Ord Opening

Cindy Zimmerman

US Bio Ord TourUS BioEnergy Corporation this week celebrated the grand opening of the company’s newest ethanol plant in Ord, Nebraska.

Nebraska Governor and current Chairman of the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition Dave Heineman joined US BioEnergy CEO Gordon Ommen, Ord Mayor Randy O’Brien and other local and industry dignitaries for the ceremony on Wednesday.

US Bio Ord Heineman“The reality for communities from coast to coast to benefit from ethanol is here,” Gov. Heineman said. “Ethanol production is one of the major drivers of economic activity in small communities across our state, and I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to see this plant up and running.”

US Bio Ord, which began operations in May 2007, is expected to produce approximately 50 million gallons of ethanol and 275,000 tons of modified wet distillers grains per year.

US Bio Ord Gordon“As we celebrate the grand opening of US Bio Ord, I am pleased to reflect on the success of our company’s growth,” commented Gordon Ommen, CEO of US BioEnergy. “We are thrilled to be a member of the Ord community with a shared vision of energy independence and economic vitality.”

This is the fourth plant for US BioEnergy, the second in Nebraska – the other is US Bio Platte Valley, a 100 million gallon per year facility located in Central City.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

UL Working to Certify E85 Pumps

Cindy Zimmerman

ULUnderwriters Laboratories says it will accept requests for certification investigations for gaskets and seals for use with concentrated ethanol-blended fuels such as E85. UL says it is on track to accept E85 dispenser products for testing by year-end 2007.

In order to develop the requirements that will be used for certification, UL conducted a gasket and seal ethanol-blended fuel compatibility research program. The objective of the research was to subject various materials to a variety of test conditions with ethanol-blended fuels and to assess the effects of those fuels on the materials.

The results of UL’s research indicate that certain commercially available gasket and seal materials formulated for E-85 pump use can be expected to perform acceptably when exposed to motor vehicle fuels blended with high concentrations of ethanol, including those that contain an optional corrosion inhibitor additive. However, some materials experienced significant deterioration during the research tests.

The results, say UL officials, confirm the necessity of establishing safety requirements for E85 dispensers that take into account the long-term effects of exposure to ethanol. To meet its plans to complete research and development of certification requirements by year’s end, UL will accept product submissions for E85 dispensers.

E85, Ethanol, News

Hydrogen Car Hits 161 MPH… Goes for 200

John Davis

Fusion 999A hydrogen-powered Ford Fusion has taken part in the annual Speed Week at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats this week and hit an amazing 161 MPH!

This article from the Journal and Courier (Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana) says the Ford Fusion 999, a hydrogen- and electric- powered car designed and built in cooperation between Ford and Ohio State University, blazed across the salt flats… and Matt Zuehlk, the project leader for Ford’s 999 says they want to hit 200 MPH:

By doing so, he said, the car will help change the perception that alternative-fuel cars lack muscle and grit. If it happens, company brass can thank the budding designers and engineers at OSU. They turned to Ford because the students’ electric-only cars had hit a ceiling at Bonneville.

The students figured adding hydrogen fuel cells might allow for more speed. Ford decided not only to help add hydrogen power to the Buckeye Bullet – a streamlined dragster – but also to model a potentially realistic version based on the Fusion.

On Monday, having qualified with the 161-mph run, the team returned to the track to make its first run at 200 mph. But before (driver Rick) Byrnes got even a mile, a hydrogen sensor shut down the engine.

“They have multiple safety features,” Byrnes said, “mostly for me.”

The car’s electric motor is fed by a fuel cell that generates electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen. The technology is not new, but harnessing enough power to push that technology so fast is.

The latest breakdown was actually an aerodynamic design problem, but officials believe they proved that hydrogen can be a hot fuel for a cool car.

Hydrogen

Indiana State Fair Running on Biodiesel

John Davis

Indiana State FairA new tradition at the 150-year-old Indiana State Fair has started this year as biodiesel powers the fair’s midway.

This story from Gary Truitt’s Hoosier Ag Today web site says they’re even making sure it’s biodiesel produced from Indiana soybeans:

“The Indiana State Fair is a showcase of the state’s agriculture industry, so it’s fitting that Hoosier-grown soybeans are helping to fuel one of the most recognizable parts of the fair – the Midway,” said Chris Novak, Executive Director of the Indiana Soybean Alliance. “A 20-percent blend of soy biodiesel (B20) has been fueling the tractor shuttles at the fair for almost 10 years, so we are thrilled that the fair’s most exciting rides will now be running on biodiesel as well.”

The article goes on to say that nine generators run on a 5 percent biodiesel blend will power about 45 rides at this year’s Indiana State Fair.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel from Cellulose

John Davis

While refiners have been making ethanol from cellulosic material for a while, a Japanese-government affiliated research institute is working on turning grass clippings and wood chips into biodiesel.

This story on CattleNetwork.com has more details:

RITEThe Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth is aiming for commercial production in three years. RITE was established in 1990 by the government and leading Japanese firms in such industries as automobiles and power.

