Bay Area Buses to Test Biodiesel

John Davis

actransitlogo.jpgTwenty-two buses from the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District in the San Francisco Bay area have begun running on biodiesel as a test of the viability of the green fuel.

This story from CBS 5 web site says the Cleaner Fuels Test pilot program is checking the energy efficiency of 20 percent biodiesel:

actransitpic.jpgThe six-month study was coordinated with the help of the Chevron Products Company and Cummins Inc., which will provide biodiesel fuel and periodic engine assessments.

The program will study the effectiveness of B20, a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent ultra low sulfur diesel, according to program organizers. The biodiesel used in the blend is produced from “biological sources” and can be used in unmodified diesel engines.

The study hopes to examine the long-term use of B20 in unmodified engines, as manufacturers usually only insure vehicles using fuel blends with 5 percent biodiesel, according to AC Transit.

AC Transit has made efforts to address carbon emissions and their environmental impact for several years, and this pilot program is part of a larger effort.

The 22 buses in the survey are expected to serve 1.5 million passengers and travel more than 400,000 miles in the six-month period.

Biodiesel

How Ethanol is Made

Cindy Zimmerman

Mr EthanolTake a trip back to a 1960’s science class and learn how ethanol is made, courtesy of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

This short, informative and amusing little video simplifies the process of ethanol production into a fun step-by-step series of cartoon images. The link to the video can be found on EPIC’s home page.

EPIC, Ethanol, News

Only CBOT Has Corn Ethanol Futures

Cindy Zimmerman

CBOTThe Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) is the only game in town when it comes to ethanol futures.

According to Reuters, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange recently delisted its ethanol futures contract traded on the Globex electronic trading platform.

CME’s corn-based ethanol contract was delisted, along with its fertilizer contracts for Urea, Urea Ammonium Nitrate and Diammonium Phosphate. There is a sugar-based ethanol contract on New York’s Intercontinentalexchange (ICE).

Reuters reports that CBOT ethanol futures remain thinly traded despite the rapid growth of the ethanol industry in the United States.

corn, Ethanol, News

Propane Powers Metro Cars

John Davis

Metro CarsMichigan-based Metro Cars is converting the majority of it’s fleet to operate on propane fuel as part of its new Propane Initiative. The self-described leader of transportation in Michigan has also received an award for its propane conversion.

Because of their innovative use of propane to fuel their vehicles, Metro Cars has received the prestigious 2007 PROPANE Exceptional Energy Fleet Award; one of only THREE companies in the country to receive this award. Dan Ret, Chief Operating Officer stated that Metro Cars started the Propane Initiative not to win awards, but because it’s the right thing to do.

“As the largest and one of the most prestigious transportation companies in Michigan and North America, Metro Cars has always been on the cutting-edge of technology,” said Ret.

Metro Cars is committed to the preservation of Michigan’s environment. That’s why they are converting their fleet of luxury sedans and airport shuttles to clean propane technology.

Propane

Kansas State Researchers to Study “Biofuels Revolution”

John Davis

U.S. Department of EnergyThe U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Kansas State University a three-year grant to study the impact of alternative fuels. K-State researchers are receiving nearly $700,000 to study the social, cultural and economic impacts of the “biofuels revolution” on rural communities in Kansas and Iowa.

The $696,827 grant comes from the department’s Ethical, Legal and Societal Implications of Research on Alternative Bioenergy Technologies, Synthetic Genomes or Nanotechnologies program. The researchers from K-State’s department of sociology, anthropology and social work are: Theresa Selfa, assistant professor; Laszlo Kulcsar, assistant professor; Gerad Middendorf, associate professor; and Richard Goe, professor. They are joined by Carmen Bain, assistant professor of sociology at Iowa State University.

Kansas State University“There has been very little research into the social dimensions of the bioeconomy,” said Selfa, who is the grant’s principal investigator. “We are among a small number of social science researchers examining this topic, which is why this grant is very important.”

As the United States works to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and expand the development of alternative fuels, ethanol plants are springing up in rural communities across the Midwest, including those in Kansas and Iowa. Although such plants often are touted as economic and population drivers, Selfa said that the social and economic costs and benefits haven’t been assessed with in-depth case study research. The project will examine four Kansas communities and two Iowa communities to see whether claims that ethanol plants will revitalize the towns hold true.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Wind, Biomass Fuel Michigan’s The Ark

John Davis

The ArkA concert venue in Michigan is using various forms of renewable energy when it puts on a show. The Ark has partnered with DTE Energy and is operating on DTE’s GreenCurrents renewable energy program.

November will be Green Energy month at The Ark. During November, all electricity used at the concert venue will be offset by renewable power provided under DTE Energy. Additionally, anyone who enrolls in GreenCurrents at The Ark in November will receive a free music CD, or a ticket to an upcoming Ark performance.

DTE EnergyGreenCurrents is a voluntary program that enables DTE Energy’s electric customers to “green up” their power with renewable energy created from sustainable sources like the wind and biomass. For as little as $2.50 extra a month, GreenCurrents customers can help improve the environment and support the development of new renewable energy projects in Michigan.

Located in Ann Arbor, The Ark is a non-profit organization that hosts more than 300 live performances a year, including 28 shows that are scheduled for November. Green Energy month at The Ark will kick off Oct. 30 with a free concert featuring Detroit band Zebula Avenue.

