Biodiesel To Drive Race Car

John Davis February 1, 2007

A couple of days ago, I told you about a biodiesel motorcycle that will try to set a speed record that will be featured at the upcoming National Biodiesel Conference & Expo (Feb. 4th-7th in San Antonio, TX). Now, a British racing team says it will put a prototype 100% biodiesel engine into its car competing in the British Touring Car Championship. UK-based Crash.net reports the Scott Racing Ltd car will run on a partial biodiesel mix this coming season, switching to 100% in 2008:

“Most of the existing cars run on petrol with a few on bioethanol – no-one has yet run a fully-biodiesel powered car, as technically it is very challenging,” company managing director and former Formula Ford 1600 driver Tim Scott said. “I’m passionate about motor sport and I think we can make a diesel car competitive in the short term and gradually ramp up the percentage of biodiesel in the fuel to make a competitive biodiesel touring car next year.”

Of course, they plan to run the car on locally produced biodiesel.

Biodiesel, International

Farm Bill Proposals Stress Cellulosic Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2007

A word that few people even knew just five years ago when the last farm bill was written is all over the Bush administration’s 2007 farm bill proposals released Wednesday. That word is “cellulosic.”

As announced last week, the proposals include $1.6 billion in new funding for renewable energy research, development and production, targeted for cellulosic ethanol, which will support $2.1 billion in guaranteed loans for cellulosic projects and includes $500 million for a bio-energy and bio-based product research initiative.

In addition, the conservation proposal includes incentives for production of biomass on land in the Conservation Reserve Program. Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Arlen Lancaster said, “We would prioritize those lands that would be used for growing cellulosic crops like perennial grasses that continue to provide a soil benefit and a wildlife benefit.”

Cellulosic is also a part of the forestry proposal. “We’re proposing to initiate a new $150 million wood-to-energy program as part of the president’s mission to expand the use of renewable and alternative fuels,” said Johanns. “To accelerate development of new technologies to use low-value woody biomass to produce energy. We have an abundance of this around the country.”

In an interview with Secretary Johanns after the announcement, he said the emphasis on moving toward cellulosic ethanol will help address the concerns that have been raised about increased demand for corn. “I think the livestock industry was very concerned that what we would be proposing is promoting more corn-based ethanol. Our proposals are targeted at cellulosic ethanol. We believe this is the next step.”

Listen to the ethanol portion of my interview with Johanns: Johanns Interview (2:45 min MP3)

Details of the administration farm bill proposals can be found at www.usda.gov/farmbill.

Audio, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Government, Legislation, News

Ethanol Representatives Witness First Indy Open Test

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2007

The IndyCar® Series held its first Open Test of the season Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway where for the first time all IndyCar Series cars ran on 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol.

Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Tom Slunecka said the IndyCar® drivers he talked to in Daytona are proud to be a part of the change to a fuel that is better for the environment and the economy, as well as being happy with its performance in their cars. Plus, the fumes of the farm-based fuel are less harmful and smell better.

“Methanol is a very gaseous-type smell – makes your eyes water and your throat tighten up. But, today as these engines cranked up for the very first time, the sweet smell of ethanol wafted over the paddock,” Slunecka said. “And all of these drivers and mechanics are so appreciative of the fact that these fumes that they are breathing today are non-toxic and their jobs just got a whole lot healthier.”

Also in Daytona to watch the test was Dan Schwartzkopf, senior vice president of Renova Energy in Torrington, Wyo., the facility which was contracted by EPIC to supply approximately 120,000 gallons of ethanol to the IndyCar Series this season.

“In the conversations that I have had with the crews, everybody seems to like the ethanol. No bad remarks whatsoever. So, I think it’s going to be promising from this point on to see it not only here in Indy but in a number of other motor sports venues,” Schwartzkopf said.

The 17 race IndyCar® Series opens March 24, 2007 with the Homestead-Miami 300.

Listen to an interview with Tom Slunecka from the track in Daytona: Slunecka Interview (4 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

Biodiesel Space for a Buck

John Davis January 31, 2007

Last fall, the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan announced it would use biodiesel provided by Western Michigan University… Bronco Biodiesel… to fuel its city buses. Now, the city is renting out a building for the plant… at just $1 a year! According to a WMU press release, the biodiesel plant is expected to produce 100,000 gallons a year. The biodiesel will be made from recycled restaurant grease.

From the Bronco Biodiesel web site:
We are developing a small-scale (100,000 gallons/year) biodiesel production facility in the City of Kalamazoo to prevent the “trapped” BTUs from going down the drain. Our hope is that the facility will serve as a model for how universities and municipalities can work together and convert discarded oil into a clean burning, carbon neutral, transportation fuel.

Biodiesel, Government

Report: Biodiesel Set for “Explosive” Growth

John Davis January 31, 2007

This story in Biofuel Review says that a report by the energy intelligence agency Emerging Markets Online says biodiesel growth is set to explode over the next 10 years… fueled by a new U.S. commitment to biofuels (remember President Bush’s 20 in 10 proposal – 20% alternative fuels in the next 10 years) and ramped up production in other parts of the world:

“It is possible that Biodiesel could represent as much as 20% of all on-road diesel used in Brazil, Europe, China and India by the year 2020. If governments continue to aggressively pursue targets; enact investor-friendly tax incentives for production and blending; and help to promote research & development in new biodiesel feed stocks such as algae biodiesel, the prospects for biodiesel will be realized faster than anticipated. Biodiesel 2020 finds that each of these variables will be essential to the eventual success of these targets,” author William Thurmond notes.

