It looks like it’s truly the end of the road, or the water in this case, for a biodiesel-powered boat trying to set a record for a ’round-the-world trip.
Previous reports of the Earthrace abandoning its bid were dismissed by the crew. The record attempt looked in serious jeopardy earlier this spring when the boat ran into mechanical and biodiesel fuel supply problems. But the crew decided it could restart the race and continued its attempt. On May 18th, David Perez with the Earthrace’s ground crew sent this note to Domestic Fuel:
Just wanted to let everyone know that the world record attempt is absolutely, positively not abandoned. We have an official restart/finish line in San Diego, CA and are currently en route to Salalah, Oman doing good time.
Please visit our website for updates on the race and thanks for your continued support … we here at Earthrace believe failure is not an option and with your help, we are determined to fight our way to a victorious end !
Cheers,
David Perez
Earthrace Ground Crew
Race Leg Sponsorship
But the Earthrace has run into more problems, suffering structural damage to the main hull while crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The damage occured when the boat hit a strong storm on route from Port Said, Egypt to Malaga, Spain… the third severe storm she had hit in three weeks. The crew found a two meter crack (6 feet) in Malaga. They made repairs, but shortly after leaving the port, it was apparent the repair would not hold. In this release on the Earthrace web site, the crew was crushed at the realization the record-breaking attempt would not happen this year:
Earthrace skipper Pete Bethune said “ The whole team is pretty devastated right now. We have all put so much time, money, and effort into this record attempt; it is pretty upsetting to have to abandon the race. We can all feel proud of what we have achieved with the limited resources we had, and we do take some heart from that”
Bethune went on to shot “We gave it our best shot.” “The Earthrace project was created to promote the awareness and use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel. And whilst it is disappointing to miss out on the world record, we have certainly succeeded in our overall aim of promoting biodiesel, and we will continue to build on this success during our upcoming European promotional tour”
But Bethune hints they might be trying again… as early as March of next year.
As I was in the homestretch of my 500-plus mile trip, burning plenty of $3.25/gallon gas, I noticed an alternative fuel source turning above the farm fields just a few miles off Highway 71… windmills.
For years, I’ve seen the turbines in the distance. Now that I’m reporting on this type of energy source, I decided to get a closer look. Turning at a corner where many times my family and I have stopped for gas and snacks, we made our way to where the white turbines turn in the constant breeze of an area known as Buffalo Ridge… a high spot of land that seems to catch every breeze… and a natural for the approximately 260 turbines along its flat plateau. Locals say it is one of the largest wind farms in the world. It’s no wonder nearby Storm Lake earned its name and reputation of constantly have a significant chop on its shallow waters.
In the meantime, I thought about the gas station back on the corner of Highway 71 where I turned. In front of the pumps is a concrete statue of a dinosaur, symbolic of the fossil fuel that flows from those pumps. I thought how fitting a symbol for that type of fuel. Dinosaurs are extinct and won’t be coming back. Much like the concrete in the statue, the oil industry in many ways is immovable – stuck in a dwindling supply that will become extinct in its own time, maybe sooner than we think. Contrast that with the constant motion of the turbines. If the wind supply is ever exhausted, we’ll have more problems than how to light our homes. Even the more stationary corn and soybean fields below the wind generators hold the promise of renewable fuel in the form of ethanol and biodiesel.
The wind did have some drawbacks. When we finally arrived at our destination of Spirit Lake, the wind was fueling some good-sized waves… too big to let me chase the much-desired walleyes and northern pike like I would like to. At least for a while. The next day the winds calmed, and we picked up plenty of walleyes… and the biggest pike my Dad has got in more than 70 years of fishing – 37″ long, weighing 10 pounds. That’s big enough to make even a concrete dinosaur smile.
One former and two current Democratic presidential candidates are sponsors or co-sponsors of a bill introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) intended to expand consumer access to 85 percent ethanol fuel, or E-85. Primary sponsors of the bill with Klobuchar include Barack Obama, (D-IL), Kit Bond (R-MO), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL). Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Hilary Clinton (D-NY), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and John Kerry (D-MA) are also co-sponsors of the legislation.
Apparently no new records to report, but ethanol production still remains strong, according to the latest figures.
The company has agreed to acquire 
Case in point, this story from the Buffalo (NY) News. The owner of a Lewiston, NY restaurant (The Silo pictured on the right) is brewing up his own biodiesel in his own garage… using his own restaurant’s leftover cooking oil. He says he got the idea while living in France last winter:
Mark your calendar for the International Congress on Biodiesel, November 5-7th in Vienna Austria. Congress General Chair Michael Haas of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service posted a message on the 
North Carolina-based Duke Energy has acquired the wind power development business assets of Tierra Energy. According to 
“There is tremendous potential for Nebraska to expand our presence in the renewable fuels sector by becoming a leading producer of biodiesel,” Gov. Heineman said. “This bill will encourage greater diversity in renewable fuels by providing opportunities for Nebraskans to invest in the development of a biodiesel facility.”
Sen. Langemeier said, “With the signing of LB 343, coupled with the vast resources available in Nebraska, we will be positioned to become the nation’s leader for biodiesel production.”