Ethanol Moves Up the Ranks in American Le Mans Series

John Davis

e-podcastEthanol is gaining more ground in the motor sports arena and more leagues are getting on board with ethanol-enriched fuel. The American Le Mans Series is now the second racing league to officially commit to a fuel based largely from ethanol. The ALMS has committed to upgrading its official fuel of the series from an E10 fuel blend to an E85 blend for 2008.

This edition features comments from interviews conducted just days before the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta.

The “Fill up, Feel Good” podcast is available to download by subscription (see our sidebar link) or you can listen to it by clicking here (5:30 MP3 File): [audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://www.zimmcomm.biz/epic/epic-podcast-10-19-07.mp3]

The Fill Up, Feel Good theme music is “Tribute to Joe Satriani” by Alan Renkl, thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

“Fill up, Feel Good” is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Car Makers, E85, EPIC, Ethanol, Fill Up Feel Good, News, Racing

Technology Key to Food and Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2007 Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium held in Des Moines this week focused on “Biofuels and Biofoods: The Global Implications of Emerging Technologies.” At the event, more than 700 leading policymakers, industry executives, and agricultural and food science experts from over 65 countries, gathered to explore the international impact that biorenewable energy will have in the coming decades.

SyngentaOne of the keynote speakers at the symposium was Syngenta Seeds U.S. president Jeff Cox, who says he believes the agriculture industry can adequately feed the world and support biofuel markets by developing new technologies and improving value chain collaboration.

“Some have quickly characterized a ‘food versus fuel’ debate for agriculture but I don’t see it that way. The agriculture productivity challenge is eminently solvable through technology and collaboration,” Cox said.

“Yield increases in corn since the Green Revolution have been mind-boggling. And yet, some experts say corn yields can double over the next 20 years to reach 300 bushels per acre.”

Cox cited advanced plant breeding with molecular markers as a reason new higher-yielding seed is coming to market faster than ever. “Biotechnology trains are now moving to second generation and stacked products that unleash genetic potential of the seed.”

Cox said improved water use is a timely example of how rapid implementation of technology is helping agriculture meet the challenge of producing more while using less. “In the U.S. and Latin America, we are extensively testing technology to improve the corn plant’s use of water, and yield results are consistently positive.” He noted that Syngenta recently introduced a “tropical” sugar beet in India that could efficiently produce sugar for food and biofuel use with one-fifth the water requirements of sugar cane that is currently grown in the equatorial region.

Agribusiness, Ethanol, News, Research

The Future of Environmentalism

John Davis

A student from the University of California-Berkeley is one of six North Americans to win the 2007 Brower Youth Award, recognizing her efforts to boost environmental sustainability at the school.

Rachel BargeA Cal press release says 21-year-old Rachel Barge, a junior majoring in conservation and resource studies, has spearheaded the school’s Green Initiative Fund, financing clean energy and transportation to include biodiesel:

As director of sustainability on campus for the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC), Barge founded the Sustainability Team, a 60-member group whose projects have included converting the campus’s transportation fleet to biodiesel and establishing UC Berkeley’s first student-run cooperative organic produce stand.

The Brower Youth Award is bestowed annually on young environmentalists selected by the San Francisco-based Earth Island Institute, which was founded in 1982 by veteran environmentalist David Brower. The organization provides support for conservation and preservation projects and recognizes leaders in this area.

“Rachel is smart, impassioned and, above all, energetic,” said David Phillips, executive director of Earth Island Institute. “She isn’t waiting for environmental solutions to come down from those in power. She is taking action now to conserve, protect and restore the earth.”

Barge and her fellow Brower winners will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday night at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, where they will each pick up a $3,000 cash prize for their efforts, as well as participating in skill-building and mentoring workshops.

Biodiesel

Automakers, Biodiesel Producers Want Better Standards and Sources

John Davis

chryslernextdiesel.GIFOfficials from Chrysler and the NextDiesel refinery in Adrian, Michigan are calling for better standards for biodiesel and more oily feedstocks to make the green fuel.

This story from the Adrian (MI) Daily Telegram says the officials discussed the issue during a tour of the plant this week:

Right now NextDiesel, which started production in August at its facility on West Beecher Road, mostly uses soybean oil and some food grease in making its fuel. Soybean oil has advantages over animal fats, mostly that it has no fatty acids that have to be removed before the fuel is made, NextDiesel chief executive officer Terry Nosan said.

However, a soybean only contains about 18 percent oil, NextDiesel chief financial officer Michael Horowitz said. Research is being done to find a feedstock that both yields more oil and is not also used as food. Horowitz said the poisonous jatropha plant from India is a possibility, as is algae. Company co-owner Brad Schram said algae could be made in a laboratory at the plant, creating a renewable feedstock on-site.

The folks from Chrysler say they need certain quality standards to approve the biodiesel for their vehicles. The two companies have been working together on research and development for biodiesel production. Chrysler is also involved with the NextEnergy organization at Wayne State University in Detroit researching alternative energy.

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Green Energy Could Hit $1 trillion by 2030

John Davis

A report from a major financial institution says the economic future of wind, solar, geothermal power, and biofuels looks very bright.

This story from the GroovyGreen.com web site has more details:

morganstanley.gifU.S. Bank Morgan Stanley has estimated that global sales from clean energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power and biofuels could grow to as much as $1 trillion a year by 2030. In the meantime, the market may hit $505 billion in sales by 2020 — almost 9 times the level in 2005. Not a bad idea to invest, right?

Well, maybe. While it’s a sure bet that renewable energy will grow in percentage sales of global energy sources; there’s no telling how rapid or sustained such growth might be. Morgan Stanley was clear to indicate that current numbers are based on bullish investments, the rising value of oil, and current worldwide concerns over global warming. A change in any number of these factors could affect the industry.