Biodiesel, Energy, Ethanol, Facilities, Wind

Conoco Officials Tout Need for Biofuels

John Davis

conoco-phillips.jpgThere’s nothing like a New England town hall meeting, and officials from ConocoPhillips got an earful of Yankee questions from a group at a hotel in New Haven, Connecticut.

The New Haven Independent reports about 100 people turned out to hear what the oil giant had to say and to quiz the officials about the future of energy in this country. The article says the folks got a bit of a surprise:

ConocoPhillips has been saying a lot of things lately that you wouldn’t expect to hear from one of the largest oil companies in the world. Sigmund “Sig” Cornelius, senior vice-president of planning, strategy & corporate affairs, told the crowd that the science is in: “It’s undeniable that the concentration of greenhouse gases in the environment is increasing … We recognize that combustion of fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gases. We want to be part of the solution.”

The need to increase renewable components of our energy portfolio was a resounding theme throughout the evening. Panelists and audience members alike repeated the need for more biofuels, such as biodiesel, in the nation’s energy portfolio. In response to a question from New Haven State Rep. Robert Megna, [Sabrina Watkins, manager of environmental technology] said that Conoco is investing “tens of millions of dollars” on biofuel research and that while biodiesel holds a tiny percentage of the market share, there is “plenty of room for growth.” She also added that it is a matter of “and, not or”, meaning that Conoco sees biofuels and renewables as one part of diverse fuel portfolio.

Company officials also touted the idea of energy conservation.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Europeans Upset Over American Biodiesel Subisidies

John Davis

ebb.gifThe European Biodiesel Board (EBB) is threatening legal action against American biodiesel subsidies, which they claim as an unfair trade practice.

Grainnet.com reports the Europeans are claiming the U.S.’s $1-a-gallon biodiesel mixture credit is artificially reducing the price of biodiesel sold in Europe by about 60-90 cents a gallon… compared to what European biodiesel goes for:

The EBB’s press release threatened action both before European antidumping authorities and before the World Trade Organization.

The U.S. biodiesel subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2008, but are quite likely to be extended.

Diesel fuel is used far more extensively for passenger cars in Europe than in the United States, and the European Union has a goal of 10 percent use of biofuels by 2020.

However, the EBB claims that the U.S. subsidies (which the EBB asserts are also taken advantage of by Asian biodiesel producers who transship through the United States) are shutting down European biodiesel production and making expansion of such production difficult.

The EBB says American biodiesel being imported to Europe went from 90,000 metric tons last year to 700,000 metric tons this year… despite the fact that the American soybean-based biodiesel is more difficult to get into the European Union.

Biodiesel, International

Hydrogen Report Calls for 40% Growth in Next Five Years

John Davis

sric.gifA new report by the SRI Consulting says consumption of hydrogen will grow 40 percent in the next five years… thanks to environmental regulations and the inferiority of current sour feedstocks.

This press release from SRIC says a big change that will need to take place during that time is the where we will get the hydrogen:

Bala Suresh, Senior Consultant at SRIC said, “The severe environmental regulations on sulfur in diesel are responsible for the increased consumption. The process of removing sulfur consumes hydrogen, and it is estimated in the future that diesel production will increase relative to gasoline.”

SRIC’s 2007 Hydrogen report estimates that globally 630.8 billion cubic meters (52.6 million metric tons) of hydrogen were consumed in 2006. Approximately 96% of all hydrogen is from fossil fuels, with natural gas being the most frequently used at an estimated 49%, followed by liquid hydrocarbons with 29%, coal with 18% and electrolysis and other sources at about 4%.

The increasing use of hydrogen deficient heavy crude as feedstock material in refineries is expected to also contribute to the growing hydrogen consumption. In addition, oil-sands processing, gas-to-liquids, and coal gasification projects that are ongoing, all require enormous amounts of hydrogen and will boost the size of the market significantly.

Lead Author Stefan Schlag commented “Hydrogen fuel cells have a long way to go to become a widespread energy source in transportation. Technical problems are numerous and the infrastructure necessary for area-wide distribution of hydrogen requires massive investments.” Mr Schlag continued “To make hydrogen meaningful as a future energy carrier, a tremendously larger percent of hydrogen should be produced through electrolysis of water, with energy from renewable resources, preferably solar and wind.

The 250-page report is available by ordering through SRIC’s web site.

Hydrogen

US Ethanol Introduces Biofuel Station in Washington State

John Davis

Use Ethanol LLCThe first USETHANOL Biofuel Station is will be running its pumps beginning next Monday, October 29, 2007. Consumers will be able to fill up with biofuels at the station in Longview, WA after the official opening at 11:00 am PDT.

A Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at the new Biofuel Station with executives of US Ethanol, LLC and Wilcox & Flegel Oil Co. on hand. Local and state government officials will be invited along with numerous representatives of the Longview/Kelso and Vancouver business communities.

The USETHANOL Biofuel Station is believed to be the first such station in Western Washington and will kick off the establishment of at least twenty five locations along the I-5 corridor in Washington and Oregon at which USETHANOL(TM)’s branded E85 product will be available to motorists who own flexible fuel vehicles.

Products available at the USETHANOL(TM) Biofuel Station include E85, unleaded regular, unleaded premium and B5 biodiesel. The unleaded gasoline products will contain ten percent ethanol by volume.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Facilities, Promotion