Hopping Into Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

FEW BoothMany of the exhibitors at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop were offering new technology and equipment to make ethanol production better, faster, easier, more efficient – you name it.

One example here is BetaTec hop products, which can be used to control bacterial infections in distilleries. “Controlling lactic acid bacteria increases ethanol yields,” says one of the company’s handouts. Hops, best known for its brewery applications, apparently can help.

FEW RoseAccording to their website, BetaTec is the new application arm of the Barth-Haas Group. The Barth-Haas Group was founded in 1794 and is the oldest and largest hops company in the world. As part of the Barth-Haas Group, BetaTec draws on over 200 years of hop experience and our vertically integrated operations which include every aspect of hops…growing, harvesting, processing, marketing, distribution and sales. We know hops!

The most impressive thing to me about this company was their trade show handout – real roses with the company logo printed right on them! It is hard to find new and creative giveaways but this one really got my attention.

RFAThanks to the Renewable Fuels Association for sponsoring coverage on Domestic Fuel of the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop.

Ethanol, FEW, News, RFA

FEW Expo Walk Through

Cindy Zimmerman

Fuel Ethanol Workshop Trade ShowThe growth of the ethanol industry was most obvious at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop last week in St. Louis on the expo floor. Some 700 exhibitors were there, an increase of 60 percent from last year alone.

Kathy Bryan, president of FEW organizer BBI International, says the trade show portion of the 23 year old event is a relatively new addition. “When the Fuel Ethanol Workshop started 23 years ago, we just had the workshop. There was no trade show, no exhibitors, nothing like that. And there were probably between 25 and 40 people who came to the first few years.” The trade show was first started in 1996 with just a few exhibitors.

To give you an idea of the array of exhibitors at the expo, watch this YouTube video walk-through and interview with Kathy Bryan.

Here is a Flickr Photo Album with pictures from FEW: 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

RFAThanks to the Renewable Fuels Association for sponsoring coverage on Domestic Fuel of the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop.

conferences, Ethanol, FEW, News, RFA

Meet the American Biofuels Council

John Davis

American Biofuels CouncilThere’s a new player on the block in the alternative energy group sector: The American Biofuels Council.

Sean O’Hanlon is the executive director for the new group that he says has gotten a better-than-expected response in their first few months of existence.

In an interview with energy.agwired.com, he explains that his council is different than other groups such as the Renewable Fuels Association or the National Biodiesel Board in that the American Biofuels Council focuses on end users and does not advocate for one particluar renewable fuel.

“The primary purpose of the (American Biofuels Council) is really to bring all interested parties together… not just the ethanol, the biodiesel… but also the hydrogen, the butanol, and to bring the government and end users together as well… to bring everyone to one table so that everybody has a chance to communicate opnely with each other and understand.”

“We don’t advocate one particular biofuel over the other. We really saw a need to have a unifying voice and that what was this developed out of.”

O’Hanlon says the biggest challenge for green fuels to overcome are inertia and disinformation out there. He hopes his group can help dispel some of the myths surrounding alternative fuels out there.

He adds, the fact that some of the big energy compnaies such as BP are starting to jump into the biofuels and other renewable energy games, should be a good sign for alternative energy in this country.

Check them out on the web at American Biofuels Council.com.

You can here the entirety of O’Hanlon’s interview by clicking below: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/audio/abc-int.mp3]

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Energy, Ethanol, Miscellaneous, News

Investors Still Want Alt Energy

John Davis

Investors still seem to have quite an appetite for alternative energy… but their tastes might be changing a bit.

This AP story posted on Forbes.com says energy sources such as solar and wind have made some gains, while ethanol investments became somewhat flat:

According to IPOHome.com, 115 companies went public in the U.S. during the first half of the year. Of those, eight were in the alternative energy sector, compared to nine offerings for all of 2006.

“What we’re seeing is a very strong pipeline” of renewable energy IPOs, both in the U.S. and overseas, said Michael Liebreich, chairman and chief executive of research provider New Energy Finance.

That’s particularly true for solar and wind companies, he said. On the other hand, after a banner 2006 that saw three ethanol companies raise just shy of $1 billion in initial public offerings, ethanol IPOs have ground to a halt as concerns about high raw material costs and saturation curbed market demand.

The article goes on to say ethanol investments might have been hurt a bit by the sharp rise in corn prices. Meanwhile, biodiesel IPOs are just getting off the ground but could be helped by big deals such as Seattle-based Imperium Renewables’ recent large investments.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

Dakota Skies Turn Dark

John Davis

Dakota Skies BiodieselJust less than a year ago, the prospects for a biodiesel plant in Minot, North Dakota seemed pretty promising as the state’s governor, a U.S. Senator, and North Dakota’s ag commissioner attended the groundbreaking at the Dakota Skies Biodiesel plant.

But a decision by the Minot Area Development Corporation, which donated the land for the plant in the first place, not to allow Dakota Skies to keep pursuing the venture has brought the project to a close. KFYR-TV has more:

“We had extended that contract a number of times and the last one, the board of directors decided not to extend the contract,” says Jerry Chavez, President of the Minot Area Development Corporation. Chavez wouldn`t go into details on why they made the decision, but it may have something to do with how long it took this project to move forward.