The biodiesel fuel in question uses a type of alcohol known as butanol made using genetically modified microorganisms. The biobutanol was created by cultivating a large number of these microbes in a vat and adding sugar produced by breaking down such plant fibers as grass and tree cuttings, wood and rice straw.

Light oil is generally used in diesel fuel. But in testing commissioned by RITE, Honda Motor Co. (7267.TO) subsidiary Honda R&D Co. confirmed negligible effects on vehicle performance when biobutanol was mixed with light oil.

Researchers believe that once mass production gets underway, production costs will be about the same as cellulosic ethanol.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic

Looking Back to the Future

John Davis

Tad Whitten's replica of a 1933 Filling Station Fairgoers have the opportunity to reminisce about the customer service of old-time filling stations at the 2007 Missouri State Fair. Tad Whitten, owner of Motorsports Management, is displaying his replica of a 1933 Ethanol filling station at the fair. But, the exhibit is more than just a display. The old-fashioned filling station features skits throughout the day that are meant to help educate fairgoers on the history of ethanol. Tad says most people are surprised to find out that ethanol has been around as a fuel source for more than 100 years. You can listen to my conversation with Tad here:

[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/tad_whitten.mp3]
Ethanol, News

Fortis Inks $80 mil Wind Energy Hedge

John Davis

FortisEuropean mega-financier, Fortis, has inked a deal to buy 1.1 million megawatt hours of power for the next 10 years from Enel North America. The estimated $80-million deal is seen as a hedge against the price of electricity from natural gas.

This article posted on the CNNMoney.com web site says the power will come the the Snyder Wind Farm in Texas, 63-megawatt project consisting of 21 wind turbines:

Based on an industry estimate of $50 to $80 per megawatt hour, the transaction carries a price of up to $80 million, marking the latest in a big boom in wind projects around the country.

“Wind energy is a rapidly growing generation resource for the U.S. and we’ll continue to pursue hedging transactions not only in renewable power, but in conventional power as well,” said David Duran, managing director at Fortis Merchant & Private Banking, a unit of the Brussels-based financial conglomerate.

Fortis will market the wind-power hedge to financial players, hedge funds, power companies and other energy-investment market participants.

The article goes on to say that the American Wind Energy Association estimates that installation and production of wind generators is up about 25 percent this year alone.

Wind

Earthrace Re-tools for Another Biodiesel Circumnavigation Run

John Davis

EarthraceAt the end of May, the Earthrace… a biodiesel-powered speed boat… had to abandon its record-breaking attempt to circumnavigate the globe. At the time, they were down… but not out!

Captain Peter Bethune says he should be ready for another attempt next March. This story posted on Grainnet.com says, this time, they’ll be better prepared:

The 78-foot boat is currently on a tour of European ports where it is attending boat shows and sailing festivals.

Bethune, a retired oil industry executive, e-mailed BioFuels Journal from Sweden that the first attempt failed due to “under-sourced logistics and not enough spare parts.”

For example, Bethune said, “The biodiesel we were to use in India was made from a low quality fish oil. It arrived three days after our boat docked in Cochin. We ended up losing four days there.

“If we do a second attempt, we will ensure we get someone there a month in advance to determine the fuel quality, and to have it waiting on the dock.”

To set the record, the Earthrace will have to cover 24,000 miles of the ocean in 75 days.

You can read more about the Earthrace by visiting its web site: www.earthrace.net.

Biodiesel

Imperium Opens Biodiesel Plant on Wednesday

John Davis

ImperiumA biodiesel plant that will add 30 percent to the U.S. biodiesel production capacity when it opens will start doing just that when the Imperium Renewables plant at Gray’s Harbor in Washington state starts production on Wednesday.

This article in the Kitsap Sun says the 100-million-gallon-a-year refinery will make biodiesel from canola and soy oils, as well as other crops:

“Obviously we think it’s the wave of the future,” said Martin Tobias, CEO of Seattle-based Imperium Renewables. “We are adding roughly 30 percent to the United States capacity in one fell swoop.”

Last year, national biodiesel production was 250 million gallons, more than triple the production just the year before, according to the Missouri-based National Biodiesel Board. By the end of the year, that number is expected to climb to between 300 million and 350 million gallons.

The refinery has been much-anticipated by the local area that has been suffering the last couple of years when a Weyerhaeuser sawmill closed and nearly 100 people lost their jobs.

We at Domestic Fuel have been anticipating the opening of the plant for sometime as well. A quick search of our posts shows at least a dozen stories we’ve done this year on the progress on the West Coast behemoth of a biodiesel refinery.

Biodiesel

Florida Energy Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Florida continues to get more serious about increasing its role in alternative energy.

Some major players, including US Sugar and Florida Power and Light, are sponsoring an Alternative Energy Summit on August 27 in Jupiter “to explore the role Florida will play in the dynamic field of alternative energy and how it can redefine the economic landscape.”

MahoneyCongressman Tim Mahoney is the honorary summit chair and the Public Forum Institute is organizing the event. According to PFI, participants in the conference will discuss the alternative energy solutions being developed by Florida’s research institutions; the alternative energy solutions currently available to consumers; the trends and hot areas for investment in alternative energy; and the possible funding opportunities resulting from potential state and federal legislation.

conferences, Ethanol, News