Promoting Renewable Energy Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA-DOE conference The US Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy last week were out promoting the upcoming Renewable Energy Conference in St. Louis.

USDA Radio News reporter Rod Bain did several stories with Secretaries Mike Johanns and Sam Bodman you can listen to here:

Listen To MP3 Energy Conference Story 1 (1 min MP3)
Listen To MP3 Energy Conference Story 2 (1 min MP3)
Listen To MP3 Energy Conference Story 3 (1 min MP3)
Listen To MP3 Energy Conference Story 4 (1 min MP3)

Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance will be held October 10-12 at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Besides the two secretaries, featured speakers at the event will include:

Red Cavaney-President and Chief Executive Officer, American Petroleum Institute
Keith Collins-Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Thomas Dorr-Under Secretary for Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Charles Holliday-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dupont
Alexander Karsner-Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
Vinod Khosla-Founder of Khosla Ventures, Co-Founder of Sun Microsystems, and Former Partner of Kleimer, Perkins, Kaufield & Byers, a venture capital firm
Robert W. Lane-Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Deere and Company
Raymond L. Orbach-Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy
Patricia A Woertz-President, Chief Executive Officer, Archer Daniels Midland Company

Goals for the conference are to identify major impediments, review challenges and make recommendations to help accelerate renewable energy technology development, examine key incentives that would help promote certainty and reduce risk for investors and developers in the marketplace, review challenges of developing new distribution systems, raise public awareness and team to ensure Advancement in Renewable Energy.

Government registration fee is $495 per person, if registering online before October 1, 2006. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for renewable energy industry partners. See the website for more info.

Audio, Government

Biodiesel For Healthier Lungs

Cindy Zimmerman

ALA Biodiesel’s role in improving air quality was the focus of a lung association forum last week, according to a release from the National Biodiesel Board.

Leaders of health and environmental organizations met with government officials and industry representatives at the first Air Quality and Alternative Transportation Fuel Forum, where they learned about the important role biodiesel can play in reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality and human health. Hosted by American Lung Association of the District of Columbia, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest and American Lung Association of the Southwest, the Forum was held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

At the forum, Dr. Robert McCormick, U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory Principal Engineer, presented the latest biodiesel emissions data, reporting that a blend of 20 percent biodiesel (B20) can reduce particulate matter emissions by more than 20% based on heavy duty vehicle testing, that biodiesel blends significantly reduce toxic compound emissions and that use of B20 can reduce life-cycle carbon dioxide emissions by 19%.

Biodiesel

Ethanol Wins Again

Chuck Zimmerman

The race is over and it was an exciting one. As usual this season, ethanol wins.

Actually the first car across the finish line belonged to Dan Wheldon. Jeff Simmons in the Team Ethanol car battled up to 6th near the end. When I say battle, I mean it. It was rough out there. He finished 8th.

The picture is him coming into pit lane at the end of the race.

That’s all for me from Chicagoland Speedway. Time to head on out and on to the next event.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Burning Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Here’s an early shot as the Team Ethanol goes by after getting the green flag.

We’ll hope he has a great day out here at the Chicagoland Speedway PEAK Antifreeze Indy 300.

It looks like the weather is going to cooperate!

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

The Race Is On

Chuck Zimmerman

The race is on. The weather seems to be cooperating.

Here’s Jeff Simmons heading out of the pits. Although the drivers didn’t get to do their regular practice laps this morning, they’re doing a couple of warmups before hitting the green flag. If you want to hear what the start sounds like in the pits then listen up: Listen to MP3 PEAK Anitfreeze Indy 300 Race Start (30 sec MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

100% Ethanol Within a Month

Chuck Zimmerman

On the podium for this morning’s press conference on ethanol are (l – r) Jeff Simmons, #17 Team Ethanol driver, Les McTaggert, IRL Senior Technical Director and Tom Slunecka, Executive Director for the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Each of them took a turn making some comments. The conference was emceed by Tom Blattler who conducts public relations work for Team Ethanol.

Les talked about the conversion to ethanol as a fuel blend this year and going into next year. He describes the challenges it presented and the testing required to make sure it would meet the demanding performance needs of IRL cars. He said that race cars using 100 percent ethanol would be tested on the track within the next month.

You can listen to his comments here: Listen to MP3 Les McTaggert Comments (2 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Press Conference Team

Chuck Zimmerman

I can hear engines rumbling as I write this post and that’s a good sign. Maybe the weather will give us a break for a while so we can get this race off.

We just concluded a press conference here in the Chicagoland Speedway media center. Here’s the team on their way in.

This is the official press conference to talk about the conversion to 100 percent ethanol fuel next year.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Garage Tour Time

Chuck Zimmerman

The weather may not be cooperating here in Joliet but that’s allowing a lot of people to get some pretty detailed garage tours.

In this picture, one of the Rahal-Letterman Racing mechanics is giving EPIC members a tour as they work on the #17 Team Ethanol car. This provides an opportunity to be behind the scenes and hear these experts talk about the car and especially how it’s running on a blend of ethanol.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Weather Issues in Joliet

Chuck Zimmerman

The story this morning here at Chicagoland Speedway is the weather.

I could take a picture of the tow trucks zooming around the track, hoping to dry the track off but it’s raining. All we can say is we hope it clears up soon so the final race of the IRL season can take place today.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing

Gene Simmons On Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Gene Simmons, co-founder of the rock group KISS was on hand at the IRL/Team Ethanol 2007 Announcement.

Gene is very much convinced that the IRL has made a good move by adopting ethanol and he is a real supporter of the fuel.

I interviewed Gene and pulled out a sound bite for you. I thought he made a case for the benefits and value of ethanol very nicely. You can listen here: Listen to MP3 Gene Simmons On Ethanol (1 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing