Wind Energy Database Proposed

John Davis

Cong. Randy NeugebauerCongressman Randy Neugebauer from Texas has proposed and the U.S. House has approved a study to look into his measure to put a public database online to find out what kind of wind turbines could go up without causing problems for aviation sites.

This story in the Wichita Falls (TX) Times Record News says it will help the industry and reduce the risks of accidents:

“The basic point behind this is let’s look at it from every single angle to make sure that we’re doing this right and there aren’t any mistakes,” Neugebauer spokesman Michael Frohlich said.

The database would show acceptable height and distance for wind turbines in relation to civilian and military aviation. It would also identify the level of obstruction turbines might mean for aviation sites such as airports.

“From the industry’s point of view, anything that helps minimize the risk of surprises as part of the permitting process is something that’s good,” said Christine Real de Azua, spokeswoman for the Washington-based American Wind Energy Association.

Wind

The Greenest Team in Football

John Davis

Go GreenThe Philadelphia Eagles don’t just wear green jerseys (although, what was up with those UGLY uniforms this past weekend?). They also are living the green lifestyle.

This story on the ABC News web site says the team is probably the greenest franchise in American sports:

When the lights come on for an Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field, 30 percent of the power comes from so-called clean sources, such as wind power and methane reclaimed from landfills.

When the Eagles fly to an away game, their organization plants trees in the Philadelphia area to make up for the carbon dioxide emitted by the team’s plane.

If you go get a beer at halftime, you’ll notice recycling bins every 46 feet on the concourse. Why that distance? Because a study showed people will actually walk that distance to drop off a plastic cup for recycling; any further, and the cups will just be dumped with regular trash.

The team’s tickets are printed on recycled paper. So are the programs. Even the machine that vacuums the field after the game runs on biodiesel.

Gotta love their all-around “Go Green” program and motto.

Biodiesel, Wind

Wisconsin Biodiesel Association Opens Meeting to Public

John Davis

Wisconsin BiodieselThe Wisconsin Biodiesel Association is opening its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25th at 9:30 a.m. at the Wisconsin DNR office in Madison to the general public.

This story on Wisconsin Ag Connection says it’s an effort to educate people about the benefits of biodiesel in the state:

WBA President Jeff Pieterick says the group has prepared a particularly informative series of presentations that will offer a substantial overview of the biodiesel industry in Wisconsin.

“Please join with us to learn about the exciting developments, the opportunities, and the challenges that bear impact upon Wisconsin’s effort to develop ‘Homegrown fuel for a better Wisconsin,'” Pieterick says.

The agenda includes a legislative update with Attorney John Wilson of Michael, Best & Friedrich, LLP; a discussion on fuel distribution by Tim Glynn from EH Wolf & Sons; and an update on biodiesel production in Wisconsin by BEST Energies Vice President Tony Janowiec.

Contact Jeff Pieterick at the WBA at (920) 988-4058 for more information.

Biodiesel

NASDAQ Campaign Features US BioEnergy

Cindy Zimmerman

US BioenergyUS BioEnergy Corporation has been selected by NASDAQ as one of 17 companies featured in a new advertising campaign, “NASDAQ and the Companies that Move Life Forward,” that profiles NASDAQ-listed companies and how they improve the way we work and live every day.

The US BioEnergy ad shows a man pumping fuel into his pick-up truck at a filling station in a rural part of America. After hearing a strange noise, he removes the nozzle from the tank and corn kernels pour out of the nozzle into his hand.

The campaign, which began on Monday, September 17, is airing nationally on CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business Channel and CNN, among others. The ad is posted on the News Room page of US BioEnergy’s website.

corn, Ethanol, News

Indy and Ethanol on the College Circuit

Cindy Zimmerman

The IndyCar Series and ethanol are being featured as part of Popular Science’s “What’s New” College Tour visiting college campuses around the nation this month and next.

According to an article on Auto Racing Daily, the Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series branding are featured in the high-tech mobile dorm room, which is outfitted out with sophisticated surround sound systems, wireless gaming, computers and flat-panel TVs.

Popular Science Indy CarStudents can also learn about the series’ partnership with the ethanol industry through interactive displays and experience what it’s like to drive an IndyCar Series car by testing out an IndyCar Series simulator.

The photo was taken at the University of Massachusettes last weekend and is featured on the PopSci.com National College Tour FlickR photo album. The tour has already visited Georgia Tech, NC State, Duke, and George Washington. Upcoming stops include Purdue, Kansas State, San Diego State, and the Universities of Utah and New Mexico.

