Growing Fuel In Trees

Cindy Zimmerman

Fuel Tree A tree that can reach 90 feet in six years and be grown as a row crop on fallow farmland could provide an additional feedstock for biofuels production.

According to a Purdue University release, researchers Clint Chapple and Rick Meilan (pictured with trees) are using genetic tools in an effort to design trees that readily and inexpensively can yield the substances needed to produce alternative transportation fuel. The scientists are focused on a compound in cell walls called lignin that contributes to plants’ structural strength, but which hinders extraction of cellulose. Cellulose is the sugar-containing component needed to make the alternative fuel ethanol.

Chapple and Meilan want to genetically modify a hybrid poplar tree so that lignin will not impede the release of cellulose for degradation into fermentable sugars, which then can be converted to ethanol. The changed lignin also may be useable either in fuel or other products, they said.

Ethanol, Research

Purdue Energy Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

Dick Lugar Next week, Purdue University and U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar will host an energy summit to discuss industry and policy perspectives on how our nation can significantly reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

Richard G. Lugar-Purdue Summit on Energy Security will bring more than 600 leaders to the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, Ind. to discuss national energy issues and policy. Among those joining Lugar, R-Ind. for the daylong event include Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Purdue President Martin C. Jischke and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind.

The Aug. 29 invitation-only summit includes a panel discussion, “Implementing Strategies to Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence.” Panelists include Sue Cischke, Ford Motor Co. vice president; Carol Battershell, vice president for alternative energy for BP Inc.; and Amy Myers Jaffe, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University. Brian Lamb, president and CEO of C-SPAN, will serve as panel moderator.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government

866-BIODIESEL

Cindy Zimmerman

NBB Truckers on the nation’s highways can now find biodiesel just by calling a toll-free hotline.

The National Biodiesel Board has announced the launch of 866-BIODIESEL where truckers and other motorists can locate biodiesel 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

According to an NBB release, the Biodiesel Hotline staff has access to mapping software linked to a database that is populated and kept up to date with retail outlets carrying biodiesel. Information including truck accessibility and blend percentage of biodiesel to petro-diesel is available from the database.

Based on a recent survey, truckers state that reduced dependence on foreign oil and support for U.S. farmers are two of the most important reasons to use biodiesel. Many truckers also state that biodiesel reduces wear and tear through increased lubricity and improves engine performance. Awareness of biodiesel among truckers is high, so the most asked question is “where can I find biodiesel?”

Retail pump locations can be found from biodiesel.org, and those that are truck accessible are currently searchable on BioTrucker.com, but often truckers do not have access to the Internet.

The number is 866-BIODIESEL.

Biodiesel

Absolutely Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Absolute Absolute Energy and its farmer-owners broke ground on a new facility near St. Ansgar, Iowa today.

That’s Absolute, with an “e” on the end, for ethanol. These guys are planning on making alcohol for energy, not to be confused with Absolut, the vodka.

When complete, this state-of-the-art biorefinery will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol and 320,000 tons of distillers grains annually from 35 million bushels of local corn.

The picture is from the company website of some of Absolute’s board members: Rick Schwarck, President; Steve Neely; Greg Goplerup; Chris Schwarck, VP; and Tom Edgington.

Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, Minnesota is overseeing the construction and incorporating a process design provided by ICM, Inc. of Colwich, Kansas.

Ethanol

Blue + Yellow = Green

Cindy Zimmerman

Garst Garst Seed Company is showing its true colors.

The company recently launched its Blue + Yellow = Green (BYG) initiative. Blue signifies Garst’s leadership in the seed corn industry, while yellow represents kernels of corn bred to enhance ethanol production. Added together, they create green — the color representing the environmental and earth-friendly renewable fuels such as ethanol, as well as the extra value these fuels can bring to agriculture

To kick off the BYG initiative, Garst is giving its customers the opportunity to win one of 11 grand prizes — fully paid, one-year leases for 11 blue Chevy 1500 Flex Fuel pickup trucks. In addition to the 11 Chevy trucks, customers can also be entered into the drawing for 110 first- place prizes of $100 ethanol certificates. Growers will have the opportunity to register for the prizes by contacting a Garst sales representative or through attendance at a Garst Seed Company field day and other events. For more information about the BYG Blue Truck promotion, growers should contact their Garst seed dealer.

