Rural Renaissance Registration

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA-DOE conference Registration is now open for Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance, a national renewable energy conference that will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Energy October 10-12 at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The conference will focus on achieving goals outlined in President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which seeks to change the way we power our cars, homes and businesses through the use of alternative energy sources.

Attendance is open to the public. Anyone involved with, or interested in, renewable energy is encouraged to attend, including transportation, large- and small-scale farming, finance and investment officials, as well as academia, and federal, state, government and elected officials. Registration is required and the cost is $495 before October 1. After that it goes up to $595, or $695 at the door. So, if you think you want to go, better register soon.

Energy, Government

Ag Truckers Support Domestic Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

AFTC The Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of the American Trucking Associations has formed a Renewable Fuels Task Force to examine issues associated with renewable fuels and their importance to the commercial agricultural trucking industry in response to congressional action supporting the goal of establishing a national renewable energy goal whereby 25 percent of energy consumed in the United States must come from agricultural-based renewable fuels by the year 2025.

According to AFTC, Chairman Greg Owen says the resolutions will benefit AFTC members and the U.S. agricultural industry.

“With today’s rising energy costs and fuel charges, it is imperative that Americans and the business community work together to support renewable energy sources that can make the United States less dependent on imported sources of energy,” Owen said. “Commercial agricultural transportation will play a key role in the transport, distribution and use of renewable energy fuels.”

Biodiesel, Ethanol

Michigan Governor Pumps Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Granholm Pumps Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm was out pumping for ethanol Thursday at a Marathon gas station in Ypsilanti.

Granholm joined Indy Racing League drivers Buddy Rice, Vitor Meira, Jeff Simmons and Kosuke Matsuura, arriving for the event with Simmons in a special 2-seater IRL show car.

Jeff and GranholmThe event, sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, was the latest in a series to promote ethanol-blended fuel at the pump and raise public awareness.

Regular unleaded E10 normally sells for $3.09/gallon but for the promotion the price was $2.20/gallon from 11:15 am to 12:45pm. All blends at the Huron Fuel Depot, a Marathon affiliated station, contain 10% ethanol. A record 231 cars were filled with 3202 gallons during the promotion.

Listen to Governor Granholm’s comments to kick off the event. Listen to MP3 Granholm Remarks (2 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol

Factory Fresh with Biodiesel Blend

Cindy Zimmerman

Jeep Cherokee According to the National Biodiesel Board, Chrysler Group has announced that the first diesel-powered, full-size sport utility vehicle offered in the United States will be shipped from the factory with B5, a blend containing 5 percent biodiesel. The Jeep® Grand Cherokee CRD’s B5 factory fueling builds on a similar program implemented with the company’s Jeep Liberty CRD.

The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee features a 3.0 liter common rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine built by Mercedes-Benz. Clean diesel technology improves fuel economy by an average of 30 percent and reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 20 percent. The Grand Cherokee CRD will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit and will arrive at Jeep dealerships in the first quarter of 2007. Peter Cremer North America of Cincinnati, OH – certified through the industry’s BQ-9000 quality control program – will supply the biodiesel fuel.

Biodiesel, Car Makers

Premier Groundbreaking

Cindy Zimmerman

Broin Companies The Broin Companies is holding a ground breaking ceremony August 3 for Premier Ethanol, LLC, a 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant to be constructed near Portland, Indiana.

According to a company release, invited speakers for the program include Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, State Representative Bill Davis, Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, Ron Lamberty from the American Coalition for Ethanol, and Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association. Jeff Broin, CEO of the Broin Companies, will also address the audience. The public is invited.

Ethanol, Facilities

MN Gov Goes to Bat for E85 Conversion Kits

Cindy Zimmerman

MN Gov Gov. Tim Pawlenty is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to approve the testing of E-85 conversion kits in Minnesota. According to an EarthToys press release, Pawlenty sent a letter this week to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to approve the FlexTek conversion kit (see previous post) which is already being used in Brazil.

The EPA currently prohibits a company or individual from converting a gasoline vehicle to E-85 operation.

However, conversions could result in emissions benefits and help reduce the nation’s addiction to fossil fuels, said Pawlenty.

Pawlenty said his staff would contact EPA officials to further discuss testing the equipment in Minnesota.

Flex Fuel Vehicles, Government

Pretty New Pumps

Cindy Zimmerman

E85 I wish everyone would send me press releases with nice pictures attached like this one from Dresser Wayne, “an industry pioneer for the retail fueling industry” whose motto is “Fueling the Future.”

They sent me a release about these pretty new E85 pumps just installed at 18 Kroger fuel stations in Dallas and Houston. The Dresser Wayne Vista 387 E85 dispenser contains components specifically designed to be tolerant to alcohol, making the dispenser more durable and resistant to corrosion. To bring the first industry-approved E85 retail fuel dispenser to the market, Dresser Wayne is partnering with CleanFUEL USA, recognized as a leader in the alternative fuels industry.

We might be seeing more of those pumps around. The U.S. House this week voted 355 to nine in favor of legislation to expand the infrastructure required for increased availability of alternative fuels at U.S. gas stations. The measure – HR 5534 – establishes a program for independent gas stations to apply for assistance to install infrastructure like E-85 pumps.

Ethanol

Peachy Bioenergy Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Georgia A three-day conference in Tifton, Georgia next week will cover everything anyone would ever want to know about bioenergy – from research and production to marketing and legislation. The Georgia Bioenergy Conference is “not just about grain and beans,” as it focuses heavily on the use of alternative feed-stocks such as wood byproducts, grasses, and byproducts from peanut, cotton, and municipal wastes to generate energy.

The dates are August 1-3. More info is available on the website.

Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Energy, Ethanol

Plans Delayed for One Florida Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

US EnviroFuels One of two ethanol plants being built by U.S. EnviroFuels has run into a snag due to a land issue. The company is planning facilities at both Port Manatee and the Port of Tampa, but according to the Bradenton Herald, the Manatee county site is on hold “until they can work out an agreement with Port Manatee tenant TransMontaigne Inc. to lease 16.5 acres of land.”

Meanwhile, the Tampa plant continues to moving forward and is close to groundbreaking, according to company officials.

Ethanol

Kansas Ethanol Plant Announced

Cindy Zimmerman

ICM ICM Inc. of Colwich, Kan., will design an ethanol plant in Rice County, KS between Lyons and Sterling. The plant will be capable of producing 55 million gallons per year and is being funded by an investment group that includes former Kansas Senate President Dave Kerr.

According to an article in the Hutchinson (KS) News, construction of the plant should begin in December. “We’ve worked very closely with ICM, and we’re extremely pleased to have been given a favorable start date,” Kerr said.

Ethanol