“Hood Up, Head Down and Alone with Thoughts”

John Davis

Will Steger Those are the words of Will Steger, famed Arctic explorer, now on a four-month-long, 1200-mile expedition across the Canadian Arctic’s Baffin Island.

Global Warming 101 So what is Steger trying to prove as today he and his sleddog team approach Iqaluit, Canada through -50 degree wind chills? Ironically enough, global warming.

Listen here to his audio dispatch from Day 5 that might be one of the most telling accounts of what global warming seems to be doing to at least this part of the world:
“The terrain is noticeably different than it was before. In particular, the snow conditions have changed. Very, very hard-packed snow conditions.”

“We didn’t see any tracks of wildlife… the migrations have changed.”

Meanwhile, his Global Warming 101 web site is providing updates on the effects to the local Inuits as his team travels from village to village:

During the week-long visits to each Inuit village, the team will listen to and document the Inuit’s experience with climate change. These collected images, sounds and stories will illustrate the dramatic climate-related changes happening in the Arctic: starving polar bears, retreating pack ice, melting glaciers, disrupted hunting and traveling, and the unraveling of a traditional way of life.

EPIC The ethanol industry, through the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and Fagen, Inc., are natural sponsors for Steger’s expedition as both try to show there are better ways to treat the planet than our dependence on fossil fuels.

Check out updates including interactive maps, pictures,and even audio updates from Steger at the Global Warming 101 web site!

EPIC, global warming, International, News

Additive to Reduce NOx Approved for Texas Biodiesel

John Davis

Oryxe California-based Oryxe Energy International has announced that Texas has approved the company’s biodiesel fuel additive, ORYXE LED for Biodiesel, for use in the state. In a release on the Oryxe web site, it’s touted as the first biodiesel additive to reduce NOx emissions. While biodiesel reduces other emissions, this additive will help the fuel reduce the damage done by NOx to the ozone:

There are so many benefits to biodiesel, and ORYXE Energy is pleased to offer a NOx solution that adds one more plus to the fuel,” says James M. Cleary, ORYXE Energy chairman and chief executive officer. “The approval of ORYXE LED for Biodiesel gives the state, biodiesel producers and consumers another tool to improve air quality.

The release goes on to point out that Texas is one of the largest biodiesel producers in the country with 15 major plants producing and more on the way. The state is expected top crank out 250-million gallons of biodiesel this year… double that of just a year ago.

Check out the Oryxe podcast on the subject here.

Biodiesel

Biofuels Take Center Stage at NFU Convention

Cindy Zimmerman

NFU Indy CarThe National Farmers Union 105th annual convention in Orlando recently was very focused on alternative energy.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi spent a significant portion of her keynote speech at the convention talking about alternative energy, from ethanol to wind. “By making the investments we need to make in renewable energy, we can turn America’s farms and fields into the victory gardens of the 21st century,” Pelosi told the group.

The NFU convention also featured House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota who also talked about domestic fuels. “We need to develop the ethanol industry nationwide, not just in the Midwest,” he said. Peterson went on to stress the importance of keeping ethanol companies in the hands of their rural communities, a priority for NFU members.

During the convention, National Farmers Union delegates approved a policy position to enhance energy and environmental opportunities for rural America which includes supporting expanded research and development dollars for renewable energy technology; expanding the Renewable Fuels Standard; establishing a Renewable Portfolio Standard that requires 25 percent of energy usage to come from renewables by 2025; incentives for local ownership of renewable energy production; and extension and expansion of renewable energy tax credits, including permanent extension of the renewable energy production tax credit.

Listen to Pelosi’s comments about alternative energy here: Listen to MP3 File Pelosi at NFU (6 min MP3)

Photo: Representatives Collin Peterson and Nancy Pelosi with NFU President Tom Buis (courtesy NFU)

Audio, Ethanol, News, Wind

Obama on Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Obama Presidential candidate Barak Obama visited the nation’s number one ethanol producing state over the weekend. During his visit to Davenport, Iowa, he did an interview with local television station WQAD-TV during which he was asked about his support for ethanol, in light of the current high price of corn.

