ACE Conference 2026

NBB to Truckers: Biodiesel Getting Better

John Davis

worktruckshow.jpgOfficials with the National Biodiesel Board are telling those who depend on their trucks… and the fuel they put in those trucks… for their living that the quality of biodiesel is getting better.

This story posted on Truck News.com says the NBB’s Richard Nelson has addressed those attending this week’s National Truck Equipment Associations’ Work Truck Show in Atlanta, Georgia:

“We tell you the good, the bad and the ugly – I’m not hear to sugar-coat this,” Nelson told delegates during the show’s Hybrid Truck and Alternative Fuels Summit.

Nelson admitted that ensuring the quality of biodiesel remains the biggest challenge facing the expanding industry. Biodiesel demand in the US skyrocketed to 450 million gallons in 2007, nearly doubling from the 250 million gallons consumed the previous year, Nelson pointed out.

“We are expanding, we’re more than a drop in the bucket,” Nelson said. “But we’re not going to replace all the diesel fuel, we don’t have the feedstocks to do that.”

The National Biodiesel Board says the industry aims to produce volumes equal to 5% of on-road diesel fuel used in the US by 2015, which totals 1.85 billion gallons per year. In order to meet that target, Nelson said the industry must overcome two key challenges: fuel quality and feedstock availability.

“Simply put, B20 (or any other blend) will not be a factor if fuel quality can not be met on a consistent basis,” admitted Nelson. The industry has developed a standard called ASTM D 6751-07b which must be met by all producers in order to qualify for US tax credits and to become road-legal. It includes limits for 18 different properties and is feedstock-neutral. The increased emphasis on quality appears to be working, Nelson said.

Nelson also pointed out to attendees that just two years ago, 60 percent of all biodiesel did not meet the standard. Today, only about 10 percent falls short. He urged trucking companies to make sure they use a reputable supplier when using buying biodiesel for their trucks.

Biodiesel

Ethanol is a Classic Hit

Cindy Zimmerman

You can’t turn a corner at the 2008 Commodity Classic trade show without seeing something about ethanol. A record crowd is attending the Classic this year – more than 4450 people and over 140 media are in Nashville and the corn-fed enthusiasm is driven in a large part by the ethanol buzz.

Everybody who is anybody in the ethanol industry is here – the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, 25 by ’25 and more. Not to mention that ag input dealers from machinery to seed are touting products to help growers produce more corn per acre for both food and fuel.

But its only just begun. Friday will feature Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer during the general session followed up by a John Deere Learning Center Session on Starch and Cellulose as Ethanol Feedstocks. And Saturday night everybody will be “Corn Fed” with a concert featuring the lovely and talented Shannon Brown.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: John Deere

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic, Ethanol, John Deere, News

Introducing Ethanol Retailer Magazine

Chuck Zimmerman

Robert White at National Ethanol ConferenceThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is now in the publishing business after announcing the introduction of “Ethanol Retailer” magazine this week. Robert White, Publisher, is pictured (center) during a panel he participated in on E85 during the National Ethanol Conference. I interviewed Robert about the new venture and the panel he was on.

Ethanol Retailer is the only magazine dedicated to reaching over 22,000 independent fuel retailers from their own viewpoint. These retailers are the backbone of the ethanol market, servicing over 6.8 million flex-fuel vehicles.

“We’ve broken new ground with this magazine,” said Robert White, publisher and director of operations for EPIC. “No other single publication addresses the higher blends of ethanol from a fuel retailer standpoint.”

The quarterly magazine addresses ethanol from a business case, and includes the latest ethanol news, facts and resources, fuel retailer success stories, and ethanol government updates.

You can listen to my interview with Robert here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/nec-08-white.mp3]

National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, News

Wind Power Outpacing Line Capacity

John Davis

powerlines.jpgThe sudden skyrocketing of wind energy production, especially in areas of the Midwest and rural parts of Texas and California, is outdistancing the the capacity for the nation’s high-voltage lines to get that clean electricity into the nation’s cities.

