Wind Energy Makes Big US Gains

John Davis

AWEA logoA new American Wind Energy Association report shows that in 2006, more than 2,400 megawatts of new power generation was installed in the U.S.. According to an association news release, that represents a $4 billion investment.

Texas leads the way with nearly 2,800 MW of wind energy production in the state. California is in second place with Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington state rounding out the top five:

“These wind power rankings tell the story of a vibrant industry that is growing fast, competing hard, gaining market share, and all the while powering a cleaner, stronger America,” said AWEA executive director Randall Swisher.

The AWEA report includes wind energy production by Congressional district. Association officials also point out a long-term extension of the renewable energy production tax credit is vital to continue the growth.

Wind

Eagles Making Philly Windy City

John Davis

The Philadelphia Eagles color is green, and officials with the organization also want to make it a way of life. According to a press release on the team’s web site, owner Christina Lurie says employees living in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey will be reimbursed for buying wind energy. The announcement came during the NFL’s Business Summit being held in Philadelphia:

“As representatives of the 32 NFL teams convene here in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Eagles will have the opportunity to share its best practices that can make a difference to our planet and to the future of our children,” Lurie said. “We hope to serve as an example for NFL teams and the corporate sector.”

The team estimates that if each employee purchased 300 KW of wind energy, that would equal planting 268 trees every year or not driving 3,600 miles.

It’s part of the Eagles’ Go Green program started in 2003.

Wind

Biodiesel Beats Lamborghini

John Davis

Impala on Pimp My Ride
Recently, I told you about an upcoming episode of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” where a 1965 Chevy Impala is souped up with a biodiesel engine and blows away a Lamborghini in the quarter mile.

Now, I’ve had a chance to talk to the man behind that Impala, Johnathan Goodwin, co-partner of SAE Energy… a company that specializes in converting gas-guzzlers into lean, green, fuel-efficient biodiesel burners.

When Goodwin met with the producers of Pimp My Ride, they didn’t think the conversion could be done. “I ensured them that I didn’t have any problems whatsoever, and they were kind of taken aback.”

More of a shock would come when Goodwin’s converted 850 horsepower hot rod would face off with a Lamborghini in a quarter-mile race. “Actually, we had to kind of let off the throttle half track, and wait for (the Lamborghini) to catch up so it wouldn’t look bad for TV,” says Goodwin.

And the surprises would continue with how clean the Impala ran. Goodwin says, “at this kind of horsepower level, you’d expect a lot of black smoke out of a diesel engine, but it was very clean. The only black smoke was from the tires.”
Flex-fuel Hummer
Goodwin builds more than just classic muscle cars. He’s also converted a Hummer (pictured above) to run on biodiesel, ethanol, propane, or hydrogen. He’s even working on converting a Jeep for The Terminator himself, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The MTV Pimp My Ride special featuring the biodiesel Impala-Lamborghini will air on Earth Day, April 22nd.

Listen to the entire Johnathan Goodwin interview here: Listen to MP3 File

Biodiesel, Miscellaneous

CBOT Ethanol Seminars

Cindy Zimmerman

CBOT The Chicago Board of Trade will be holding a series of educational seminars for managing price risk using CBOT Ethanol futures contracts and its Over-the-Counter calendar swap products. According to CBOT officials, the seminars will be held during April and May in Omaha, Cedar Rapids, Bloomington/Normal, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Sioux Falls.

The free seminars will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Seminar topics will include an overview of CBOT Ethanol futures and OTC products, advanced strategies for managing ethanol price risk and a market outlook. Beginning April 17, the seminars will be held in the following cities:

April 17: Omaha (Doubletree Omaha Downtown)
April 24: Cedar Rapids (Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel)
April 25: Bloomington/Normal (Doubletree Hotel Bloomington)
April 26: Indianapolis (Sheraton Indianapolis Hotels and Suites)
May 2: Minneapolis (Minneapolis Airport Marriott)
May 3: Sioux Falls (Sheraton Hotel/Sioux Falls Convention Center)

Details are avialable on the CBOT website.

Ethanol, News

More Uses for Biodiesel By-products

John Davis

While animal feed products from the production of ethanol have caught most of the attention, researchers are looking at finding more uses for the by-products of biodiesel.

According to this article posted on posted on ThePoultrySite.com, Iowa State University and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Services are looking at using glycerin in poultry and swine feed:

Mark Honeyman“With an increase in biodiesel production comes a surplus of crude glycerin,” said Mark Honeyman, animal science professor and coordinator of Iowa State’s Research Farms. “And with an increase in ethanol comes higher corn prices. Since corn is fed to pigs primarily for its energy value, we’re studying the possibility of replacing corn with glycerin in swine feed.”

