According to the Renewable Fuels Association, new data from the polling firm Public Opinion Strategies shows that 78 percent of Americans support increasing the use of ethanol and two-thirds of Americans support the increased use of biofuels in general. Additional results show that 91 percent of Americans feel the country is facing an energy crisis and 53 percent believe we should diversify our energy supply by utilizing alternative energy sources like ethanol.
Coconuts for Biodiesel
It may not be just for suntan lotion anymore. International Fuel Technology Inc. of St. Louis and CIIF Oil Mills Group of the Philippines, the world’s largest coconut producer, have begun a research and development program to expand the use of coconut oil in biofuels blended with diesel fuel. According to a company release, the administration of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has set an Energy Independence Agenda aimed at attaining 60% energy self-sufficiency by year 2010, and has mandated the use of 1% coconut-biodiesel in all government diesel-fueled vehicles. Biofuels currently account for an insignificant percentage of the more than 7 billion liters of diesel fuel ($5 billion market) consumed annually in the Philippines.
Music Festivals Go Green
According to MTV news, some big name summer music festivals are making themselves more environmentally friendly by using biodiesel in fleets and generators.
For example, organizers of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee June 16-18 plan to use 25,000 gallons of cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel for all its non-music stage generators. The Warped Tour, whatever that is, plans to use only biodiesel fuel for the tour’s 18 buses, 14 production trucks and half its backstage generators, which they say will reduce carbon-monoxide emissions by an estimated 16 percent, or roughly 500,000 pounds.
Now that’s radical. But I still wouldn’t let my kids go.
Florida Legalizes E85
E85 is now legal in Florida. According to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, the notice of the rule change making it legal to sell E85 in the Sunshine State was published in April. NEVC is gearing up to work with vendors to make the fuel available to Florida motorists.
Florida Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson has been a big promoter of bio-fuels this year, pushing his Farm-to-Fuel initiative during the state legislative session. Dr. Matthew D. Curran, Chief, Bureau of Petroleum Inspection with FDACS says Bronson is planning to hold a meeting of bio-fuels industry representatives in Orlando August 30 through September 1 which he hopes will “create an environment conducive for the sale and distribution of quality alternative fuel products in the State of Florida.”
Broin Plant News
The Broin Companies today announced plans for development and construction of Premier Ethanol, LLC near Portland, Indiana, as well as plans to build a second Pro-Corn Ethanol production facility in Minnesota.
The Indiana plant is a 120 million gallon per year (MGPY) project and the Minnesota facility will produce 60 million gallons of ethanol annually.
Here Ethanol’s Better
San Antonio, TX-based retailer H-E-B has announced that it will offer E-85 in five store locations from San Antonio to Waco by the end of summer. According to a company press release, the five sites are strategically located along IH-35, the nation’s main artery that runs from Mexico to Canada. H-E-B also selected the sites based on their proximity to major fleet operations including the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the U.S Army’s Fort Hood. The stores are located in Shertz, Austin, Killeen, Buda and Waco.
Foreign Investment in Domestic Fuel
According to the Des Moines Register, Australia’s Global Ethanol announced plans this week to build a plant in Belmont, IA. This is the same group that recently bought controlling interest in Midwest Grain Processors operation at Lakota, IA. In addition, British agribusiness giant Tate & Lyle announced plans last week to build a plant in Fort Dodge, IA.
Global Ethanol had been considering at least nine sites in the US for another plant, according to news sources in Illinois last month, but it’s not clear if the Iowa plant was the decision on that matter or if another site might be chosen as well. Global Ethanol, which is backed by international private investment bank Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, also owns a 60 percent share in a 60 million gallons per year ethanol plant the MGP Cooperative has under construction at Riga, Michigan.
Mold Could Increase Ethanol Production
According to a release, researchers at Iowa State University have found a way to use mold to convert corn fiber into ethanol. And that could boost ethanol production by about 4 percent or 160 million gallons a year, said Hans van Leeuwen, an Iowa State professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. “I believe this is a breakthrough,” said van Leeuwen, the leader of the research project. “But I also want to caution that we need to do a lot more research.”
JW Writes
While domestic fuels have the possibility to stem our dependence on foreign oil, most would agree that it would not be possible to completely supply our need for fuel. Based on our current consumption of oil, more than 90% of the arable land in the US would be required to produce enough ethanol. A large part of the corn and soybeans needed for fuel is being grown in the Midwest.
The effects of climate change bear bad news for farmers in this region. NBC News reported recently that new calculations indicate a shift in the jet stream. The result could mean less perciptitation and an expansion of deserts in areas where they currently exist. People in Oklahoma and Texas are accutely aware of this development following the wildfires earlier this year, and any farmer in the Midwest can probably attest to the lack of rain so far this season. If predictions regarding climate change hold true, it could make it even more difficult to grow our way out of our dependence on oil. However, the competition between using foodstock for fuel and supplying the nation with nutrition could benefit famers able to produce in the new climate.
Ethanol-Mart
Watch out for falling ethanol prices if Wal-Mart decides to start selling E85. Officials with the world’s largest retailer met recently with ethanol industry representatives to discuss the possibility of offering ethanol at its 383 U.S. gas stations.
According to an Associated Press story, Wal-Mart brought together a group of industry, government and academic experts on alternative fuels in Washington last week to discuss how Wal-Mart could develop a network for supplying gas stations at its stores and Sam’s Clubs with E-85 fuel. One of those at the meeting was National Corn Growers Association Executive Director Rick Tolman, who said a decision by Wal-Mart to offer E-85 would help solve one of the emerging industry’s problems: not enough availability for consumers.