark Cooper, research director of CFA and author of the report. “In response to record high prices, consumers are cutting their consumption and lower priced alternatives, like ethanol are expanding supplies. But these market responses are being counteracted by high crude prices driven up by speculators and reduced oil company refinery runs.”

The report notes that ethanol is one of the key factors affecting the gasoline market.

Today, two-thirds of all gasoline sold in the U.S. is blended with ethanol. However, the use of ethanol still falls far short of the maximum allowed for conventional engines. If all gasoline sold were blended to 10 percent ethanol, ethanol use would be 40 percent higher than it is today. Such an increase would equal over 200,000 barrels per day and production capacity is projected to increase by almost that much in 2008,14 which reinforces the fact that the primary structural factor that may alter the domestic situation in the near term is the supply of alternative fuels, rather than recession driven changes in demand.

Cooper calls on policy makers “to shine a spotlight on the industry so it does not cut back on refinery runs to tighten the market, and they need to ensure that the 2007 “Energy Independence and Security Act” is implemented vigorously since it emphasized the two key long-term elements that can help consumers escape from the grip of both the domestic refining oligopoly and the crude oil cartel – expansion of alternative fuels and reduction of demand through increased fuel economy.”

Ethanol, News

Orion Ethanol Diversifies

Cindy Zimmerman

Orion Ethanol of Kansas has acquired a corn fructose wet milling facility located in Texas from Dimmitt Ethanol.

Orion EthanolOrion plans to convert the facility into a fully integrated renewable fuels campus in three phases over 3 years. The first phase will convert the corn fructose wet milling facility into a 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant and 10 million gallon per year edible oil extraction facility. Phases two and three will consist of adding a 10 million gallon per year cellulose-to-ethanol process, a 12 million gallon per year biodiesel plant, a 25,000 ton per year yeast plant, and a 60-75 Megawatt wind and biomethane based electrical generation facility. The asset purchase brings with it approximately 1,200 surrounding acres and a wind lease agreement.

Orion chairman of the board Patrick Barker says, “Dimmitt Ethanol’s wet milling facility is the ideal platform upon which we plan to develop an integrated renewable fuels campus that will include production of cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, biomethane, and wind power. This project will help to horizontally diversify Orion across the energy spectrum, building upon Orion Ethanol’s past success acquiring and developing our 55 million gallon per year dry-mill ethanol plant in Pratt, Kansas.”

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Facilities, News, Wind

GO Ethanol Creates Jobs

Cindy Zimmerman

On Monday, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland toured the nearly complete Greater Ohio Ethanol plant in Lima to promote his jobs creation program.

According to LimaOhio.com, the governor’s “Building Ohio Jobs” proposal includes more than $250 million for investment in advanced energy projects including solar manufacturing, advanced coal technology and biofuels.

Greater Ohio Ethanol“I think this community should feel really good about the effort that has gone into the successful completion of this plant. What I’ve been told is every segment of this community got behind this effort and supported it,” Strickland said. “This is the result of people working together to accomplish something that is good for everyone. It’s going to be good for the farmers, the agriculture community in Ohio will benefit as a result of this plant.”

In January, Strickland helped open the new POET Energy ethanol plant in Leipsic.

“We want to invest an additional $250 million into encouraging developments like this one,” Strickland said. “We’ll invest in renewable fuel sources, advanced technologies and so on so we can become less dependent on sources outside our state and outside the nation to meet our energy needs.”

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Nebraska Biodiesel Plant Gets New Life

John Davis

beatricebiodiesel.jpgA Nebraska biodiesel plant that was under construction up until the middle of February, just weeks short of its completion, looks like it will be completed.

The Beatrice Biodiesel Plant will finally be finished after parent company U.S. Canadian Biofuels secured new financing for the plant, according to this article in the Beatrice Daily Sun:

cummins1.jpgBud Cummins, U.S. Canadian Biofuels CEO, said Monday a recent agreement with Home Federal Savings Bank, which issued the construction loan for Beatrice Biodiesel, will allow Beatrice Biodiesel to liquidate certain collateral currently securing the loan to provide a cash pool to complete the core construction at the plant.

“This is good news for our creditors,” Cummins said. “It is generally believed that most buyers are going to want to see the construction completed before they commit to buying the plant.”

The article goes on to say that U.S. Canadian Biofuels will sell the plant after it is finished to help satisfy liens against it… however, it doesn’t mention how soon it could be actually cranking out biodiesel.

Biodiesel