A Florida-based company is working to make ethanol from pineapples. Biomass Resources Corporation of Boca Raton reportedly has “achieved initial success at extracting Ethanol from pineapple fruit and pineapple plant waste,” according to a news release. Initially, the company is focusing on the pineapple industry for its production, and has established a 5,000 sq. ft. R&D and production facility outside of Cali, Colombia, in South America, in the heart of the pineapple industry. According to the company website, they can derive several valuable by-products from pineapple separation technology besides cellulose for ethanol, including bromelain, xylitol, lignin and protein-laden plant waste.
I just wonder if pineapple ethanol would make a good pina colada.
Hippies, Rebels and CEOs
It is day three of the Clean Cities Conference in Phoenix, and the convention center is packed with conference goers, all here for the same cause. With dozens of sessions, exhibits, ceremonies and receptions, people attending the conference are promised hours of information and entertainment. The crowds of people filling the convention center cannot be filed into one specific stereotype, as business people, hippies, yuppies, truckers and more can be seen in all directions. This just goes to show that the topic of alternative fuels is one which appeals to many different demographics.
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Catalytic Conversion Could Make Ethanol Cheaper
Lowering the cost of ethanol production is the goal of Syngas International, a Canadian alternative energy technology corporation. The company hopes to do that by by replacing corn with less-expensive cellulose-based feed stocks and using its “M2 gasifier and PyStR system,” with is catalytic conversion as opposed to fermentation. According to a news release, “cellulosic feed stocks include agricultural wastes, grasses and woods, and other low value biomass such as municipal waste.”
Coordinator Awards
The annual Clean Cities Coordinator awards were presented by Gunnar Lindstrom, American Honda Company. The first award was the “Leadership Award.” This was presented to Linda Urata, Valley Clean Cities, California.
Next up on stage was the winner of the “Coordinator’s Choice” Award. This year that is Kellie Walsh, Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance. Kellie was chosen by her fellow Coordinators from around the country.
And the winner of the “Coordinator of the Year Award” is Johathan Overly, East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. All the winners were presented with award trophies. I think Jonathan will also receive free registration at a number of industry events over the next year which will be very helpful to his conference budget.
Congratulations to our winners! As I’ve learned here this week, they are the people who are championing the alternative fuel vehicle cause in cities all over the country.
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Lifetime Achiever Kimberly Taylor
The person who first contacted me about blogging the Clean Cities Congress was Kimberly Taylor, shown in the picture second from left.
Her vision to use this new media format for coverage is an example of the kind of work that led to her receiving a very special award.
I’m pretty sure it was a big surprise to her as she was presented with a Clean Cities Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations Kimberly. It has been a pleasure working with her as well as all the staff here making the Congress happen.
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The JJ Brown Perspective
This morning’s opening session featured a speech by J.J. Brown, Legislative Aide for Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. He just finished.
This is a long audio file but I think he gave an excellent talk putting into perspective the oil and energy situation on a worldwide level.
Some points that he made include the following. He wanted to bust the myth that oil company profits and the salaries of their CEO’s is responsible for the high price of gas. It’s just not true. He said that taxing oil company profits and giving that money to tax funded government programs like Medicare won’t help generate a single drop of oil. The real reason behind oil price increases he says is the supply and demand situation. Demand is outpacing supply. Simple economics. In fact, he says that the only way our oil companies can hope to compete and develop new resources is with profits which are a result of demand.
One point he made that I thought helped put things in perspective is how much of our world’s oil supply is owned by governments. Our government owns none by comparison. Our oil companies own a fraction of the current oil supply.
In the short term he thinks alternative fuels will go a long way to help us feed our hunger for fuel. He said that his boss, the Senator, fully supports renewable fuel alternatives and providing assistance to companies and organizations who want to build facilities to develop the various alternatives.
I recommend you listen to his talk: 
JJ Brown Speech (30 min MP3)
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Pedicabbing It
Speaking of alternative fuel vehicles. Here’s another way to get around in Phoenix without too many noxious gas emissions.
These pedicabs are all over. They come rolling in around dinner time to cart you around.
They either charge a fee or just ask for a “donation.”
One of the riders in this cab is Angela Sherick, Director of the Dept. of General Services, Fuel Services and Environmental Compliance Division, City of Los Angeles. Post Update: The other rider is Carlos Benedicto, also from the City of Los Angeles.
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Hybrid People Mover
One of the ways we moved people here at the Congress was with a Hybrid Bus that took us out to the opening reception.
Hey, if you’re going to talk the talk then you have to walk the walk, or in this case ride.
You can learn more about the GM Hybrid Bus’s online.
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Green Grand Prix
Increased awareness of domestic fuel alternatives is helping organizers of the 2nd Annual Green Grand Prix to be held in Watkins Glen, NY on June 2.
The Green Grand Prix features a road rally of Hybrid and Alternative Fueled Vehicles held on an 84-mile course following the perimeter of beautiful Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The event is designed to benefit the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association and executive director Carol Fitzgerald says they are getting all kinds of sponsorships and media attention.
“This started out as a regional event to emphasize energy independence and a cleaner environment, it has now started to take on a life of it’s own,” she says. “We have sponsorship from Toyota, Lexus, GM, Honda and Ford. The IRL is sponsoring us and is sending their pace car a Honda Civic Hybrid and are getting back to me on other involvement. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) just phoned me last week and they are interested in a large involvement and sponsorship. They sponsor the Rahal/Letterman IRL race team and are checking on the availability of the Ethanol Indy Show Car and are sending their new IRL driver Jeff Simmons for an autograph session.”
The Green Grand Prix is the brainchild of Robert Gillespie an area artist who is a hybrid car owner and is very passionate about increasing awareness about the vehicles. Last year’s event was a huge success and very well received.
On Our Own For Supper
This has absolutely nothing to do with alternative fuels unless you consider that this blogger needed “fuel” and got it in the form of some fine Irish stew at Seamus McCaffrey’s. This excellent pub is in my hotel, the Hotel San Carlos.
I am not the only Clean Cites Congress participant partaking of the atmosphere and good food and beverage. I recommend a draft Smithwick’s which I tried here for the first time.
It’s Phoenix and it’s hot but the inside is cool at Seamus McCaffrey’s! We’re on our own this evening so it was time to relax and sample some great food.