“It`s a heartbreaker of course,” says Jeremy Dockter, CEO of Dakota Skies, LLC. “We certainly had the feeling this was a strong project and deserved to happen,” says Dockter.

The TV station reports a bitter sign reading “construction starting soon” is still on the property that was supposed to be a $75 million canola crushing plant.

Biodiesel

Soybean Acres Drop Despite Biodiesel Rise

John Davis

In what might be considered a bit counter-intuitive, U.S. soybean acres planted have dropped to the lowest level in 12 years… despite increased interests in biodiesel… a product that often uses soy oil as its feedstock.

This story posted on Forbes.com says the culprit is more farmers switching to corn to make the even more popular ethanol:

The USDA reported that farmers seeded more corn this year than they have since 1944. The estimated 92.9 million in corn acres planted beats the USDA’s original estimate and represents a 19 percent increase over last year.

A surge in corn prices above $4 a bushel in February – when crop insurers determine the current year’s payout per bushel – made converts of many farmers who had harbored doubts over whether corn prices would stay high.

“I think corn and soybean producers became believers that this wasn’t going to be a flash,” said Chris Hurt, an agricultural economist with Purdue University. He described the decline in soybean acreage as “jaw-dropping.”

The USDA reports soy for biodiesel will only make up about 5 percent of the all renewable fuels in the U.S. this year. Meanwhile, 9.2 billion gallons of ethanol will be made from corn, compared with just 500 million gallons of soy biodiesel.

But the news has been good for the farmers who have stuck with soybeans. Market prices for soybeans rose sharply on the news Friday.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

E85 Amendment Passes Committee

John Davis

E85 logoA congressional committee has added an amendment to the Energy Bill that would require U.S. Government gas pumps to offer E85 ethanol.

This release from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition says Michigan Democrat Representative Bart Stupak’s measure would direct federal agencies to install pumps for renewable fuels like E85 at their fleet fueling centers:

Cong. Bart Stupak“I was pleased the Committee accepted my amendment to expand the availability of E85 and renewable fuel pumps at federal government refueling stations,” Stupak said. “The federal government is the largest energy consumer in our nation and needs to lead by example. By mandating the expansion of renewable fuel pumps at federal refueling stations, we can ensure federal agencies increase their renewable fuel use and help America move away from its dependence on foreign oil.”

NEVC logoPhillip Lampert, the Executive Director of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, praised Congressman Stupak for offering the amendment. “We thank Congressman Stupak for his efforts, insight and acknowledgment of the need to move the federal government’s fleet of vehicles onto E85 and other renewable fuels,” Lampert said. “Bart Stupak has long been a leader on energy issues, and we thank him for offering this bi-partisan amendment.”

You can read all of Stupak’s amendment by clicking here.

E85, Ethanol, News

US FEW Report

Cindy Zimmerman

US Farm ReportUS Farm Report was on location this week at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis.

Agribusiness Director Al Pell taped a segment of the weekly show on the trade show floor. His guests were ICM, Inc. president Dave Vander Griend, National Corn Growers Association chairman Gerald Tumbleson, and BBI International CEO Mike Bryan.

The segment will be part of the show that airs this weekend.

RFAThanks to the Renewable Fuels Association for sponsoring coverage on Domestic Fuel of the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop.

conferences, Ethanol, FEW, Miscellaneous, News, RFA

FEW Award for POET

Cindy Zimmerman

POET AwardThe chief science officer for POET received the 2007 Award of Excellence at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop this week.

Steve Lewis accepted the award during Wednesday’s general session. The award was established in 2000 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the fuel ethanol industry through their research, technical advisory and/or development activities.

POET Lewis
Lewis has 22 years of experience in industrial biotechnology and his primary focus at POET is on continued production advances in dry grind ethanol plants. In addition to his role leading development in innovative processes for the starch to ethanol business, Lewis contributes to POET’s research in scientific process innovation and invention related to the company’s interests in cellulosic ethanol as well as new product and process development beyond ethanol.

RFAThanks to the Renewable Fuels Association for sponsoring coverage on Domestic Fuel of the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop.

conferences, Ethanol, FEW, News, RFA

Growing Corn Acres

Cindy Zimmerman

NASSThe latest report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service shows that acreage planted to corn this year is now estimated at 92.9 million acres, up 19 percent from 2006 and 14 percent higher than 2005. Farmers increased corn plantings 3 percent from their March intentions, resulting in the highest planted area since 1944 when 95.5 million acres were planted for all purposes.

RFA
According to the Renewable Fuels Association, “assuming that trend yields continue, American farmers could produce well in excess of 13 billion bushels of corn, more than enough to satisfy the needs of food, feed and fuel markets.”

Responding to this increase in production and countering critics who have sought to blame ethanol for everything from higher pizza prices to a shortage of tequila, RFA President Bob Dinneen issued the following statement:

“American farmers have heard the market signal loud and clear and they have answered that call. Such a response leaves no question about the ability of our agriculture industry to continue feeding the world and renewably fueling our nation … It is becoming abundantly clear that we must move away from imported oil with increasing haste. While ethanol is no panacea, it does provide a pathway to greater energy self-reliance and America’s farmers are helping lead the way.”

Ethanol, News