Focus on the Three Es

Cindy Zimmerman

E3 2007The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is hosting an energy, economic and environmental – or E3 – conference this week. E3 2007 will focus on the intersection between innovative technologies, visionary policies, environmental benefits, and emerging market opportunities as they relate to developments in the renewable energy sector.

One of the speakers for the Tuesday event is Dr. Mark Stowers, Vice President of Research and Development for POET. Dr. Stowers’ presentation, titled Integrated Corn Cellulose Biorefinery: Vision to Reality, will focus on the creation of a sustainable economic and environmental position for the future of transportation fuels by integrating corn-to-ethanol and cellulose-to-ethanol technologies.

Other Keynote Addresses will be given by the Honorable Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Richard Kelly, Chairman, President and CEO of Xcel Energy.

conferences, Ethanol, News

Stanford Scientists Look to Connect Wind Farms

John Davis

nawinds.jpgScientists at Stanford University are looking at a way to connect North America’s wind farms, making wind power less intermittent than its source.

This entry on the ZDNet blogs says they’re trying to find a way to literally connect the dots you see on the map (wind speeds at 80 meters in the year 2000) on the right:

This research about connecting wind farms has been led by Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Cristina Archer, a consulting assistant professor at Stanford.

jacobsonarcher.jpgBesides providing a steady production of electricity, connecting wind farms would present other cost benefits by “reducing the total distance that all the power has to travel from the multiple points of origin to the destination point” and by combining all the power on a single transmission line.

Here is Archer’s somewhat optimistic conclusion. “Archer said that if the United States and other countries each started to organize the siting and interconnection of new wind farms based on a master plan, the power supply could be smoothed out and transmission requirements could be reduced, decreasing the cost of wind energy. This could result in the large-scale market penetration of wind energy — already the most inexpensive clean renewable electric power source — which could contribute significantly to an eventual solution to global warming, as well as reducing deaths from urban air pollution.”

Their findings are soon going to be published by the American Meteorological Society’s Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.

Wind

Biden Calls for Energy’s “Apollo Project”

John Davis

biden.jpgDemocratic presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware) has unveiled a five-year, $50 billion energy plan akin to the Apollo project that put men on the moon during a campaign stop in Iowa.

This story in the Des Moines Register says Biden’s plan will use a combination of alternative energy production and conservation:

“The innovative capacity of the United States of America is so awesome that, I predict in the next 10 years we will once again be in circles where you’ll have no less light, no less heat, no less comfort in automobiles, but we’re going to see technology bloom in my administration,” he said.

Here are some key points to Biden’s plan:

• Increase fuel efficiency and use of alternative fuels Biden proposes raising fuel economy standards by one mile per gallon each year and investing in new technology such as lithium ion batteries which fuel many plug-in hybrid vehicles. He proposes requiring new vehicles to be flex-fuel capable and requiring gas station chains to sell alternative fuels.

• Invest in new energy technology

• Expand use of renewable energy

• Mandating that federal government buildings be more energy efficient and requiring the government to purchase 10 percent renewable electricity by 2010.

• Encourage Amercans to use energy efficiently

• Create “green jobs” in areas of developing alternative energy

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, News

Media Invited to Ride in Challenge X Vehicles

John Davis

challengex1.JPGGeneral Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy have invited the media to ride in the vehicles participating in the Challenge X Competition… a multi-year engineering competition that has 17 university teams from across North America in a real-world engineering experience to develop GM vehicles in the company’s global vehicle development process. The idea is the teams will create advanced propulsion technology systems that increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact through hybrid, plug-in, or fuel cell systems, powered by alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen.

This story on the Autochannel.com says the media event will feature students from the 17 universities in Challenge X at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California on November 29th:

WHAT:
General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy will host a media ride
and drive event featuring vehicles from the collegiate engineering
competition Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility. Program
officials also will reveal details for the next national competition
beginning mid-2008.

WHEN:
* Thursday, November 29, 2007
* Broadcast media: 5:30 to 8 a.m.
* Print media: 8 to 10 a.m.

WHERE:
Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax Avenue)
Los Angeles, Calif. 90036

Media interested in attending need to R.S.V.P to:
Jeff Ormond, 248-824-8205, jormond@stratacomm.net
Kimberly DeClark, 202-441-0096, kdeclark@stratacomm.net

Biodiesel, Car Makers, Ethanol, Hydrogen, News

Iowa Hands Out $500K to Expand Biofuels Access

John Davis

iowaded.gifA state program administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development has handed out $563,800 to 21 Iowa retailers installing pumps for E-85 and biodiesel fuel, terminals installing biodiesel storage tanks and blending equipment, and tank wagons for farm delivery having dedicated compartments for E-85 and biodiesel.

