Energy in the Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

ChamblissThe Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 passed by the Senate last week includes increased funding for alternative energy sources.

“I’m particularly excited about the energy title,” said Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking Republican on the Senate Ag Committee. “The energy title gives farmers in my part of the country an opportunity to participate in alternative energy, ethanol and biodiesel, like we’ve never had before.”

The energy title provides investments in farm-based energy by creating initiatives with financial incentives to help farmers transition into biomass crops, and supports the construction of biorefineries from cellulose ethanol with a loan guarantee program that will provide up to 80 percent of total project cost with a loan cap of $250 million. The bill expands markets for biobased products, and invests in farm-based energy R&D, and in helping farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses move to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Biodiesel, Energy, Ethanol, Legislation, News

Pioneer Joins Iowa Corn Indy

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Corn IndyPioneer Hi-Bred has teamed up with the Iowa Corn Promotion Board and Corn Growers Association to sponsor the Iowa Corn Indy 250 in 2008 and 2009.

Pioneer“We are excited about the opportunity to help showcase the advances being made in biofuels and the role they can play in the effort to reduce our nation’s reliance on petroleum,” said Paul Schickler, Pioneer president and DuPont vice president and general manager.

The Pioneer commitment is one part of a three-part strategy by DuPont to deliver new technologies to the growing biofuels market while continuing to meet growing demand for grain corn, soybeans and other crops. The strategy includes: improving the yield of grain ethanol production through the research and technology expertise of Pioneer; developing technologies to convert cellulosic feedstocks into biofuels; and discovering new technologies to make improved biofuels with enhanced fuel properties such as biobutanol.

Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Ethanol on Ice

Cindy Zimmerman

E95 ZamboniA new message accompanies the ice resurfacing machine at University of Minnesota hockey games. The new “E85 Zamboni” debuted this month during a game between the Gopher Men and the University of Alaska-Anchorage.

“The message is as “black and white” as we can make it. We hope you agree,” said Tim Gerlach of the Minnesota E85 Team. “This consumer education project was made possible with support from the Minnesota E85 Team, for which we are grateful. Thank you, also, to Portage Marketing for their assistance.”

The Minnesota E85 Team consists of the American Lung Association of Minnesota, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Department of Commerce, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Clean Cities and General Motors.

See more E85 Zamboni pictures here.

E85, Ethanol, News

Educating NC about FFVs

Cindy Zimmerman

NEVC NCThe National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, along with General Motors, CleanFUEL Distribution and Clean Fuel Advanced Technology, traveled the state of North Carolina this month in an effort to educate retailers and marketers regarding the potential of E85 and flexible fuel vehicles.

“The event allowed North Carolina gasoline marketers the chance to learn more about E85 and the use of alternative fuels for the almost 140,000 FFVs in the state,” noted NEVC Deputy Director Michelle Kautz. “We would like to thank GM, CleanFUEL Distribution and CFAT for the opportunity to present on the national perspective.”

E85, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

Philly Area Moms Help Buses Fuel with Biodiesel

John Davis

krapfschoolbus.jpgAbout 55,000 students in the Philadelphia area will be riding to school on more than 500 buses fueled with biodiesel starting next year.

This story in the Philadelphia Inquirer says the enironmentally-friendly fuel is being brought to buses in the Coatesville Area, Downingtown Area, Kennett Consolidated and West Chester Area School Districts thanks to help from a local organization:

The switch was made possible in large part due to the efforts of Moms for the Future, a local grassroots organization; the Energy Cooperative, a nonprofit, member-owned energy supplier; and Krapf Bus Companies. A $300,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection didn’t hurt, either.

momsforfuture3.gifDiane Herrin, a West Chester mother of two, founded Moms for the Future with a few other mothers as an advocacy group. Environmental issues top the group’s docket at the moment.

Herrin explained that in addition to environmental advantages, biodiesel has economic advantages, despite a higher cost, as a domestic energy source as opposed to foreign oil.

“And what better way to show that we can have a really sustainable future than to work through our schools?” Herrin said.

The only drawback to using biodiesel is the higher cost for the green fuel. That’s where Moms for the Future, the Energy Cooperative, and Krapf Bus Service, which serves the area, came in. They helped the districts win a $300,000 state grant that will cover the extra cost for the biodiesel over the next two years.

Biodiesel

National Wind Expanding South Dakota Investment

John Davis

nationalwind.jpgNational Wind, LLC, a leader in large-scale community-owned wind power projects is getting a boost in its capital from South Dakota-based Harmony Equity Income Fund.