The report goes on to say that the U.S. is the fastest growing biodiesel market in the world with domestic plants having trouble keeping up with demand.

Biodiesel, International

Truth and Tortillas

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2007

Truth About Trade & Technology has posted a Wall Street Journal commentary on the tortilla crisis in Mexico. The op-ed piece contends that the “cause of the corn price spike is too much government intervention.”

The sharp increase in Mexican corn prices, which fueled the tortilla price spike, followed big price increases for corn on international markets over the past year. The main cause, according to most commodity analysts, was the U.S. decision to subsidize ethanol made from corn. Growers who previously marketed their harvests to food and livestock companies suddenly have new demand from ethanol producers, who are also armed with a subsidy to make their bids more attractive. The increase in demand from government-subsidized ethanol producers pushed up prices.

Yet the U.S. isn’t the only government that is distorting markets. Mexico’s quota system for corn imports has exacerbated the problem.

Read the whole commentary.

Ethanol, International, Opinion

“BioFuels or Bust” Seminar at Wash. U. in St. Louis

John Davis January 31, 2007

Washington University in St. Louis is playing host to a seminar on the role biofuels will play in a sustainable economics world. Jim McLaren, President and founder of StrathKirn, Inc, a science and biotech business consulting firm in nearby Chesterfield, MO, will conduct the seminar on the “state of biofuels development in the Midwest,” at Simon Hall on the Wash U campus, on Thursday, February 8th from 5-7 pm. Cost is free.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

House Subcommittee Examines Alternative Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2007

The House Committee on Science and Technology Energy and Environment Subcommittee this week looked into the country’s readiness to meet the demands of alternative fuels.

The subcommittee heard testimony relating to H.R. 547, the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), pictured here on the floor of the House. According to a committee release, the bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to initiate a research, development, and demonstration program to make alternative biobased fuels more compatible with present-day infrastructure. H.R. 547 also directs these agencies to develop technologies and methods to provide low-cost, portable, and accurate measurements of sulfur in fuels, and to develop a physical properties database and Standards Reference Materials for alternative fuels.

Among those who testified was Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen who discussed the technological advancements being made in the ethanol industry and the important role government can play in assisting private industry in developing new technologies and expanding ethanol infrastructure.

“The ethanol industry today is on the cutting edge of technology, pursuing new processes, new energy sources and new feedstocks that will make tomorrow’s ethanol industry unrecognizable from today’s,” said Dinneen. “Ethanol companies are already utilizing cold starch fermentation, corn fractionation, and corn oil extraction. Companies are pursuing more sustainable energy sources, including biomass gasification and methane digesters. And there is not an ethanol company represented by the RFA that does not have a cellulose-to-ethanol research program.”

Ethanol, Government, Legislation, News

Seed Companies Promote Ethanol Varieties

Cindy Zimmerman January 31, 2007

As farmers start to make planting decisions for the coming year, many with an eye towards increased corn acreage to meet the demand for ethanol, seed companies are promoting varieties that have traits best suited for ethanol production.

Garst Seed Company has announced that 18 of their corn hybrids fall under the company’s ExtraEdgeTM designation, meaning they “exhibit grain characteristics especially suitable for dry grind ethanol production,” according to a company release.

Specific to ethanol production, ExtraEdge DGE hybrids have been tested and characterized using methodology established by the University of Illinois, which many in the industry consider the most accurate test since it mimics the dry grind ethanol process and measures actual ethanol creation.

Garst’s parent company, Syngenta, continues to research ways to increase the production efficiency of the dry grind ethanol process. This includes the development of a unique proprietary corn amylase output trait that expresses higher levels of the enzyme amylase, which can increase the efficiency of ethanol production.

Ethanol, News

NBB Chief Likes Bush’s Speech

John Davis January 31, 2007

The head of the National Biodiesel Board liked what he heard from last week’s State of the Union speech. CEO Joe Jobe says he was pleased that alternative fuels… in particular, biodiesel… took such a prominent position in President Bush’s annual address to Congress.

“Obviously, we were very excited to hear him lay out his 20 in 10 plan [reducing U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent in the next 10 years]. It’s a very bold initiative for renewable energy… alternative energy,” Jobe says.

Jobe went on to say that he was encouraged that in the Democrat response, the new leaders indicated they wanted to work with Bush on energy issues. He added that this plan differed than those in the past in that it was more of a comprehensive energy plan implementing alternative fuels with conservation measures. “There really is no single, silver bullet. It’s going to take more of a silver buckshot approach to resolve our energy issues.”

Finally, Jobe says while speeches are one thing, it will take some working together by government and industry to bring the plan to fruition. “We’re hopeful that for the sake of the country… for the sake of the future of this country… we’re hopeful that our leaders in Washington can come together and do what’s right for the nation.”

Jobe expects Bush’s speech and “20 in 10” proposal will be a hot topic of conversation at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo in San Antonio, TX, Feb. 4-7th.

Listen to the interview with Jobe here: Joe Jobe (8 min MP3)

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

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