Wisconsin Drivers Favor #Ethanol, #E15

Joanna Schroeder

Wisconsin drivers favor ethanol blends up to and including E15 at the pump by a 2 to 1 margin. A new survey commissioned by the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association found that 62 percent of individuals support the use of E15 fuel versus only 34 percent who oppose it. The support was consistent across all regions of the state and demographic groups.

E15-300x300“These results show that Wisconsinites have become well educated on the benefits of using ethanol over the last few years,” said Wisconsin Corn Growers Association (WCGA) President Casey Kelleher. “It’s outstanding to see how consumers have increased their awareness of the benefits of cleaner burning fuel blended with ethanol, in the face of misinformation transmitted by Big Oil.”

The poll also showed Democrats had a 74 percent favorable view of E15, while Republicans had a 63 percent favorable view. Another interesting finding was respondents in the Milwaukee area showed a 59 percent favorable rating, compared to 64 percent for the rest of the state. While E15 fuel is not yet available at many retail stations, more retailers are adding blender pumps that can dispense higher ethanol blends.

“Ethanol, specifically E15, is still a new product for most consumers, and this poll shows that more and more people understand the benefits of this homegrown fuel,” added Kelleher. “That’s why retailers are making this cleaner burning fuel option more available to drivers.”

Kelleher noted that one reason individuals support the use of ethanol is because it’s made from corn grown locally, helping the Wisconsin economy, with 79 percent of respondents agreeing with that statement. The poll found that people have an overwhelmingly positive view about those who grow corn in the state with corn farmers receiving a positive rating of 72, on a scale of 1 – 100. Seventy-eight percent of respondents agreed with the statement that “compared to 30 years ago, farms that grow corn are more efficient with more product produced from the same land for less cost.”

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biofuels, E15, Education, Ethanol

Boeing, SAA & Mango Fly with Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

In tandem with Boeing’s 100th anniversary and celebrations worldwide, the company, along with South African Airways (SAA) and Mango, flew their first passenger flight with renewable biojet fuel. The flight flew 300 passengers from Johannesburg to Cape Town on a Boeing 737-800s using a blend of 30 percent aviation biofuel produced from Solaris, a nicotine-free tobacco plant. The biojet fuel was produced by Sunchem, refined by AltAir Fuels and supplied by SkyNRG.

CnZYAeBVMAIvduX“SAA is committed to a sustainable future and this flight highlights the bold steps we are taking to protect and preserve our environment while creating opportunities for the economic development of our people,” said Musa Zwane, acting CEO of SAA. “We are pleased to join the ranks of global airlines who have made a commitment to a better and cleaner way of flying.”

Back in 2013, Boeing and SAA launched their sustainable aviation fuels collaboration. Then in 2014 Project Solaris became the first project that focused on converting oil from the Solaris plant seed into biojet fuel. Following in 2015, farms in Limpopo Province of South Africa, from which the biofuel for the inaugural flight was sourced, achieved certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). The initiative is not only designed to reduce climate impact in the air, but is also designed to improve the health of South Africans and provide rural development, economics and employment opportunities for farmers through the production of Solaris and other sustainable feedstocks.

“It is fitting that on our 100 year anniversary we are flying on fuels ‎that not only power the flight, but ensure a sustainable future for our industry,” added Miguel Santos, managing director for Africa, Boeing International. “This project is a great example of environmental stewardship that delivers economic and health benefits to South Africa.”

The partners also launched a stakeholder and sustainability plan called the Southern Africa Sustainable Fuel Initiative (SASFI) to ensure a long-term domestic fuel supply for SAA and other regional fuel users. The goal is to scale-up over the next several years to gain additional biofuel capacity. If successful, farmers will be able to tap into local and global demand for certified feedstock without adverse impact to food supplies, fresh water or land use.

