Unique Wind Power Plant Planned for Iowa

John Davis

ISEPA $200 million wind power plant is slated to be built near Dallas Center in Central Iowa. While that might not be that unique, the fact that much of the operation will be underground sure is. A unique underground rock formation in the area makes the Iowa Stored Energy Plant Agency idea possible. Gotta love that wind captured in a jar logo! Click here to see a demo of the project.

This article in the Des Moines Register explains how it will work:

The process uses wind energy to force air into the underground shale formation as far as 3,000 feet below ground. The compression is usually done through the night when electrical use is not at its peak. Then, during the day, the compressed air is brought back up and used to run turbines that create electricity.

The majority of power used to compress the air would come through the existing power grid from wind generators in the northern areas of Iowa.

As the air moves through the rock, water that is currently in the rock is displaced to the surrounding area.

Officials say the water forced from the rock is not water that is used by the area population and is not drinkable.

The project is years from even a groundbreaking ceremony… probably not until 2011 or 2012. Area residents are invited to a public meeting about the project tonight (Thursday, May 16th), at 7 at the Dallas Center Memorial Hall, 1502 Walnut Street.

If anyone who reads this blog goes to the meeting, let us know how it goes.

Wind

NBB Expands DC Presence

John Davis

The National Biodiesel Board is expanding its presence in the nation’s capital. According to a press release on the NBB web site, the board is making its Washington, D.C. a full-service bureau with the addition of some key staff to work on legislative and regulatory issues:

US Capitol/NBB logoManning Feraci has accepted the position of Vice President of Federal Affairs and will direct the NBB’s Washington office. Feraci most recently served as the Chief of Staff to Congressman Kenny Hulshof (R-MO), who has been one of the primary champions of biodiesel in the U.S. House of Representatives. Feraci has more than 14 years of experience working for members of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax and trade matters.

The NBB is also pleased to welcome Larry Schafer of Diamond Group, LLC, to its legislative and regulatory team as Senior Adviser. Schafer previously served as Vice President for both the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and performed various legal and legislative counsel roles for Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND). He has significant expertise and background on policy matters relating to renewable fuels, and was instrumental in crafting and implementing both the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC).

Tom Hance, Janet Kopenhaver, and John Gordley of Gordley Associates will round out the legislative team working on biodiesel provisions in the 2007 Farm Bill. Tim Urban and Tara Bradshaw of Washington Council Ernst and Young, will specialize in tax and trade issues. Karen Edwards of KCE Public Affairs will provides public affairs and media relations support in Washington. Andrew Brandt will serves as a policy support analyst.

Meanwhile, NBB Director of Governmental Affairs Scott Hughes will move out of the DC office to the board’s headquarters in Missouri, where he will provide a greater focus on the organization’s state regulatory issues.

Biodiesel

Motown Opens 1st Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

Biodiesel Industries Inc.Detroit might have built its business on the gasoline engine, but biodiesel has gained an important foothold there.

This story in the Detroit News says Biodiesel Industries, Inc broke ground on a 20,000 square foot research, development, and production plant… the sixth one the California-based company’s has built in the country and its first one in Michigan:

The Detroit facility is scheduled to open by the end of fall and will employ 40 workers, from delivery truck drivers to sales people to researchers and engineers. Ten million gallons of biodiesel will be produced at the plant each year.

If that’s not green enough for you, Biodiesel Industries is working with NextEnergy, Chrysler and Michigan State University to acquire some Brownfield sites (areas contaminated with toxins) in the Metro Detroit area to put in crops that will eventually be turned into biodiesel. A site in Oakland County is already being tested.

Biodiesel

Race to Go Green Sweepstakes

Cindy Zimmerman

Race ContestThe Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is teaming up with the IndyCar® Series, Sinden Racing Service, and Rahal Letterman Racing for a national sweepstakes. The “Race to Go Green” Sweepstakes offers a chance to win lots of instant prizes and have their name entered in a grand prize drawing.

Instant winners will be drawn online and notified throughout the season. The grand prize winner will be announced on August 5, and will be flown with a guest to Chicago for the season ending race at Chicagoland Speedway. During the race weekend, winners will receive the ultimate IndyCar experience including: a two seater ride, a pace car ride, a garage tour and much, much more.

Fans can enter to win on the EPIC website.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Promotion, Racing

35 MPG SUV

John Davis

Challenge X logoLooking to beat the three-and-half bucks a gallon gasoline sweeping the country… but don’t want to give up the size and security of your SUV? Students at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology have built a sport utility vehicle able to get up to 35 miles a gallon.

They’ve put together a biodiesel hybrid electric Chevy Equinox in General Motors’ Challenge X engineering competition.

Check out this story posted on PlanetSave.com:

The sport utility vehicle will be tested alongside vehicles produced by 16 other North American colleges and universities at the end of the third year of the international challenge. The competition will be conducted at the General Motors Corporation’s Proving Grounds in Milford, Mich., on May 30 to June 7.

About 45 students worked throughout this past school year to replace the stock gasoline engine with the biodiesel power plant. Not only did they kick up the fuel economy, but they also improved acceleration:

“We have completely stripped down a brand new vehicle (Equinox) and put it back together again, with several new features, in less than two years,” stated senior mechanical engineering major Clint Hammes, the team’s mechanical integration team leader. “We have a vehicle that’s filled with cutting-edge technology and innovative features.”

GM originally intended to wrap up the Challenge X program this year, but due to popularity, officials are extending it to next year.

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Coffee Growers Brew Biodiesel

John Davis

Known for their beans that start the world’s day, Brazilian coffee growers might soon be known for brewing the fuel that starts your car.

