Saudi Alabama?

John Davis

This story in the e-zine Tuscaloosanews.com (a weekly on-line publication produced by the students and faculty of the University of Alabama’s College of Communications) says that the raw products in Alabama have the state poised to be the next Saudi Arabia… at least in the alternative fuels world. Using a combination of fuels produced from chicken poop, cellulose from the massive amount of wood products in the state, switchgrass, and a growing biodiesel industry in Alabama (made from locally grown soybeans), experts believe the state could be on the verge of something big:

David Bransby, Auburn U. “I often say we are the Saudi Arabia of biomass,” said David Bransby, professor of energy and fiber crops forage-livestock management at Auburn University. “I think those two resources: wood and broiler litter. If we had the technologies to produce the energy from them — to make the liquid fuels from them commercially competitive — we could start tomorrow because they’re all sitting there waiting. That material is all there.

Must be pretty big for Alabama students promoting the thoughts of someone from Auburn! The story goes on to say the state already has one biodiesel plant, another one coming on-line in March, and seven more in the works.

The state legislature has been a little slow to act, but now there is at least one tax incentive proposed, and Gov. Bob Riley has put together an alternative energies advisory panel.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol

Photo Album From the Biodiesel Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

I’m uploading all my photos each day to a Flickr Photo Album. I got started this evening and there’s already over 100 photos available.

To see the photos now and throughout the conference just visit this link: Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Biodiesel Conference Blog sponsored by John Deere

Biodiesel Conference

Daryl Hannah Promotes Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

Jenna and DarylI started out wandering around and getting my bearings here at the Biodiesel Conference and just like last year, one of the first persons I ran into was Daryl Hannah. Daryl has been to every National Biodiesel Conference and can’t believe how much it has grown. She’s pictured here with Jenna Higgins, Communications Director for the National Biodiesel Board during rehearsals for tomorrow’s opening general session.

I spoke with Daryl about the conference and what she thinks about the work the National Biodiesel Board is doing. Daryl says that we need to make sure that what we’re using as a renewable fuel is sustainable and that we need to get off our dependence on fossil fuels.

You can listen to my interview with Daryl here: Listen To MP3 Daryl Hannah Interview (4 min MP3)

Domestic Fuel coverage of the National Biodiesel Conference
sponsored by John Deere.

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Miscellaneous

Arriving at Biodiesel Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from San Antonio, location of this year’s National Biodiesel Conference. I just got in and am using the Internet Cafe here in the convention center. It’s sponsored by BioEnergy of America, Inc., giving everyone a convenient place to check email or as in my case, post onto their blog.

Right now a lot of people are getting checked in or attending one of the opening sessions like the one on membership in the National Biodiesel Board. Later we’ll all go off site to a Super Bowl party and I’m looking forward to that.

I’m going to be collecting pictures and hopefully some interviews this afternoon before the party and will try to get some of them posted later this evening. I’ll be cross posting onto the Biodiesel Conference Blog so be sure to check out both sites for all the latest from this annual event.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the National Biodiesel Conference
sponsored by John Deere.

Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference

Global Warming at 28 Below

Cindy Zimmerman

A quick Google news search for “global warming” today turns up nearly 2,000 articles in the first heading, thanks to a new study that says global warming is “underway right now, humans caused it, and it will continue for centuries, no matter what we do.”

The study was released in Paris by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

BodmanAt a press conference in Washington, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said, “Human activity is contributing to changes in the Earth’s climate. That issue is no longer up for debate.”

Bodman said the Bush administration’s energy policies “go hand in hand with our efforts to address climate change,” with an emphasis on more research for hydrogen, solar power and ethanol production technologies.

That echoes the views expressed just last month by arctic explorer Will Steger in a press release announcing that the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council will be sponsoring his Global Warming 101 expedition this year. “There’s never been a more critical time to act. The debate is over,” said Steger. “Ethanol is available now to consumers. A renewable fuel, it’s a critical part of the solution.”

Ely MNSteger’s expedition is scheduled to head off to the Great White North on Valentine’s Day, but this weekend he will be celebrating with a send-off party in his home town of Ely, Minnesota. The event will be held at the Mukluk Ball, part of the Ely Winter Festival.

This Domestic Fuel reporter will be there, decked out in faux mukluks and a brand-new down coat, hoping to survive the frigid festivities. The AccuWeather forecast calls for a low of 28 degrees below zero Saturday night.

Ethanol, global warming, Government, International, News

Yet Another Record

Cindy Zimmerman

RFA The latest monthly figures from the Energy Information Administration show that U.S. ethanol production and demand reached record levels in November 2006. Production of ethanol in November averaged 343,000 barrels per day (b/d) while demand averaged 414,000 b/d.

The Renewable Fuels Association released the new statistics, as they do every time the EIA report is issued.

Ethanol, News

Secretary of Agriculture Asked About Feed Prices

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike JohannsSecretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns gave a speech during this morning’s general session here at the Cattle Industry Convention and afterward he held a press conference.

He was asked about ethanol and the effect that increased production has had on livestock feed prices and offers some administration thoughts on the subject which include the promotion and development of cellulosic ethanol. He also was asked about using sugar to make ethanol with. Both answers are in this sound bite.

Download and listen to Sec. Johanns here: Mike Johanns Press Conference (2 min. MP3 File)

Audio, Ethanol, Government

From Briefs to Biodiesel

John Davis

Who’s not wearing underwear? Well, apparently, besides some Hollywood celebrities, not enough of us. And, strangely enough, that could be good news for the biodiesel industry. This story on Bloomberg.com says a British-based distributor of underwear, Caldwell Investments, is getting out of the skivvies biz and is planting 1,000 jatropha trees in Brazil with plans to make biodiesel.

The biodiesel project, now at “very early” stage, is “subject to a number of major uncertainties, including funding, recruitment of local management, access to suitable land and successful cultivation of the plantation,” the company said.

Biodiesel, International

A Cattleman’s Perspective

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike John & John QueenThis week I’ve been attending the Cattle Industry Convention and like last week at the International Poultry Expo the buzz word is ethanol. I’ve heard it in the hallways and I’ve heard it in presentations. This morning I interviewed Mike John on the left and John Queen on the right. Mike’s the outgoing president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and John is the incoming. The changeover takes place tomorrow.

I asked them about the challenges they faced and will face in the cattle business and asked them about ethanol and the price impact to their industry for feed. They know that in the short time it’s creating some challenges and make it clear that whatever policy action NCBA takes on this issue, it will come from the grass roots membership.

Download and listen to my interview with them here: John-John Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Audio, Ethanol

BioWillie on the Web

John Davis

Bio Willie 2
The distributor of Willie Nelson’s BioWillie® brand biodiesel, Earth Biofuels, has launched a new website. According to this Earth Biofuels release, the site, www.BioWillieusa.com, is supposed to help inform customers on company developments and where they can get BioWillie® biodiesel.

From the BioWillie website:

All Americans understand the importance of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Long or short haul carriers understand that every gallon we grow from our nation’s crops reduces what we buy from foreign soil.

BioWillie® is sold at 17 locations in five states. The BioWillie website also includes updates of where to get BioWillie® and the progress of a new truckstop called Willie’s Place at Carl’s Corner… about an hour south of Dallas, TX on Interstate 35 expected to open this summer. It even tells fans where to find the legendary country singer.

Biodiesel