The USDA’s research has shown that the glycerin has a similar food-energy value to corn… and the pigs will readily eat it.

And the news looks good for chickens as well:

Kristjan BregendahlKristjan Bregendahl, assistant professor of poultry nutrition, conducted a metabolism experiment with 48 laying hens. Typical feed rations that included corn, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, and four levels of crude glycerin – 0, 5, 10, or 15 percent – were fed to the hens to determine the energy value of the glycerin.

“We found the energy in crude glycerin was used with high efficiency by the hens,” Bregendahl said. “And we saw no adverse effects on egg production, egg weight, egg mass or feed consumption in this short experiment.”

The article goes on to say that there are issues in getting the glycerin through the dry self-feeders, as well as problems with methanol in the glycerin, but researchers promise more work will be done.

Biodiesel, Research

EPA Issues Ethanol Plant Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

EPAThe Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final ruling that assures facilities producing ethanol for human consumption, industrial use or fuel are treated equally under Clean Air Act permitting requirements.

According to EPA officials, this final rule establishes the same emissions thresholds for new facilities that produce ethanol using a feedstock such as corn or sugar beets regardless of the product produced – 250 tons per year for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting program. The thresholds for the nonattainment NSR and Title V programs will remain at current levels.

The final rule also will no longer require facilities producing ethanol for fuel or industrial purposes to count emissions of criteria pollutants that do not come from process stacks or vents when determining if they meet or exceed the emissions thresholds for the Clean Air Act operating permits, nonattainment NSR, or PSD programs.

Ethanol producers greeted the EPA decision enthusiastically. “This decision is a critical step forward for the ethanol industry and corn producers everywhere. The EPA’s decision fixes a fundamental regulatory unfairness and will allow for more efficient permitting of ethanol plants that will promote American energy independence,” said Bill Paulsen, President of the South Dakota Ethanol Producers, in a statement issued by Poet Energy of Sioux Falls, SD.

Energy, Ethanol, Facilities, Government, News

VeraSun Plant Opens Early

Cindy Zimmerman

VeraSun VeraSun Energy Corporation, the nation’s second largest ethanol producer,
has announced the early startup of its 110-million gallon facility located in Charles City, Iowa.

According to a company release, construction on VeraSun’s third ethanol production plant began in March 2006 and was completed nearly three months ahead of schedule.

The plant will annually process 39 million bushels of corn and produce 350,000 tons of distillers grains for livestock feed in addition to 110 million gallons of ethanol. Full production at the facility is scheduled to be reached within 30-45 days.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

BC Buses Switch to Biodiesel

John Davis

Victoria busCity buses in Victoria, British Columbia are now running on 5% biodiesel. The Victoria Times Colonist reports the move will save green in two ways… in the environment and the city budget:

No mechanical modifications are required to the fleet, said transit senior vice-president Ron Drolet.

“You can do it without any capital outlay. You get a supply that will certify the product’s quality and, bang, it happens.”

The change is expected to save about $650,000 a year for the city and will greatly reduce the amount of sulphur oxides and sulphates.

Biodiesel

Hydrogen Bus Debuts in CT

John Davis

Hartford busA new, hydrogen-powered bus has hit the streets of Hartford, Connecticut as a test of the technology that emits nothing but water vapor.

The Hartford (CT) Courant reports the 30-passenger bus will be checked for fuel economy, maintenance costs and reliability and compared to three other fuel cell buses in California:

The Greater Hartford Transit District signed a contract with UTC Power, a unit of Hartford-based United Technologies Corp., to build the bus last year.

Vicki Shotland, executive director of the transit district, said UTC Power will also provide two years of program support, including the use of Connecticut’s only hydrogen refueling station at UTC’s headquarters.

“The people who live and work in Hartford and the people who visit the city are not only going to enjoy riding this quiet bus, but also will like the fact it emits nothing but water vapor, making for cleaner air for all of us to breathe,” said Jan van Dokkum, president of UTC Power.

A $2.9 million federal grant helped fund the bus’s development.

Hydrogen

Andersons Marathon Ethanol Grants

Cindy Zimmerman

The Andersons Marathon Ethanol project in Greenville, Ohio is getting about $650,000 in state money to move the plant toward completion.

AndersonsAccording to state officials, the plant will receive a $100,000 grant to help cover the costs of buying machinery and equipment. Additionally, the state is providing Darke County with a $500,000 roadwork grant to facilitate the project.

MarathonThe Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between Marathon Oil Corporation and The Andersons, Inc. and Marathon Petroleum Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation.

The plant will produce 110 million gallons of ethanol and 350,000 tons of distillers dried grain per year and is expected to be in production in the first quarter of 2008.

Ethanol, Facilities, News