Look To Ohio For Fuel Cell Innovation

John Davis

Fuel Cell CorridorOhio describes itself as a leader in the fuel cell industry and a prominent figure in clean energy innovations. And, to support its claim, the state will host the Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium at the University of Akron this Tuesday and Wednesday (May 11-12). The Ohio Business Development Coalition wants to showcase the state’s “nurturing business environment” for renewable energy.

Fresh on the heels of the passage of Ohio’s Energy Bill, the Symposium provides an opportunity for fuel cell industry leaders to discuss the critical role of alternative energy resources for Ohio’s future.

This month, Ohio Gov. Strickland signed into law a landmark energy reform bill that will require at least 25 percent of the electricity sold in Ohio to be generated from advanced energy technology by 2025 — with a minimum of 12.5 percent from renewable energy resources. At the same time, Ohio government leaders have agreed to pursue a jobs and economic development stimulus package that will provide $150 million in advanced energy supply chain funding to further stimulate industry development.

Ohio is one of the few places in the world where you can find all phases of fuel cell development taking place. The state is also home to the Ohio Fuel Cell Initiative, a multi-million-dollar program that aims to spur job creation in Ohio while positioning the state as a national leader in the growing fuel cell industry.

conferences, Energy

USDA Expects Enough Corn for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast calls for enough corn and soybeans to meet both food and fuel needs.

The May supply and demand report released on Friday based predictions for the 2008-09 marketing year on an expected corn crop of 12.1 billion bushels, down 7 percent from last year’s record crop.

USDAUSDA is expecting total U.S. corn use in 2008-09 to be 2 percent lower than the current marketing year, which ends in August. The report calls for reductions in feed and residual use and exports to more than offset a continued expansion in ethanol production.

Feed and residual use is projected down 14 percent as corn feeding declines with increased production of distillers grains, higher corn prices, and reduced red meat production. Corn exports are projected down 16 percent as U.S. supplies face increased world competition with increased foreign production and a sharp drop in EU-27 imports. Ethanol use is projected at 4 billion bushels, up 33 percent from 2007/08. The slowing pace of plant construction and expansion, and lower capacity utilization are expected to modestly dampen growth in ethanol corn use. With total corn use expected to exceed production by 635 million bushels, ending stocks are projected down 45 percent. At 763 million bushels, ending stocks would be the lowest since 1995/96.

Meanwhile, on the soybean side, production is expected to be up by 520 million bushels this year, but biodiesel production is expected to be only slightly higher in the coming marketing year. USDA is projecting biodiesel will use 15 percent of total soybean oil production in 2008-09, compared with 14 percent this year.

Biodiesel, corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Farming, Government, News

Biofuels Emerging Online

John Davis

Adino Energy Corporation has a new online identity. Consumers can log onto www.ifl-usa.com to find information about Intercontinental Fuels. The Houston-based wholesale fuel distributor and fuel terminal operator offers storage, delivery, and blending of both diesel fuel and biodiesel fuel.

“We are pleased to announce the successful launch of Intercontinental Fuels’ new website, redesigned to help visitors better understand our terminalling operations and enhance their on-line experience,” commented Timothy G. Byrd, Sr., Adino Energy Corporation’s chief executive officer.

“We also have a new website under construction for Adino Energy, and I look forward to soon unveiling it to our shareholders and the general public.

Biodiesel, Distribution, Energy

CO Getting World’s Largest Wind Turbine Factory

John Davis

vestas.jpgColorado could soon be home to the world’s largest wind turbine factory. However, officials with the company building the facility is remaining tight-lipped about exactly where in Colorado it would be built.

The Greeley (CO) Tribune reports Denmark-based Vesta Wind Systems won’t say whether it intends to build the plant with its current factory in Windsor:

The near $250 million tower production facility is expected to be fully operation in mid-2010 with an annual processing capacity of 200,000 tons of steel, or 900 towers, and bring 400 new jobs to the state. Vestas also plans to establish a research and development center in the United States in 2009.