“I think what we’re seeing is the market for alternative fuels expand and there’s going to be some growing pains,” Obama answered. While he admits that hog farmers are being affected by higher feed prices, he believes ethanol is the most promising way for the U.S. to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

“What we’re going to need to do is set up a distribution system. Gas stations need to be carrying E-85 gasoline. We had a bill last year that I introduced, that passed, that would provide incentives for stations to start having E-85 pumps. We’re going to have to continue creating a science that makes ethanol more efficient as the distribution systems and production start aligning, then I think we’re going to see this to be one of the most promising areas to wean ourselves off Middle Eastern oil but there’s going to be periodic disruptions as a consequence that the market for ethanol is not fully developed.”

Read the full interview with WQAD.

The picture found on Senator Obama’s website is from an appearance he made in August at the Bunge Plant in Cairo, Illinois after the company announced that it would begin building a new bio-diesel plant.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, News

Feedback on Bush’s Brazil Biofuels Business Trip

Cindy Zimmerman

Bush Brazil Lawmakers and special interests have been chiming in with reaction to the US-Brazil biofuels agreement announced last week.

In a press statement, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana praised the agreement. “Working with Brazil will help turn ethanol into a global commodity and reduce our dependence on oil. It also demonstrates to our friends in the Hemisphere that we are ready partners in advancing our common interest for energy security. If implemented vigorously and funded generously, a policy of partnerships in biofuels production could rehabilitate the U.S. in the eyes of everyday Latin Americans,” Lugar said.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association issued a release calling the memorandum of understanding “a natural and positive step forward for the development of a international ethanol industry,” but officials say they “will watch these developments closely to assure any future agreements are formulated in the context of fair trade.”

However, the National Farmers Union says the agreement could have “negative impact on family farmers, ranchers and American taxpayers.” In a statement, NFU President Tom Buis expressed concerns that the partnership could allow foreign ethanol investors to receive U.S. tax subsidies and compete with U.S. producers. “Decreasing our reliance on foreign oil while increasing our reliance on foreign biofuels is the wrong move when attempting to become energy independent. Ethanol production is the only sector in agriculture that has seen a decrease of consolidation, a direct result of farmer-owned biofuels production facilities. We should not jeopardize this achievement by having U.S. taxpayers foot the bill for foreign-owned biofuel production.”

Ethanol, Government, International, News

Presidents Talk Biofuels

Cindy Zimmerman

Bush Brazil During a press conference Friday with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President Bush said, “I hope the citizens of Brazil, like the citizens of the United States, are as optimistic about the future as these two Presidents are. And one reason we’re optimistic is because we see the bright and real potential for our citizens being able to use alternative sources of energy that will promote the common good.”

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding Friday that includes joint research to develop commercial cellulosic ethanol, developing industrial biofuels standards and helping Caribbean and Central American countries produce more ethanol. Bush and Lula will meet at Camp David on March 31 to continue discussions.

President Lula noted that the agreement will also include joint development of biodiesel between the two countries. “In the field of ethanol we have an extremely successful program that’s come out of over 30 years of very much work and technological innovation. We are doing the same thing in our betting on biodiesel. By 2010, Brazilian diesel, 5 percent of it will come from native abundant plants in our country, such as African palm, cottonseed, sunflower, castor beans, and many other seeds,” said Lula.

“Also, our biodiesel program has a major social impact. It is aimed at small farmers to family farmers. It will help create jobs and income in the poorest regions of our country, especially in the northeastern semi-arid region, where many of these crops are actually native.”

The agreement makes no mention of the tariff on Brazilian ethanol imports to the United States, which is meant to offset the blenders tax credit for ethanol use that provides an incentive for domestic production and utilization. Bush had said going into the discussions with Brazil that the tariff would remain in place and was not open to negotiation.

Read the entire text of the presidents’ press conference from the White House website.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, International, News

25 x ’25 Action Plan

Cindy Zimmerman

25x25 Leaders from a broad alliance of agricultural, energy, environmental, business and labor groups recently rolled out a set of specific recommendations for reaching an ambitious renewable energy goal: 25 percent of the nation’s energy supply from renewable sources by 2025. Members of the 25x’25 Alliance were at the recent Commodity Classic to answer questions and discuss goals with members of the agriculture industry.

The 25x’25 Action Plan: Charting America’s Energy Future was written by the 28-member 25x’25 Steering Committee based on the consensus reviews and policy recommendations of the more than 400 organizations that have endorsed the 25x’25 vision.