“The bank was particularly bullish on solar power. Market penetration of solar in electricity generation could rise from levels almost too small to measure in 2005 to 11.2 percent in 2030, while wind power could go from 0.9 percent to 9.6 percent by 2030, it said.

The article goes on to says that the cost of solar power would go from the current $8 per Gigawatt installed to just $1.60 by 2030. Market penetration for ethanol and biodiesel could go from about 1 percent now to 21 percent by 2030… if vehicle fuel efficiency for cars continues to climb.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News, Wind

Blue Fire Gets Biomass Funding

Cindy Zimmerman

Blue Fire EthanolBlueFire Ethanol Fuels of California has been approved to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee program for clean energy projects..

According to a company release, BlueFire Ethanol was recognized for its proposed project to build a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in California using an array of low-cost feedstocks including landfill waste.

“The Department of Energy’s continued encouragement of BlueFire Ethanol’s innovative clean energy technology is a key step toward full-scale commercial production of cellulosic ethanol and a testament to the management team’s work over the past 15 years to deploy an economic cellulosic ethanol technology using an array of low-cost cellulosic waste feedstocks,” said BlueFire Ethanol CEO Arnold Klann.

BlueFire Ethanol holds the exclusive North American license to employ the Arkenol Process Technology, a patented, commercially viable and profitable system that transforms cellulosic waste into usable ethanol. As a result, BlueFire is uniquely positioned to set the industry standard in converting waste materials — such as wood waste, green waste, straw, switchgrass, and corn stover — into ethanol.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, News

BioDiesel Powers Tracy Lyons ‘Mercury Rising Tour’

John Davis

Great RaceIt seems even entertainers can’t escape the momentum behind the growing renewable and alternative energy movement. Singer-songwriter Tracy Lyons is launching her ‘Mercury Rising Tour,’ a tour that will highlight alternative and clean energy technologies. Her tour will also operate on biodiesel.

Singer-songwriter, veteran environmental activist and National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) advocate Tracy Lyons launches her 2007-2008 Mercury Rising Tour on October 25 with a concert at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Lyons’ vision for the tour is to draw additional attention to the issues of global warming, alternative/clean energy solutions and the negative effects that pollution has on our health. A longtime spokesperson for clean and sustainable energy technologies, Tracy Lyons’ call to action regarding environmentalism first came through health issues that she personally experienced related to toxicity poisoning from heavy metals including mercury and lead.

The Eco-Stage for Tracy Lyons’ Mercury Rising Tour will be powered off the grid by environmentally-friendly bio-diesel and will feature a state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell. As well, information will be provided on the latest clean energy technologies and education about critical initiatives driving environmental action. The tour’s carbon footprint will be offset by the purchase of carbon credits for anything that can’t be accomplished directly using clean energy technologies.

Biodiesel, Energy, global warming

Old Classic, Renewable Fuel

John Davis

Great RaceThe biggest news for the “Great Race” organizers so far is the prospect of powering a ’67 Aston Martin with E-85 for the entire 2008 trek from New York to Paris. The Great Race Web site reports:

2008 Great Race entrant, Rich McKone of Peoria, Illinois is converting his 1967 Aston Martin DB6 to run on Ethanol E-85 for the around-the-world Great Race in 2008…

Instead of running the historical British sports car in the Schuster Class for cars that are 25 years old and older, McKone intends to participate in the Innovation Class in hoping to prove that Ethanol E-85 is the best short-term solution for renewable fuel.

Looks like Chuck was right. Ethanol isn’t just for the Indy Racing League, nor is it just for modern cars.

E85, Ethanol, News, Racing

Renewable Fuel, Hybrids Stack Line Up for “Great Race”

John Davis

Great RaceNext year, marks the 100th anniversary of the 1908 New York to Paris “Great Race” and organizers are planning a “Great Race” re-run that will showcase the advances in the automotive industry. Car enthusiasts will be lining up with renewable-fuel powered cars and vintage cars with one mission: to promote hybrid cars cruising around the world on the least amount of fuel possible.

Ten teams driving hybrid electric cars will join the Innovation Class of next summer’s Great Race from New York to Paris and attempt to complete the almost 22,000 mile (35,000 km) course by driving as efficiently as possible. ‘Hypermilers’, as they are known, push the limits of fuel efficiency and achieve unheard of miles-per-gallon readings of as high has 100 mpg.

Great RaceThis is the first in a series of MPG Challenges, created in partnership with Hybridfest, Inc., organizers of the nation’s largest hybrid car festival. Bill Ewing, chief executive officer of Great Race Sports, Inc., organizer of the event, said he is emphasizing the Great Race to promote major improvements in fuel economy not only through technology, but also by improving personal driving habits.

The Great Race celebrates the 100th anniversary of one of the most remarkable automotive events of the 20th century, an automobile race nearly around the world, from New York to Paris in 1908. Following the start in New York City, The Great Race will travel across three continents and 13 countries, reaching more than a billion people. In a repeat of that milestone event, the Great Race will travel across North America, Asia and Europe in 65 days, this time featuring classic cars, renewable fuel powered cars and now hybrid cars.

“Clearly the world has a big fuel problem,” said Bill Ewing.

The commemorative event will start May 30 in New York City and will finish in Paris, France on August 2, 2008.
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News, Racing

E85 Making Inroads in Racing

Chuck Zimmerman

Thanks to Nathan Schock at Rhapsody in Green for pointing us to a story on his local tv station showcasing how E85 is making inroads in the local racing scene. I guess you can say, “Ethanol, it’s not just for the IRL any more.” You can watch the video here or find it on the KELO website.

E85, News, Racing, Video