Earlier this year, Vestas opened its first American blade manufacturing facility in Windsor’s Great Western Industrial Park. That $65 million, 350,000 square-foot facility, will produce more than 500, 40-meter wind turbines a year when the plant is fully operational, according to company officials.

This is the second big announcement for Vestas since first announcing its intentions to build the blade facility here last year. Originally, the company planned to employ 450 people at full capacity. But an expansion announced late in 2007 added an additional 250 jobs.

Vestas recently opened its first American blade manufacturing facility in North Central Colorado, a $65 million, 350,000 square-foot facility that will crank out more than 500, 120-foot wind turbines annually when it is at full capacity.

Wind

CA Veggie Oil Drivers Paying Road Tax, More

John Davis

caflag.gifYou know the old expression: “no good deed goes unpunished.” Well, drivers in California who are trying to do the right thing and run their vehicles on cleaner fuels are getting hit up for not paying taxes… and more.

According to this story from the LA Times, those who are driving their vehicles using vegetable oil or used cooking grease are being fined for not paying road taxes, as well as being hit up for not having $1 million in liability insurance (in case the oils spill) and not having the proper permits to burn fat:

The regulations are so burdensome that even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, trying to set an example for Californians by driving a Hummer that burns cooking oil he buys at Costco, had not complied. Schwarzenegger, who has said that the exhaust from his Hummer smells so much like French fries that his passengers get hunger pangs, was unaware that he was required to send Sacramento an 18-cent road tax for every gallon of kitchen oil he burned, according to spokesman Aaron McLear. After The Times raised the issue, McLear said the governor would pay the taxes he owed.

The governor’s staff says it is working on making it easier to drive using vegetable oil without being an outlaw.

“We are very interested in making sure people who have these kinds of vehicles are able to comply as easily as possible,” McLear said.

But environmentalists are frustrated. “It is ridiculous that we live in what is presumed to be one of the greenest states in the nation, yet we have the most antiquated laws to deal with green energy,” said Josh Tickell, an alternative-fuels advocate and filmmaker whose documentary “Fields of Fuel” recently won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.

“Everyone I know wants to do the right thing by the law,” he said. “But the state is not set up to even clearly provide information to folks.”

The article goes on to say that most California drivers trying to burn their own fuel are doing it underground, especially after the Meat and Poultry Inspection Branch of the state government raised the license fee from $75 to $300 for those hauling any amount of the vegetable or animal fat oil fuel.

As you might remember from my post back on March 25, 2007, Wisconsin homebrew biodiesel makers ran afoul of the tax laws in that state… ironic since the state was at the same time pushing more use of renewable fuels. Hopefully, one day, these states that claim to want to help the environment will realize that that only happens when you give the common man the tools to help.

Biodiesel

Minnesota Passes 20% Biodiesel Mandate

John Davis

The Minnesota Legislature has passed the largest biodiesel mandate in the country, sending the bill to Governor Tim Pawlenty for his signature.

vickerman.jpgSF 3683 is an omnibus agricluture bill authored by Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy (pictured left) that uses language from original legislation introduced by Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, (pictured right). It juhnke.JPGmoves the biodiesel standard up to 5 percent a year from now, 10 percent by 2012, and finally, a whopping 20 percent by 2015. The measure enforces the higher mandate only during the warmer months of the late spring, summer, and early fall months in the northern state:

The minimum content levels in clauses (3) and (4) [10 percent and 20 percent mandates, respectively] are effective during the months of April, May, June, July, August, September, and October only. The minimum content for the remainder of the year is five percent. However, if the commissioners of agriculture, commerce, and pollution control determine, after consultation with the biodiesel task force and other technical experts, that an American Society for Testing and Materials specification or equivalent federal standard exists for the specified biodiesel blend level in those clauses that adequately addresses technical issues associated with Minnesota’s cold weather and publish a notice in the State Register to that effect, the commissioners may allow the specified biodiesel blend level in those clauses to be effective year-round.