More information about the tour, including the rest of the schedule, can be found on the PopSci National College Tour website.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Another Kansas Ethanol Plant Sought

Cindy Zimmerman

According to a Kansas.com report, a northern Kansas energy broker is working to get a second ethanol plant in Harvey County.

Newton Area Chamber of Commerce officials say the North Central Energy Group of Morrowville has taken an 18-month option on land within the county.

The group plans to test the land’s water, then recruit investors for an ethanol plant if adequate water is available.

Harvey County officials in August approved the county’s first ethanol plant, which will be built southwest of Newton.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Agenda Change for Cellulosic Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Cellulosic SummitWith the resignation of US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns last week, the Cellulosic Ethanol Summit next month has made an agenda change.

Chuck ConnerJohanns was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the event but now Acting Secretary Chuck Conner will be the keynoter.

The Summit will be in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-17. The annual three-day event has established itself as the major place where all communities in the cellulosic ethanol value chain come together to discuss how to build a national cellulosic ethanol industry. Again this year, leaders from the agricultural, industrial biotech, biorefinery developer and financial communities will gather to their communities’ perspectives on what is needed to form an efficient effective value chain to commercialize cellulosic ethanol production.

Among the sponsors for the event are the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

Cellulosic, conferences, corn, EPIC, Ethanol, News, RFA

Ethanol Keeps Gas Prices Down

Cindy Zimmerman

Rising gas prices have made headlines this year, but those prices could have been much worse if not for ethanol.

RFAThe Renewable Fuels Association sent out a media FYI release drawing attention to that fact, which is backed up by recent news reports. Specifically, RFA cites stories in the Wall Street Journal and the Dallas Morning News.

As a September 21, 2007 story in The Wall Street Journal put it,

Another reason for steady gasoline prices: the use of ethanol as an additive to gasoline is on the rise. While crude prices have soared, ethanol prices have dropped as much as 30% in recent months and are likely to drop more, Eitan Bernstein, an analyst with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., said in a report yesterday. Ethanol costs more than 60 cents a gallon less than gasoline, and gasoline suppliers can offset some of the rise in crude oil prices by blending their gasoline with small amounts of the cheaper fuel.

Similarly, a story in the September 24, 2007 edition of The Dallas Morning News reported:

Peyton Feltus, president of Randolph Risk Management, thinks gasoline prices might even increase this year.

He said ethanol and bio diesel helped keep fuel prices stable since the summer. Blending ethanol into the fuel supply may have boosted pump prices in the past, but now, ethanol is cheaper than gasoline, and it’s keeping overall prices down.

“You can thank renewables for doing that,” Mr. Feltus said.

Ethanol, News, RFA

Former EU Ag Commissioner on Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Franz FischlerBack in 2003, the European Union instituted some major reforms in its agricultural sector, which are now known as the “Fischler Reforms” after the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries at the time, Franz Fischler.

Among the policies instituted at the time was a very small incentive for farmers to produce crops on set aside land that could be used to make fuel. During an interview with Domestic Fuel at the 51st International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in Japan last week, Dr. Fischler discussed that initiative and what he sees as the future for biofuels in the European Union.

“In my view, in Europe, food production will remain the main purpose of agricultural activities and fuel production will play a minor role, but an increasing role,” Fischler said. “We decided to be very ambitious about what we want to achieve, that is 10 percent of consumption by 2020. But we are also aware of the fact that this is only achievable if we are able to come forward with the second generation biofuels because if we are to do it on the basis of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel we would need almost half of the arable land in the European Union, and this is not going to happen.”

However, the EU is already expecting to import some of their biofuel needs from other countries in an effort to meet their intended goal.

Listen to Fischler’s comments on biofuels here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ifaj/fischler-biofuels.mp3]

Thanks to Pioneer for sponsoring our trip to Japan Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol, International

Bio Gasoline Research in Japan

Cindy Zimmerman

Japan BioGasResearchers at Japan’s National Agricultural Research Center are working on developing Bio-Gasoline from plant oils and animal fats.

According to researcher Ken Taniwaki, bio-gasoline has the same properties as petroleum gasoline and can be run in automobile engines without modifications. “This is not bio-ethanol. This actually contains the same components as gasoline,” he says.

Taniwaki says bio-gasoline can be made from waste cooking oil, “mainly from the palm oil, from the Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

Taniwaki explains more in this interview done last week during the 51st Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists in Japan:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/ifaj/japan-bio-gas.mp3]

Thanks to Pioneer for sponsoring our trip to Japan Pioneer-HiBred

Audio, International