This National Wind press release says the unspecified amount will be sunk back in to community wind projects in South Dakota:

“This investment allows us to devote a significant amount of our resources to promote community-owned wind projects in South Dakota,” says Leon Steinberg, CEO of National Wind. “We expect to launch several sizable South Dakota wind projects in the near future. Our projects allow the community to retain most of the economic benefit, with a higher probability of overall success than traditional developer-owned projects.”

“We chose to invest in National Wind because it is a high-growth company with a unique business model that can capitalize on South Dakota’s wind potential,” says Gene McGowan, President of Harmony Equity Income Fund and McGowan Capital Group. “National Wind’s valuable business model creates a win-win situation, allowing community wind farm profits to stay in our state, helping both the environment and the local economy.”

It’s estimated that South Dakota has the potential to generate half of the nation’s electrical needs with most of that capacity remaining untapped at this point.

National Wind has two community-based large wind projects in the works announced in just the last six months: a 300-megawatt development in Minnesota, called High Country Energy, LLC, and a 280-megawatt development in North Dakota, called M-Power, LLC.

Wind

Corn Myths Exposed

Cindy Zimmerman

Corn MythsAs part of its campaign to educate consumers and the news media, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has developed a one-page document responding to the top 10 myths about corn production and ethanol production.

The document addresses such myths as:
Ethanol is bad for your car’s engine, ethanol is not energy efficient, corn and ethanol production waste water, increased corn acreage squeezes out other crops or natural open space, and that ethanol is bad for the environment.

The Top Ten Corn and Ethanol Myths publication is available on-line.

corn, Ethanol, News

NBB Praises Energy Bill Passage

John Davis

nbb-logo.jpgThe National Biodiesel Board is applauding the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Energy Bill… especially the section of the bill that expands the Renewable Fuels Standard:

The expanded RFS requires a specific renewable requirement for diesel fuel that will be met by biodiesel and other renewable biomass-based diesel fuels. Increasing the minimum renewable requirement in the diesel pool from 500 million gallons in 2009 to 1 billion gallons in 2012 will create a stable, viable domestic market for biodiesel. In addition, the fuel labeling requirements in the bill will promote consumer confidence in renewable fuels and help ensure that only quality fuels are entered into commerce.
joe-jobethumbnail2.jpg
“Passage of H.R. 6 is a significant achievement that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase the use of clean-burning, domestically produced biodiesel,” said NBB CEO Joe Jobe. “The biodiesel industry stands ready to meet the aggressive renewable goals provided for in this bill.”

The bill goes back to the U.S. House for final approval before being sent to the president.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

Downtown Seattle Gets First Biodiesel Station

John Davis

propelbiodiesel.gifPropel Biodiesel is setting up shop in downtown Seattle, the first biodiesel fueling station in that city’s downtown area.

This story in the Seattle (WA) Post-Intelligencer has more details:

The 9,000 square foot biodiesel station — to open at the southwest corner of Westlake Avenue and Valley Street in March 2008 — is slated to feature four biodiesel pumps offering B 99 and B 20 biodiesel from Seattle’s Imperium Renewables. The station will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.

Propel also has two locations in the Seattle area. Company officials believe the downtown station will be perfect to serve drivers and commercial fleets.

Biodiesel

Author Outlines “Energy Victory”

Cindy Zimmerman

Energy VictoryAn aerospace engineer and author thinks the country needs a new direction in energy policy to “break the economic stranglehold that the OPEC oil cartel has on our country.”

Robert Zubrin is president of Pioneer Astronautics, a private company that does research and development on innovative aerospace technologies, and author of several books including his most recent, “Energy Victory,” in which he advocates Congress passed a law requiring that all new cars sold in the USA be flex-fueled.

“If we create the market by mandating that the cars be flex-fueled, it will break the monopoly,” Zubrin says. “Right now the only fuel that American consumers can buy is what the enemy is selling.”

Zubrin believes the American public is getting tired of being beholden to foreign oil interests. “This has gone on long enough. In 1973, we were 30 percent dependent on foreign oil, now we are 60 percent dependent. At the same time, Brazil – which has had an ethanol policy – went from 80 percent to zero. This is the most important issue affecting our national security and our economic well-being.”

Listen to some of Dr. Zubrin’s comments from an interview here.
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/zubrin-cut.mp3]

Audio, E85, Energy, EPIC, Ethanol, Flex Fuel Vehicles, Government