advanced biofuels, aviation biofuels, biojet fuel, International

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1It’s not too late to register for the Pellet Fuels Institute’s 2016 Annual Conference taking place July 24-26, 2016 at the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. There will be a comprehensive overview of the U.S. pellet fuels industry along with a keynote presentation and major announcement by American Forest Foundation President & CEO Tom Martin; an in-depth look at policy and regulatory activities affecting the pellet fuels market; a discussion on the larger global trends for pellet fuels, with experts from industry leaders Drax and Enviva; ideas for new market opportunities for pellet fuels manufacturers; and more.
  • Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. has announced the termination of their plans to merge with NextEra Energy, effective immediately. The decision was driven by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) order to dismiss the companies’ merger application.
  • Accenture, the University of Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development (NDIGD) and The Rural Development Company have launched the first solar-powered microgrids in the northern KwaZulu-Natal district of uMkhanyakude, South Africa, as part of the Connectivity, Electricity and Education for Entrepreneurship (CE3) program. One solar-powered microgrid provides power for irrigation equipment in South Africa while a larger solar facility powers a pack house where local farmers consolidate yields and process and package harvested crops. This reduces the farmers’ overall burden of labor and operating costs, and enables the farmers’ cooperative to achieve crop yields large enough to supply commercial buyers.
  • Construction of the Moose Lake Wind Project, located in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, and developed by Boralex Inc. and Aeolis Wind Power Corporation, will begin on July 18, 2016. The project will have four turbines with a total capacity of 15 MW and will create approximately 40 jobs during its one-year construction phase.
Bioenergy Bytes

DOE Invests in Algae

Joanna Schroeder

DOE logoThe U.S. Department of Energy has made it’s latest investment in the development of algae as a feedstock to produce advanced biofuels and bioproducts. The focus of the money is for companies who are working to overcome the barrier of high production costs through improvements in algal biomass yields. The DOE says the three companies who received funding will develop highly productive algal cultivation systems and couple those systems with effective, energy-efficient, and low-cost harvest and processing technologies. It is hoped that the funding will help to speed the commercialization of fossil-fuel replacements.

The companies are located in California and Florida, and their projects include multi-disciplinary partners to coordinate improvements from algal strain advancements through pre-processing technologies (harvesting, dewatering, and downstream processing) to biofuel intermediate in order to reduce the production costs of algal biofuels and bioproducts.

And the winners are:

  • Global Algae Innovations (San Diego, California)—Global Algae Innovations Inc., in collaboration with the University of California-San Diego, TSD Management Associates, Texas A&M University, General Electric, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, will accelerate the commercialization of algal biofuels through development of an integrated, photosynthetic, open raceway pond system to produce algal oil. Their approach is to combine best-in-class cultivation and pre-processing technologies with some of the world’s leading strain development laboratories. The company also received DOE funding for it’s algal research in 2015.
  • Algenol Biotech LLC (Ft. Myers, Florida)—Algenol Biotech LLC, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Reliance Industries Limited have formed a team to advance the state-of-the-art in algal production and biofuel processing with the end goal of a sustainable, economically viable biofuel intermediate through enhanced productivity of cyanobacteria, the conversion of the biomass to a biofuel intermediate, and the cost-sensitive operation of a photo-bioreactor system.
  • MicroBio Engineering, Inc. (San Luis Obispo, California)—MicroBio Engineering, Inc., in partnership with Cal Poly University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and Heliae will deliver integrated technologies that achieve high yields of biofuels, combined with treatment of wastewater, higher value co-products, and carbon-dioxide mitigation.
advanced biofuels, algae, biomass, bioproducts

ASA Applauds Proposed #Biodiesel Bill

Joanna Schroeder

ASA-logoLast week Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) introduced biodiesel legislation that would extend the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit through 2019 and only allow domestically produced biodiesel to quality for the credit. The American Soybean Association, applauded the proposed bill.

“This bill allows producers the security they need to grow their operations in the coming years, and will help to continue biodiesel’s success in diversifying the fuel market,” said ASA president Richard Wilkins, from Greenwood, Del. “This tax credit and extension is vital to the industry’s continued growth, and will maximize the added value of domestic production of biofuels.”

ASA says that biodiesel production, in addition to providing a clean fuel alternative, benefits soybean farmers and the livestock industry. Approximately half of U.S. biodiesel is produced from soybean oil that is a by-product of soybean production, which is driven by demand for protein meal.