(b) The minimum content levels in paragraph (a), clauses (3) and (4), become effective on the date specified only if the commissioners of agriculture, commerce, and pollution control publish notice in the State Register and provide written notice to the chairs of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture, commerce, and transportation policy and finance, at least 270 days prior to the date of each scheduled increase, that all of the following conditions have been met and the state is prepared to move to the next scheduled minimum content level:

Those conditions include that a sufficient amount of biodiesel is available from at least three-fourths U.S. and/or Canadian feedstock to meet the mandate and that 5 percent of the biodiesel produced comes from feedstocks other than agricultural crops, including algae, used cooking oils and animal fats.

Biodiesel, Legislation

Forum Number 18 for CleanTech

John Davis

ct.pngThe Cleantech Network is holding yet another forum to give experts in the energy industry a chance to learn the latest tools and technologies of the trade. The CleanTech Forum XVIII will be held in Washington D.C. September 15th -17th, 2008.

Explore the best cleantech policies and corporate practices from around the world. Hear from prominent lawmakers on cleantech-related issues. Help influence change. A new U.S. administration will soon be sworn in, and a national American emissions cap and trade system looks likely. First generation biofuels are being blamed for rising worldwide food prices, and scientists worry that the challenge of global warming has been underestimated.

Cleantech Forum XVIII in Washington, D.C. connects North American investors, technology innovators, policymakers and top tier cleantech influencers with their counterparts from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere.

More than 20 of the industry’s leading companies will be presenting their value propositions at the event.

Biodiesel, conferences, Energy

Alternative Fuels and Vehicles in Vegas

John Davis

av.pngWe are just days away from the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo in Vegas. The four-day event boasts 200 speakers and 2,000 registrants, which includes representatives from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies will be featured in the largest industry event of its kind in the world. The 14th annual conference brings together public and private fleets and other government and industry stakeholders who share the mission of advancing the use of alternative fuels and advanced technologies in the marketplace.

This is the premier international conference representing all alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles where internationally renowned experts help you select the right fuel, vehicle and technology strategies for your application.

Conference activities include workshops, sessions, networking, Ride-n-Drive events, a free public forum and a trade show that will feature more than 100 exhibitors.

Biodiesel, conferences, Energy, EPIC, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, International, News

Solar Roof for French Farm

John Davis

suntech.pngA farm in Alsace, France is installing one of the world’s largest building integrated PV solar systems. Suntech Power Holdings Co. and Hanau Energies SAS are developing the 4.5 MegaWatt BIPV. The project will include installation of weatherproof roofs on five agricultural warehouses using Suntech’s ‘Just Roof’ design.

The ‘Just Roof’ system was initially released in 1994 and has already been installed on more than 4,000 homes and commercial buildings worldwide. It features interlocking panels mounted on specially designed rails to give a highly aesthetic, weatherproof building skin that can be installed quickly and easily.

Officials expect the project to be completed in January of 2009.

Energy, Facilities, Solar

Ethanol Provisions in Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Congressional negotiators Thursday announced a compromise 2007 Farm Bill that has new incentives for biofuels production.

“The new Farm Bill will dramatically ramp up the agricultural sector’s capacity to produce clean, renewable energy,” said conference committee chairman Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). “Significantly, it provides more than a billion dollars to expand the supply of fuels made from biomass and crop by-products, other than grain.”

According to Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, the bill invests $320 million for new loan guarantee program for the development and construction of commercial-scale biorefineries; provides $300 million in the Bioenergy Program to provide assistance to biofuel production plants for the purchase of feedstocks; provides $118 million for biomass research and development efforts; reauthorizes and provides $250 million for grants and loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects; and authorizes a new program, the Biomass Crop Assistance Program to help producers transition to new energy crops for biofuel production.

To help pay for the Farm Bill, negotiators cut the blenders tax credit for corn-based ethanol from 51 cents to 45 cents and initiated a tax credit for cellulosic ethanol. The bill also includes language which calls on the federal government to buy surplus sugar and sell it to ethanol producers, where it would be used in a mixture with corn.

As soon as the compromise Farm Bill was announced, the administration issued a statement promising a presidential veto because it lacks “significant reform and increases spending by nearly $20 billion.” However, House and Senate ag leadership are working on a strategy to override a veto.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News