25x25 logoThe Action Plan, which was presented to Congressional leaders, contains 35 specific recommendations that “would cost just five percent of what America spent on imported oil in 2006 and would result in a dramatic increase in new jobs and economic activity, along with significant reductions in oil consumption and global warming emissions.”

The recommendations include expanded research and development for cellulosic biofuels and long-term incentives for renewable electricity generation; new infrastructure for expanding delivery of renewable fuels and renewable energy; new program to ensure increased availability of flex-fueled cars; a new requirement for use of renewable energy by the federal government; new mechanisms for renewable energy credit trading among states, and new funding for renewable energy systems.

Biodiesel, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, Government, News

Feed Fight on the Hill

Cindy Zimmerman

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing on Thursday to review the impact of increased biofuels production and higher feed costs on the livestock industry. Congressmen heard from one high-ranking USDA official, six livestock industry representatives and the country’s leading expert on the ethanol co-product known as dried distillers grains which is used as a livestock feed.

Joy PVirtually every livestock representative testifying had a statement similar to Joy Philippi of Nebraska, immediate past president of the National Pork Producers Council – that they “support the development and the use of alternative and renewable fuels as a way to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, but we continue to have the jitters over the rapid rise of corn ethanol production in our country.”

The livestock and poultry producers also were united in their call for reducing or eliminating incentives for biofuels production. “This means we are calling for sunsetting the existing blenders tax credit and the ethanol import tariff as scheduled in 2010 and 2009 respectively,” said Ernie Morales, a cattle feeder and rancher from southwest Texas, who spoke for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

HarkinHowever, in separate press conferences Thursday, the chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees disagreed.

Senate Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa, always a strong advocate for livestock producers, said, “I understand maybe where they’re coming from, but I think these things have a way of leveling out.” He believes the anticipated increase in corn acreage this year will help bring prices down to more manageable levels.

PetersonHouse Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota pointed out that grain producers are finally getting a fair price for their crop. “What people fail to recognize is that over the last number of years, corn prices have been substantially below the cost of production and the livestock industry has benefited from this,” said Peterson.

Several of the livestock industry witnesses at the hearing admitted that the situation is likely short term and that much of the current concern is due to the unprecedented rapid growth in ethanol production. As Iowa dairy producer Rob Wonderlich, testifying on behalf of Dairy Farmers of America, told the committee, “This biofuels revolution occurred very quickly and did not allow … the livestock industries to properly adapt, which has sent a shock across the industries in the form of increased operating costs.”

Ethanol, Government, News

Coral Cables Going Green

John Davis

Coral Gables truck The City of Coral Gables, Florida will be the first city in South Florida to use biodiesel in the city’s vehicle fleet.

According to a city press release, Coral Gables has inked an agreement with SolarDiesel Corp. to test 20% biodiesel in the city’s trucks.

“Coral Gables continues to be a leader and on the cutting edge of providing municipal services. This new initiative, part of the greening effort, is so important to the environment in today’s world,” says City Manager David L. Brown. “We are proud to be the first here in South Florida to partner in a pilot program with SolarDiesel Corporation.”

The city will track the biodiesel in three vehicles for 60 days. If it works out, Coral Gables may increase the number of trucks under the program for six months.

Biodiesel

The Trickle Down of Biodiesel

John Davis

Often times we hear about the added value alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol bring to an area. The Seattle, WA area will begin to see those effects as it opens a major biodiesel plant.

Imperium When it opens this summer, the Imperium Renewables plant is expected to produce 100 million gallons of biodiesel a year and will become the largest in the country. And all that biodiesel means increased shipping for the area. In fact, the Grays Harbor (WA) Daily World reports that port will see the number of cargo ships in and out of the harbor double.

Imperium officials promise moving the green fuel will keep things green for the environment:

Brian Young, Imperium Renewables’ director of business development, said the company will deal only with experienced shippers. Imperium has its own contingency plans should spills occur while ships are loading or unloading, he added.

“We are going to take every precaution just like we were a petroleum company. Our whole theory is that nothing should spill into the water,” he said.

Port officials cannot say exactly how much more money the increased traffic will bring, but Imperium will be using smaller tankers to bring in the raw materials and barges and tugs to ship out the biodiesel.

Biodiesel