According to this story in the Wall Street Journal’s on-line version, tests are being done to see if the beans not suitable for your cup will be good for your tank:

The studies, which are being conducted at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, suggest that making both biodiesel and ethanol via coffee residues is technically and economically viable, at least for small-scale use within the country’s coffee cooperatives, said Leandro Soares de Oliveira, a professor of chemical engineering at the university, in an interview.

“We began working with the idea of extracting oils from coffee beans that weren’t of good quality,” he said. “We were looking at alternative uses for these beans for producers, instead of just having them thrown into the domestic coffee supplies and depressing its quality.”

Officials believe not only does this provide another source for biodiesel, it takes bad beans out of the system… raising the overall quality level of the coffee.

They’re also looking at using the coffee bean husks to make ethanol.

Biodiesel, International

Ethanol Event at CBOT

Cindy Zimmerman

Officials from the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) joined with government officials and representatives from the IndyCar Series and the ethanol industry on Monday in a tribute to the “Greening of Racing.”

CBOT Event

Pictured from left to right are Terry Angstadt, IndyCar Series president; CBOT Executive Vice-President for Marketing and Business Development Chris Malo; USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr; CBOT Chairman Charlie Carey, Team Ethanol car driver Jeff Simmons; Illinois Director of Agriculture Chuck Hartke; EPIC Executive Director Tom Slunecka; and Doug Scott, Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Prior to the opening bell, CBOT Executive Vice-President for Marketing and Business Development Chris Malo talked about how the commodity exchange created ethanol contracts two years ago as a price discovery tool for the industry.

“When we launched our ethanol futures contract in March 2005 we knew we were early to the market place,” said Malo. “However, we recognized the increasingly important role that ethanol can play in meeting the nation’s energy needs before ethanol became a daily news story.”

U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr played a part in the tribute, detailing the enormous growth of the ethanol industry.

“Ethanol production in 2000 was 1.6 billion gallons, today its six billion gallons and new capacity under construction will add another 6.4 billion gallons,” said Dorr. “Cellulosic ethanol will give us the potential to supply a third or more of our liquid fuels.”

Tom Slunecka, Executive Director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) said that ethanol has become more than just a product. “Ethanol is a movement,” he said. Besides being proud to partner with the Indy Racing League, Slunecka says EPIC is “proud to partner with the American consumer to help change our future.”

Terry Angstadt, IndyCar Series president, says the partnership with ethanol fits in perfectly with their mission.

“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was built in 1909 literally as a test track to support the auto industry in technology and innovation,” he said. “That’s why the association with the ethanol industry, EPIC, the Rahal Letterman race team, Jeff Simmons is a perfect association for a business and series that is so aligned with technology and innovation as our cornerstone.”

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

CBOT Honors IndyCar Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

CBOT Bell RingingThe Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) on Monday hosted Team Ethanol Driver Jeff Simmons and his 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol race car in a tribute to the “Greening of Racing” and a salute to the IndyCar® Series.

“Ethanol is sharing the track with a great American past time,” said CBOT Chairman Charlie Carey. “For the first time a renewable fuel will power a vehicle past the checkered flag at the Indy 500. Congratulations to the IndyCar Series.”

Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons opened the Monday morning event by driving up in an IndyCar Series vehicle on CBOT Plaza and later stood on the platform with Carey for the ringing of the opening bell on the trading floor.

“When we go out there Memorial Day weekend for the 91st running of the Indianapolis 500, it’s really going to be a proud moment for all of us to be a part of the ‘greening of racing,’” said Simmons. “This is something that’s not only good for American and our environment, but also for the performance of your car and good for the security of our energy future.”

The 91st Indianapolis 500 will take place on May 27th.

You can listen to the complete CBOT press conference here: Listen To MP3 CBOT Press Conference (20 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News, Racing

Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Milk

John Davis

XL BiorefineryAn Arizona dairy is looking at expandng its operations into biofuels. Phoenix-based XL Dairy Group is planning to build a dairy/biorefinery at a site about 100 miles west of Phoenix.

According to this story in the East Valley Tribune in Phoenix, when finished, the complex will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol, 25 million to 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel and 21 million gallons of milk a year:

The concept is to use waste produced by the dairy cows to make energy that would be used to turn corn into ethanol and biodiesel, said Dennis Corderman, chief executive and chairman of XL Dairy Group. Byproducts of the ethanol and biodiesel production will be cycled back to produce internal energy for the biorefinery and to provide feed for the dairy cows, he said.

“The biggest difference between us and other ethanol plants is we will use waste streams from the dairy to produce our own energy,” he said. “It will provide the electrical and heat and steam energy for the entire facility.”

The plant is expected to have an energy efficiency ratio of 10-to-1. Most ethanol plants have a 1.2-to-1 ratio.

Company officials expect the whole operation to be even more efficient when the feedstock for the biofuel is switched to algae, obviously more available with the Arizona desert sun fueling its growth than Midwestern corn.

Biodiesel, Ethanol

DHL Testing Biodiesel

John Davis

DHLShipping giant DHL is looking at testing some of its United Kingdom delivery fleet running on 100% biodiesel. According to this story on the Biofuel Review web site, the testing will begin at the end of this month:

Bill Bacon, National Account Director from DHL Exel Supply Chain said: “We are committed to being an environmentally responsible business and are always looking at innovative ways to create sustainable supply chains. This is a superb example of everyone’s collaboration into exploring new technologies and alternative fuels that could potentially lead the way into long term sustainability. As the leading provider of contract logistics services we have a responsibility to set best practise solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of our vehicles.”

UK biodiesel producer Argent Energy will provide the fuel made from old restaurant and pub cooking oil.

Biodiesel, International