This story from USA Today says the problem could keep some projects from even getting started and states from meeting their renewable energy goals:

Wind power depends on a robust transmission grid. Wind farms are in remote reaches where gusts are strongest, while the greatest power demand is in cities.

Until now, wind developers have piggybacked on existing wires, says analyst Stow Walker of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. But after wind energy soared 45% last year, spare transmission capacity is depleted. Wind power generates more than 1% of U.S. electricity.

Stringing new wires is easier said than done. Wind developers won’t go ahead with projects until transmission lines are in place, and utilities are loath to build the lines until they’re sure the developers won’t back out. Also, the first wind developer in an area is often asked to shoulder much of the $1.5 million-per-mile cost of a high-voltage line.

In Texas, which has about 25% of U.S. wind power, more eye-popping growth in 2008 is expected to push generation past transmission capacity by 65% by year’s end, says Bill Bojorquez, vice president of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, a power-grid manager.

Some areas are trying to solve the problem by combining assets to put in the transmission lines, because while it only takes 18 months to put in the wind farm, the power line to get the energy to the consumers can take five to 10 years.

Wind

House Approves $18 billion in Taxes on Big Oil to Help Renewables

John Davis

uscapitol.jpgThe U.S House today approved $18 billion in new taxes on the oil companies that will fund incentives for renewable energy.

Bloomberg.com reports that the vote comes as crude oil prices topped $100 a barrel and will send the bill to the Senate, where similar measures have faced stiff opposition in the past:

The $18.1 billion measure, versions of which have been rejected twice by the Senate, would remove a $13.6 billion tax credit from the world’s five biggest public oil companies, and impose a $4.5 billion tax on oil and gas companies operating abroad. Money from the policy changes would promote wind and solar power and offer incentives for energy savings technology.

The 236-182 vote comes a day after the price of oil closed at a record $100.88 and during a week when the Energy Department reported that the price of average retail regular unleaded gasoline climbed almost 9 cents to $3.13 a gallon. The White House again threatened to veto the measure yesterday.

“We have seen no indication that Republican opposition to the oil and natural gas tax hikes have abated, making the offsets the Democrats seek for the renewable programs the albatross on the bill,” said Christine Tezak, an analyst for Stanford Group Co. in a Feb. 22 report.

Last December, a $13 billion energy tax measure fell just one vote short of the 60 needed in the Senate to invoke cloture and allow the bill come to a binding vote. The failure came after President George W. Bush threatened to veto an energy bill with the taxes. Backers hope the higher oil prices will help the measure survive better this time.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Central Florida Buses to Run on Own Biodiesel

John Davis

lynxbus.jpgBuses in Central Florida will soon be running on a blend of their own biodiesel… a first in the country for any bus fleet.

According to this story in the Orlando Sentinel, a $2.5 million state grant is helping Lynx, Central Florida’s bus system, convert all 290 of its buses and four support vehicles to run on biodiesel in 2009:

It also will allow the agency to run a blending station that will serve the diesel fleets of Orange County and Orlando Utilities Commission. That partnership between agencies will be a national first, Lynx officials said.

“It’s what we want to do to do our part in the community,” said Lisa Darnall, chief operating officer for the bus agency.

The blending process, scheduled to start in early 2009, will produce a fuel that is 80 percent petroleum-based diesel and 20 percent from plant-derived oils. As a result, the three agencies will use 1.2 million gallons less of regular diesel annually.

About 800,000 of those diesel gallons would have been burned by Lynx, which operates mainly in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties with some service to Lake, Volusia and Polk.

Using less petroleum by burning the biodiesel in the tourist area’s buses will help Florida reach Gov. Charlie Crist’s goal of reducing production of greenhouse gases by government groups by 10 percent by 2012, as well as helping the county hit its goal of cutting fossil fuel use by 20 percent by 2010.

Biodiesel

Biofuels Focus at Classic

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2008 Commodity Classic is getting underway here in Nashville at the Opryland.

Farm Bill and biofuels are the main topics of discussion at this meeting of corn, soybean and wheat growers. Today is mainly commodity group delegate meetings and tours for those not involved in the business sessions. Activities really get rolling Thursday afternoon with the opening of the huge trade show.