This press release from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Board (RFIPB) has more:

“These awards to expand access to E-85 ethanol and biodiesel demonstrate our state’s commitment to a greater use of renewable energy,” said Iowa Department of Economic Development Director Mike Tramontina. “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Iowa families to use renewable fuels, promote Iowa’s renewable energy economy and reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

Another $7.75 million in grants will be handed out by the RFIPB over the next couple of years to expand consumer access to E-85 and biodiesel. The next set of grants will be handed out in February, so owners or operators of retail motor fuel sites, biodiesel bulk storage terminals and tank wagons with dedicated compartments for renewable fuels are encouraged to get their applications for the grants in to the Iowa Department of Economic Development. You can get an application by clicking here.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Find an Ethanol Pump Near You

John Davis

EPICThere´s no denying the capability for the use of ethanol is a few steps ahead of the infrastructure for accessing the alternative fuel. But, that doesn´t mean consumers can´t fill up their flex-fuel vehicles with E85 without ease. Simply log on to drivingethanol.org to find the E85 Fueling Station Locator. A drop down menu allows browsers to search for E85 pumps by city and state.

E85, EPIC, Ethanol, Facilities, Flex Fuel Vehicles, News

Turkey Day Goes Green

John Davis

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a turkey, and lots of folks like to fry their bird in a pot of cooking oil. A company in Colorado that hauls away restaurant grease is asking people to donate their used cooking oil to be made into biodiesel.

This story in the Rocky Mountain News has more:

rockymtnsustainables.jpgAnd while the amount of turkey grease that Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises collects this Saturday isn’t likely to cut our dependency on Middle Eastern oil, the company is still hopeful its post-Thanksgiving drive will be beneficial.

holidayrecycoil1.jpgAaron Perry, co-founder and CEO of RMSE, said the recycled grease will be turned into biodiesel. The grease can also be used for animal feeds, he said.

Perry said it’s better to recycle the grease than put it down a sink, because that clogs the drain and contaminates water.

This is the first year the recycling company has held such a drive, which will be conducted in 10 cities.

In addition, those picking up the used cooking oil will also be picking up nonperishable goods as part of a food drive. Click on the HolidayrecycOil logo for pickup locations.

Biodiesel

Ethanol 101

John Davis

EPICYou´ve heard of ethanol, but do you understand what, exactly, is this alternative fuel source? The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council offers a free online training course that will help you learn about “ethanol-enriched fuels.” Farmers, consumers and dealers can log onto drivingethanol.org to register for the Ethanol Fuel Performance Training course.

E85, EPIC, Ethanol, News

New Holland Backs Biodiesel 100 Percent

Cindy Zimmerman

CNH at NAFBAs we reported a couple of weeks ago, New Holland has approved the use of 100 percent biodiesel in all equipment with New Holland-manufactured diesel engines.

New Holland representatives Gene Hemphill and Michael Long were at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual meeting last week talking with farm broadcasters about that announcement and other news from New Holland.

In an interview with Domestic Fuel, Long talked about the extensive testing and development New Holland has conducted using B100 in real-life conditions and the importance of using quality biodiesel from reputable dealers.

Here is an interview with Michael Long:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/new-holland/nafb-new-holland-biodiesel.mp3]

Biodiesel, New Holland

Give Thanks for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

With oil just pennies away from $100 a barrel, Americans are looking at higher costs for both their Thanksgiving travel and the turkey on the table. But, the good news is that ethanol is saving drivers about 15 cents a gallon this holiday season.

According to an analysis by John Urbanchuk, a director at the economic consulting firm LECG, LLC, Americans will fork over $520 million more this year than last year on their Thanksgiving travel. That means, based on the national gas price average of $3.11, an increase of 39 percent over 2006 just to drive over the hills and trough the woods to Grandma’s house. That is $520 million that won’t be spent on Black Friday, the traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season. More specifically, it will cost the average family an extra $17 for roundtrip travel for Thanksgiving dinner.

RFAThe Renewable Fuels Association says the analysis also shows that without ethanol blended at ten percent with gasoline (E10), the average pump price of gasoline would be as much as $0.15 per gallon, or 4.7 percent higher than current levels and the average American household would pay $19.68 more than last year for the Thanksgiving trip.

“Americans are literally over a barrel this holiday season as oil prices are likely to remain high and gasoline will no doubt follow suit,” said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. “Were it not for the growing availability of ethanol, Americans would be spending a whole lot more to go over the river and through the woods this holiday season.”

Ethanol, News, RFA