Rallying for RFS

John Davis

nbb-logo.jpg The National Biodiesel Board has joined some key members of the House Agriculture Committee to rally for the expansion of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

This NBB press release says the biodiesel group joined Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) during the rally:

joe-jobethumbnail1.jpgThe Energy Bill scheduled for consideration in the U.S. House contains a provision to use clean-burning, domestically produced renewable fuels to promote energy independence by expanding the existing RFS to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The proposal would also provide for a renewable requirement in diesel fuel. It would be met by biodiesel and other biomass-based diesel fuels. The legislation specifically requires that 500 million gallons of biodiesel and biomass-based diesel fuel be blended into the diesel pool in 2009, gradually ramping up to one billion gallons by 2012.

“This legislation recognizes, for the first time, the importance of ensuring that at least a portion of our nation’s diesel fuel needs are met through renewable, domestically produced fuels,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the NBB, who spoke at the Washington event. “This will truly help diversify our nation’s fuel supply by setting a floor for usage of biodiesel and other biomass-based diesel products. We commend Congress for making a strong commitment to energy security.”

Biodiesel

New Study Supports Mid Range Ethanol Blends

Cindy Zimmerman

ACEA new study released today by the American Coalition for Ethanol shows that mid-range ethanol blends – fuel mixtures with more ethanol than E10 but less than E85 – can in some cases provide better fuel economy than regular unleaded gasoline, even in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles.

The new research strongly suggests that there is an “optimal blend level” of ethanol and gasoline – most likely E20 or E30 – at which cars will get better mileage than predicted based strictly on the fuel’s per-gallon Btu content. The new study, co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), also found that mid-range ethanol blends reduce harmful tailpipe emissions.

The University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and the Minnesota Center for Automotive Research (MnCAR) conducted the research using four 2007 model vehicles: a Toyota Camry, a Ford Fusion, and two Chevrolet Impalas, one flex-fuel and one non-flex-fuel. Researchers used the EPA Highway Fuel Economy Test (HWFET) to examine a range of ethanol-gasoline blends from straight Tier 2 gasoline up to 85 percent ethanol. All of the vehicles got better mileage with ethanol blends than the ethanol’s energy content would predict, and three out of four actually traveled farther on a mid-level ethanol blend than on unleaded gasoline.

PDF file of the report can be found here.

Ethanol, News

RFS Supporters Rally

Cindy Zimmerman

Collin PetersonMembers of Congress and representatives from a variety of organizations held a media event Wednesday morning in support of an increased Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in the Energy Bill.

House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is in full support of the RFS.

“The speaker understands that this is critical for this industry,” Peterson said. “She gets it and she understands what the problem is and she understands why this needs to be done.”

EngleCongressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) described his conversion to being an ethanol supporter. “As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for many years I voted against the ethanol mandate,” Engel said. “I changed my position 180 degrees, and I changed my position because it’s good for America.”

Herseth SandlinAll of the speakers noted the importance of the RFS to cellulosic ethanol development, which is still in its infancy. In the meantime, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) said, “Conventional corn ethanol is the bridge we need to move forward.”

It was a long press conference, which got underway late, and the lawmakers had to leave by the time the supporting organizations got to give their statements – which meant many of the media who were there also left. But, those who did stick around heard first from the unusual suspects in the lineup of those supporting the RFS. They were the AMVETS, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Truman National Security Project.

Energy, Ethanol, Government, News

The Commodores of Biodiesel

John Davis

vandypic.jpgVanderbilt University is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from Japanese auto components supplier, DENSO Corporation to put in a state-of-the-art biodiesel tester.

This news story from Vanderbilt has more details:

Beginning in the fall of 2008, students from various engineering disciplines will use the Vanderbilt Multi-User Biodiesel Engine Test Facility to investigate diesel engine performance parameters and test campus-produced biodiesel fuels, according to Professor Robert W. Pitz, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The facility will be housed in Featheringill Hall and will be managed by the mechanical engineering department under the direction of Professor Amrutur V. Anilkumar.

“The facility will include a four-cylinder diesel engine typically used in passenger cars,” Pitz said. “The engine will be linked to a computer that will analyze the test data and monitor engine performance with various fuels.”

With this new tool, students at this prestigious school in Nashville, Tennessee will be able to continue their work on making the country less dependent on overseas and non-renewable petroleum.

Biodiesel

Making Your Own Biodiesel at Home

John Davis

fuelpod2.jpgCheck out this interesting little gadget. It’s the FuelPod2, selling in the United Kingdom.

This review on the Red Ferret Journal tells a little more about the two-foot-wide by 4.5-feet high device that will make up to 13 gallons of biodiesel a day… right in your own driveway:

FuelPod2 is a ‘plug and play’ home biofuel processor. Just pour that nasty waste chip fat into one end and out the other comes lovely cheap and ecologically pleasant biodiesel. The makers say that the fuel is good enough to run any standard diesel engined car without modifications, and it won’t affect your performance either. It’s cheaper too, of course, which means that it should pay for itself very quickly, especially with the rocketing price of crude at the moment.