After Friday’s general session, John Deere will be holding a Learning Center on “Starch and Cellulose as Ethanol Feedstocks.” The session includes “a realistic timetable for cellulosic development and the importance of starch as today’s primary ethanol feedstock.” Should be a popular and interesting session.

There will also be a Learning Center on Wind Energy as Another Cash Crop, sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by: John Deere

2008 Commodity Classic Photo Album

Commodity Classic, corn, Ethanol, John Deere, News, Wind

Getting More Washington Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman

Tom DorrOur Undersecretary for Rural Development, Tom Dorr, was first up on the program here this morning at the National Ethanol Conference to speak about the farm bill and focus on renewable fuel policies and provisions.

He says the ethanol industry is going through some growing pains, or put another way, transitional challenges. He’s convinced these will be overcome. Like many of the speakers here he talked about the attacks on ethanol, especially of late, in terms of sustainability. He said that some of the same regulatory rhetoric being discussed in Europe in regards to biofuels is creeping up in the debate in Washington, DC. He pointed out that farmers have long been working on sustainability and the facts show that they’re increasing yields while reducing inputs.

You can hear most of Dorr’s speech here (I missed the very beginning): [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/rfa/nec-08-dorr-1.mp3]

National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Government, National Ethanol Conference, News

$2.5 Million Grant Goes to Florida Wind Project

John Davis

fpl_logo.gifFlorida Power and Light has picked up a $2.5 million state grant to help build a major wind power plant.

This story on TCPalm.com has more details:

FPL wants to place six turbines on its own land at the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant and three on state owned land managed by the county at Blind Creek Park. The FPL Project, called “St. Lucie Wind” in the grant paperwork, was one of eight projects out of 139 proposals to get money from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

“We applaud Gov. (Charlie) Crist and the state of Florida for their commitment to addressing the important challenge of developing new renewable energy sources,” said FPL spokeswoman Amy Brunjes in a statement. “Irrespective of the specifics regarding any particular project, we know that many renewable energy projects will be needed to achieve our goals as a state.”

The $2.5 million award was the maximum amount possible through the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, designed to encourage renewable energy projects involving solar, hydrogen, wind and other technologies. The wind turbine project is estimated to cost about $60.8 million.

Wind

California Working on Biofuel Access

John Davis

caflag.gifWhile California leads the nation in alternative fuel stations, pumps offering E85 ethanol and biodiesel are still extremely rare.

In fact, this Los Angeles Times story posted on Checkbiotech.org says that out of the 835 alternative fuel stations, 379 offer electricity, 215 pump liquefied petroleum gas, and 174 dispense compressed natural gas… with just a handful offering biodiesel or E85. But that could change:

Now, however, California has adopted ambitious new goals for alternative fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions – and it can no longer afford to leave the public out of the mix.For starters, the state is going to increase the use of ethanol as a fuel additive to all gasoline sold here.

For years, California’s gasoline has contained 5.7% ethanol to boost octane and comply with federal emissions rules; starting in 2010, that will rise to 10% ethanol. For a state that consumes about 43 million gallons of gas each day, that change alone represents a huge jump in ethanol consumption.

Meanwhile, biodiesel backers have helped build a statewide roster of more than 50 sites that offer the fuel, with many selling to the public and offering blends ranging from B10 (10% biodiesel and 90% petroleum diesel) to B99, a nearly pure biodiesel fuel.

New state and federal grants will help add E85 sites. In May, the state air board set aside millions to help set up 34 public E85 stations. Most are planned for the Sacramento area, but new sites will also open in the coming weeks in Carlsbad and Oceanside in San Diego County. Separate grants will fund new E85 sites elsewhere later this year.

But getting commercial stations on board might be a little tougher. The article says it costs about $50,000 to add E85 pumps. In addition, the big oil companies, which own most of the commercial outlets, are not warm to allow alternatives to petroleum to be sold at their stations.

GM, which has sold the largest number of the six million E85 vehicles on the road in the country today, is trying to help pump up the use of E85 by underwriting events such as selling E85 for just 85 cents a gallon in an effort to get more people to use the greener fuel.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, News