New research and commercial production methods to meet increased demand for biofuels will be one focus of the third annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, to be held July 11-14, 2006 at the Toronto Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, according to a press release from the Biotechnology Industry Organization, or BIO. Sessions include: An International Perspective on Biofuels and Cellulosic Ethanol, 21st Century Biology for Biofuels Production, Building Infrastructure for the Biodiesel Industry, The Potential of Energy Crops and Biofuels: Perspectives from the Oil Industry. Registration information is available at bio.org.
To Tariff or Not To Tariff
As legislation to extend the tariff on ethanol imports was being introduced in Congress, Florida Governor Jeb Bush was advocating an increase in ethanol imports by dropping tariffs on ethanol from Brazil. According to the South Florida Business Journal, Bush laid out a plan Monday that saw the nation’s usage of ethanol increase to 15 billion gallons by 2015 annually during a meeting of the Florida FTAA at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. In attendance was Brazilian Minister of Agriculture Roberto Rodrigues.
A bill was recently introduced in the House to extend the 54-cent-a-gallon ethanol import tariff to the end of 2010. Iowa Democrat Leonard Boswell introduced the bill to extend the tariff beyond its current expiration, which is to take place on October 1 of next year.
Ethanol in Oil Country
The first E85 pumps in Houston were opened on Monday by Kroger, according to the Houston Chronicle. Kroger intends to sell E85 at 18 locations in Houston and Dallas, said Russell Richard, consumer affairs manager for the Houston area. He said Kroger plans 11 more stores in the Houston area along with six in Dallas.
Flex-Tek Interview
I spoke with Bill Smith, CEO of XCel Plus International about the E-85 Ethanol FlexTek Adaptor Kit that they are launching here in the U.S. I abbreviated our interview to 7:30 minutes for your listening pleasure. 
Flex-Tek Interview (7:30 min MP3)
He goes into a lot of detail about how the converter works and says it is a proven technology that has been used in Brazil for years.
Their website says the converter is legal – even though, as pointed out in a comment on the last post, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition website says such an animal does not exist. I asked Smith if he is working with NEVC on promoting Flex-Tek and he says they are interested in getting involved with any group promoting the use of ethanol in the U.S.
Converting a car to make it run on E85 is likely to cause some issues with vehicle warrenties, but Smith says they are working on their own warrenty for the technology and any parts that could be damaged.
I would invite you to find out more about Xcel Plus products on their website xcelplus.com or call 800-472-7409 to ask them your own questions.
By the way, I asked Smith about the lizard in the Flex-Tek logo seen here. He says his name is Fred and he’s actually a certain kind of chameleon that changes from green to yellow – like the GM “Live Green, Go Yellow” slogan promoting flex fuel vehicles. Clever.
E85 Adapter
If you want to use 85 percent ethanol in your car but don’t want to buy a new flex-fuel vehicle, XCel Plus International can help. This Virginia-based company has just announced the nationwide product launch of the E-85 Ethanol FlexTek Adaptor Kit. According to a company release, once installed on a vehicle, this kit will allow the engine to operate on E-85 Ethanol OR unleaded gasoline at the flip of a switch. The Xcel Plus FlexTek kit includes permanent protection for the engine, plus a FlexTek Engine Adaptor. According to their website, the cost is $500-700.
I am in the process of contacting these folks to do an interview about the product. Stay tuned.
Ethanol Dazzles
Here’s a nice weekend write-up about the ethanol business that went nationwide. The story is by AP Food and Farm Writer Libby Quaid.
And here is another nice article from Paddock Talk on how and why Ford is focused on ethanol.
Wet Day for Team Ethanol
Rookie Jeff Simmons in the #17 Team Ethanol car for Rahal Letterman Racing started the Watkins Glen Indy Grand Prix 13th – his best Indy pole position yet, ahead of teammate Danica Patrick who was 15th. But, even though Jeff was in the lead on lap 9, Team Ethanol was one of at least seven cars that spun out on the slick track and he collided with another car on lap 19. Meanwhile, RLR teammate Buddy Rice finished fourth and Danica finished 8th.
Indy 500 Photo Album
I just uploaded most of the pictures I took during the Indy 500. Actually starting on the Thursday before the race. There’s 267 pictures in this Flickr album and I just don’t have time to label them all individually. If you really want to know who someone is let me know and I’ll try to identify them for you. I hope you like them. There’s another race today and we’ll be rooting the #17 car on.
View the photo album here: Indy 500 2006 Photo Album
Cowboys Coach Invests in Biodiesel
TexCom, Inc. has received a $6 million project finance equity commitment to expand its Biodiesel operations into the state of Oklahoma, according to a news release. A group led by former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys Coach Barry Switzer has committed $6 million as the equity component for a Biodiesel plant to be constructed for purposes of serving the diesel fuel needs for the State of Oklahoma.
Iogen Wants Loan Guarentees for Idaho Plant
Iogen officials say they want to build a $300 million plant to make ethanol from barley straw in Idaho, but they are waiting on loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy that would cover any losses investors might have if the project failed. The Ottawa Sun reports the company would like to start building in the fall of 2007. The plant and a straw assembly facility would employ up to 200 people. Iogen has already contracted with 320 farmers to provide 400,000 tonnes of barley straw a year. An announcement on the loan guarantees is expected in early October.