The downside? Its cost! The FuelPod2 costs more than $4,200. I couldn’t find any info on where to buy it yet, but at that price, I think you’d want to wait until you find one used or the technology gets cheaper before laying down that kind of money.

Biodiesel

Second Montana Camelina Biodiesel Refinery Planned

John Davis

greatplains.gifAnother biodiesel plant using the oilseed camelina is planned for Montana. Great Plains Oil and Exploration, aka Great Plains – The Camelina Company, has plans to build an oilseed cruching facility and biodiesel refinery in Eastern Montana. A company press release says the final location for the plant will be disclosed by the end of the year.

That part of Montana was chosen because it will be the center of the new camelina crop being grown for use in biodiesel. Camelina has certain advantages, including its high oil content, non-competition with food oil sources (ending the food vs. fuel debate), and ability to be grown in harsh conditions.

The announcement from Great Plains comes on the heels of another camelina biodiesel refinery in the works from Seattle-based Targeted Growth, Inc. and Green Earth Fuels of Houston, planned to start producing 100 million gallons of biodiesel a year by 2010 (see my November 21st post).

Biodiesel

RFS Rally

Cindy Zimmerman

Collin PetersonEngleWith a vote on the Energy Bill expected this week in the House, a Wednesday morning rally is being planned in support of increasing the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) will host the media event which will include representatives from the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Biodiesel Board, as well as a variety of farm groups including the Farm Bureau, Farmers Union and corn, soybean, wheat and grain sorghum grower groups.

Others who will be showing support for the RFS include AMVETS, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Truman National Security Project.

Energy, Ethanol, News

FTC Reports on Ethanol Market Concentration

Cindy Zimmerman

FTCA new report from the Federal Trade Commission says U.S. ethanol industry become more competitive in 2007.

According to the report, “The ethanol production industry is not concentrated, and has become even more unconcentrated over the last year.”

The FTC utilizes the Herfindahl-Hirschman Indices (HHIs) to determine concentration. As outlined by the FTC and the Justice Department, HHIs with values below 1000 are deemed not concentrated and competitive. Based on actual production volumes of ethanol (as compared to total capacity that includes gallons under construction), the FTC gives the U.S. ethanol industry a score of 465, down from 736 in 2006.

Since 2005, the number of ethanol production facilities operating across the country has increased from 95 to 134 as of December 2007. Similarly, the number of firms producing ethanol has also increased. “As of September 2007, 103 firms produced ethanol in the United States, a one-year increase of 13 firms, and a two-year increase of roughly 28 firms,” the FTC reports. While the number of firms producing ethanol has risen, the market share of the nation’s largest producer has decreased to approximately 16 percent, down from 21 percent in 2006.

Read the FTC report here.

Ethanol, Government, News, RFA

CASE IH Supporting 100% Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

BiodieselCindy reported previously that New Holland is backing biodiesel 100%. Now it looks like sister company Case IH is coming on board with that idea.

Case IH has extended its recommendations on use of biofuels to include B100 — or pure biodiesel — on even more of its farm equipment models.

Farmers now can use B100 on nearly all Case IH medium- to high-horsepower tractors, combines, windrowers, and most self-propelled sprayers and cotton pickers — so long as proper protocols are followed for engine operation and maintenance.

“With record prices for crude oil, Case IH committed to exploring better ways to use environmentally-friendly biofuels made from renewable raw materials. We have conducted rigorous laboratory and in-field tests to evaluate how our engines perform with various biodiesel blends,” says Don Rieser, Case IH director of tractor product management. “As always, our ultimate goal is greater productivity for our customers. That’s why we also are committed to educating our dealers and customers on how to get the best results with biodiesel fuels — especially when using higher-level blends.”

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Helping Rebuild Greensburg, KS

John Davis

greensburg.jpgLast May, the town of Greensburg was virtually wiped off the map as a tornado ripped through the small town in Southwest Kansas. But despite losing almost everything, the resilient folks of Greensburg are getting a chance at economic recovery… by way of a green fuel.

This story in the Houston Chronicle says Torsten Energy, LLC will build a biodiesel plant near the town, employing 20 to 25 people:

mckinney.jpg“This is terrific news for Kiowa County and for Kansas,” said House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, a Greensburg Democrat whose home was lost in the storm. “The more businesses that commit to building in Greensburg, the sooner hardworking families of our community will be back in town and back in the work force.”

Torsten Energy is based in nearby Wright in southwest Kansas. The firm said construction would begin after state regulatory permits were obtained.

“Like many Greensburg recovery efforts, we still have a lot to do before we can actually break ground,” said Patrick Stein, a representative of Torsten Energy who is overseeing the development. “Though we are still in the very early stages of development, we are completely committed to this community.

“We want to see Greensburg back on its feet, and we know projects like this are the way to make it happen.”

The announcement by Torsten comes as state officials announced a $17.5 million aid package for recovery from the tornadoes and summer floods in southeast Kansas.

Miscellaneous