Ethanol, Promotion

Biodiesel Hotline for Truckers

Cindy Zimmerman

GATSNBB As truckers increasingly demand homegrown biodiesel, a new toll-free number will help them find retail availability anywhere in the United States. Friday, at the Great American Trucking Show, the National Biodiesel Board will announce the launch of the Biodiesel Hotline. The hotline will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We’ll have that number as soon as it’s announced.

Biodiesel

Light Posting

Cindy Zimmerman

I apologize for the light posting this week. I have been doing a “virtual press room” for the National Institute for Animal Agriculture ID INFO EXPO 2006 this week in Kansas City, so that has been keeping me busier than normal and out of the office. But, as you can see from the previous post, I did still manage to get in a Domestic Fuel moment.

Unlike my prolific poster husband, I just don’t have the stamina to multi-task the way he does at a meeting. I have to focus on the business at hand. So, I don’t even have a picture of me hard at work in the news room to post – or even one of me interviewing the Secretary of Agriculture. His personal photog got a pic that I might be able to get some time in the future, but I unfortunately did not get one with my own camera.

Be that as it may, here I am at 10 pm, sitting on the floor of the upper meeting room area of the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City doing my posting. Please allow me to vent – that’s what blogs are really for! I’m staying in this classy four-star hotel that has wireless access in the lobby and just about anywhere else OUTSIDE of your hotel room. So, if you don’t get a room, you have all the access you want, 24 hours a day.

However, if you pay $200 a night to stay in the place, you have to pay another $10 a day for internet access in your room! If I was in a Motel 6, I’d get it for free with my $75 room, along with a free breakfast in the morning. What is wrong with this picture?

So, that’s why I’m sitting on the floor posting right now. The first night I did pay the extra $10 for the access in my room, which is by ethernet. But last night I somehow screwed something up so I couldn’t get it to connect, which is actually saving money in the long run, but still is annoying.

OK – I’m done venting. Now I am packing up my computer and going to bed.

Miscellaneous

Johanns on Food vs. Fuel

Cindy Zimmerman

Johanns Press I had the opportunity for a 15 minute interview with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns today in Kansas City. I was wearing many hats, so I had to ask him questions on several topics, but I did get in a question about food versus fuel when it comes to ethanol.

Basically, the short answer is – use all you want, we’ll grow more. Here is the secretary’s answer to my question. Listen To MP3 Johanns (2 min MP3)

Ethanol, Government

US BioEnergy Groundbreaking

Cindy Zimmerman

US Bioenergy A ground-breaking event will be held Friday in Hankinson, N.D. on August 25 for US Bio Hankinson, the biggest ethanol plant in North Dakota. (see previous post). The 100 million gallon per year ethanol plant, being constructed by US BioEnergy Corporation, will consume approximately 36 million bushels of corn and will produce 320,000 tons of distillers grain annually.

Ethanol

Kitchen Sisters Cook Up Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

Kitchen Sisters Peabody-award winning Public Radio broadcasters the Kitchen Sisters are featuring Deep Fried Fuel on NPR’s Morning Edition this Thursday, August 24. That would be tomorrow morning as this is posted, but NPR does offer podcasts of features if you miss it.

The Hidden Kitchen program “explores secret, underground, below-the-radar community cooking going on throughout America and how communities come together through food.”

Deep Fried Fuel: A Biodiesel Kitchen Vision, includes interviews with Willie Nelson, Carl Cornelius, Kinky Friedman, Peter Bell, Joe Nick Patoski and other “biodiesel visionaries” at Carl’s Corner and Houston, Texas.

Biodiesel