Joining Grassley and Cantwell to co-sponsor the Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2016 are Sens. Pat Roberts, Heidi Heitkamp, John Thune, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mark Kirk, Martin Heinrich, Joni Ernst, Joe Donnelly, Roy Blunt, Mazie Hirono, Al Franken and Patty Murray.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Legislation

ARF to Participate in @GOPConvention

Joanna Schroeder

America’s Renewable Future will be participating in this week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland, July 18-21, 2016, to promote the importance of biofuels. The organization will deploy multiple outreach efforts including having notable Americans, such as Chris Soules, interacting with attendees as well as man an exhibitor booth, and offer custom giveaway items. In addition, the No. 3 American Ethanol E15 NASCAR show car will be onsite.

rnc-logo-revise-2ca-0bb7962a053130ed“Convention-goers will see our efforts at nearly every turn,” said advisor Tim Albrecht, who will head up the group’s efforts in Cleveland. “We are excited so many surrogates and volunteers have eagerly signed up to assist us in telling the story of cleaner and greener, less expensive fuels for our vehicles.”

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, Gov. Pete Ricketts, Lt. Gov. Kim Branstad, Sen. Charles Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst, former Sen. Rick Santorum, and “The Bachelor” contestant Chris Soules are committed to sharing the American success story of biofuels and the importance of a strong Renewable Fuels Standard RFS). Last week, Governor Branstad was honored for his biofuel leadership during the National Governors Convention that took place in Des Moines, Iowa.

The America’s Renewable Future booth will be open during the duration of the convention and will be located at The Flats (near Jacobs Pavilion), 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland, OH 44113. America’s Renewable Future will also be conducting similar activities at the Democratic National Convention, taking place in Philadelphia, July 25-28, 2016.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, politics, RFS

Iowa Governor Honored for #Biofuels Leadership

Cindy Zimmerman

branstad-awardIowa Governor Terry Branstad, the nation’s longest serving Governor, was honored Friday by renewable fuels industry leaders, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition and the National Governors Association at a breakfast commemorating his steadfast leadership in renewable fuels.

“Gov. Branstad is a true champion for renewable fuels, and we’re delighted to see him honored for his long-standing leadership,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw.

The breakfast honoring Gov. Branstad was hosted and sponsored by the IRFA, Governors’ Biofuels Coalition, Nebraska Ethanol Board and several other biofuels industry partners.

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

40+ Groups Fighting Against Big Oil Subsidies

Joanna Schroeder

More than 40 groups have come together to call for an end to Big Oil subsidies that have been in place for more than 100 years. In an open letter to Congress from a diverse range or organizations from veterans, to renewable energy to environmental, and more, the groups are challenging Congress to repeal the nearly $4 billion a year in “wasteful taxpayer subsidies” handed to Big Oil and Gas. This despite, say the groups, the industry’s efforts to halt efforts to curb climate change.

The letter was released during a press call: Press Call to End Big Oil Subsidies

Example of a "no ethanol" pump popping up around East Tennessee. Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

Example of a “no ethanol” pump popping up around East Tennessee. Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

“Members of Congress have been a very lucrative investment for the oil industry. For every $1 they put in in campaign contributions, they get back more than $188 in subsidies, even using these very conservative JCT subsidy figures,” said Stephen Kretzmann, executive director of Oil Change USA. “I am sure most Americans wish we could get returns even a fraction that good from our 401k’s. This has gone on for far too long, it is time now for a Separation of Oil and State.”

The U.S. and the world have taken bold steps to address climate change as evidence in the history COP21 last December. Greg Dotson, vice president for energy policy at the Center for American Progress Action fund says there is more to be done and clean energy companies are ready to step up to meet growing need. “The first thing you do when you are in a hole is stop digging. We know today that we are putting too much carbon pollution into the atmosphere – and we should stop using tax payer dollars to encourage even more.”

Brad Woodhouse, president, Americans United for Change, added, “These tax giveaways serve no useful purpose other than padding oil industry profits. We could send 166,000 kids to college every year with the $4 billion that is instead squandered on Big Oil. Over summer recess, we’re going to demand answers from Republicans in Congress who can’t find the money to address the Zika Virus or Flint water crisis, or repair our crumbling infrastructure, but think Big Oil can’t live without these subsidies. Even with persistently low oil prices, which dipped below $30 a barrel earlier this year, ExxonMobil still reported nearly $1.8 billion in profits last quarter, and BP over $500 million. It seems even in the worst of times, Big Oil can make tons of money comfortably without a taxpayer handout. And it seems the only return on taxpayers’ investment is dirty air and 14,000 oil spills every year.”

On the call, Senators were called on to support the FAIR Energy Policy Act, legislation sponsored by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) that would phase out special tax breaks for fossil fuels on the same schedule as the law Congress passed to phase out the wind production tax credit (PTC). The Call to Action also came in support of the Democratic Senators who took to the floor this week to condemn ExxonMobil Corp. for spinning a “web of denial” about climate change as part of a profit-protecting scheme to kill any legislative action to address it.

Audio, biofuels, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Environment, Oil

DOE Releases 2016 Billion Ton Report

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) along with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have released its 2016 Billon-Ton Report. The study found that within 25 years, the U.S. could produce enough biomass to support a bioeconomy including renewable aquatic and terrestrial biomass resources. The report also found that by 2040, the country could sustainably produce at least one billion tons of non-food biomass. Key biomass feedstocks fueling the bioeconomy include agricultural, forestry, and algal biomass, as well as waste – all useable for the production of biofuel, biopower, and bioproducts.

Screen Shot 2016-07-15 at 1.51.01 AMThe report findings show that under a base-case scenario, the U.S. could increase its use of dry biomass resources from a current 400 million tons to 1.57 billion tons under a high-yield scenario. This is important because increasing production and use of biofuel, biopower, and bioproducts would substantially decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the utility and transportation sectors and reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil as the domestic bioeconomy grows.

New to the 2016 report is novel assessments of potential biomass supplies from algae, from new energy crops (miscanthus, energy cane, eucalyptus), and from municipal solid waste. For the first time, the report also considers how the cost of pre-processing and transporting biomass to the biorefinery may impact feedstock availability.

On July 21, 2016, the Bioenergy Technologies Office will be hosting a joint webinar with Oak Ridge National Laboratory staff to further discuss and answer questions regarding the 2016 Billion-Ton Report volume 1 results, scenarios, assumptions, and constraints.

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, biomass, bioproducts

House #Biofuels Caucus To @EPA: Get #RFS Back on Track

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remains under fire regarding its proposed rule for the 2017 renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This week, 17 members of the House Biofuels Caucus sent a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, urging the agency to complete its 2017 RFS “in a manner consistent with the Congressional intent to aggressively expand the production of renewable fuels.” Last month, 39 Senators also sent a letter to McCarthy calling for her to increase biofuel use back to statuary levels.

The 2017 proposal calls on refiners to blend 14.8 billion gallons of conventional biofuels in 2017, slightly below the 15-billion-gallon level envisioned by Congress when it expanded the RFS in 2007.

rfalogo1“We thank the lawmakers for their leadership to ensure EPA finalizes a strong RFS that gets the program back on track,” said Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “As the House members wrote, ‘a final rule that falls short of the conventional biofuel cap will do nothing to assuage critics of the program, while missing an opportunity to refocus on addressing the pressing issues needed to fully realize the potential renewable fuels can make for our economy and energy security.’ We couldn’t agree more.”

Dinneen continued, “As we outlined in comments to EPA this week on its proposed 2017 RFS rule, there’s no justification for lowering the conventional biofuel target. Record levels of E10 consumption, broader availability of E15 and E85, more than 2 billion surplus renewable identification numbers and other factors make the statutory requirement readily achievable in 2017. It’s time EPA follows the statutory requirement and increase the conventional biofuel target to 15 billion gallons.”

growth-energy-logo1Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor also thanked the House members for their support of ethanol. “The letter explicitly urges EPA to put the RFS program back on track by finalizing blending targets that are in line with Congress’ original intent. The RFS program has successfully grown the biofuels industry in the United States, and finalizing blending targets that satisfy the original statutory requirements will keep that progress intact.”Read More

biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Legislation, RFA, RFS