The Renewable Fuels Association has announced the addition of Fox River Valley Ethanol LLC as its newest member. The ethanol plant has been operating in Oshkosh, Wis., since 2003. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ace Ethanol LLC that employs 45. The plant produces 65 million gallons of ethanol annually as well as co-products such as carbon dioxide, dried distillers grains, and 182,500 wet distillers grains per year.- The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), and Geo-Exchange Organization (GEO) have announced the release of guidance for states on meeting new clean energy standards from the EPA. The free state-by-state guides walk through the benefits and uses of three major types of geothermal applications: power generation, direct use and heat pumps, and initially cover Oregon, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, and Colorado.
- Lockheed Martin has entered into a 17-year power purchase agreement for solar-generated electricity produced by Duke Energy Renewables. The renewable power purchase, which is expected to produce 30 megawatts (approximately 72,000 megawatt hours per year) of solar energy for the U.S. national grid, will provide clean energy across all Lockheed Martin domestic business segments.
- Gridco Systems, a leader in agile grid infrastructure solutions, has announced that Hawaiian Electric Company has deployed the Gridco Systems In-Line Power Regulator (IPR) to enable integration of increasing levels of rooftop PV systems. The Gridco IPRs help maintain reliable power delivery within required voltage limits, supporting Hawaiian Electric’s goal to triple distributed generation on its system by 2030.
Ethanol Report Analyzes Iowa Caucuses
Since the ethanol industry made a strong effort to support candidates who favored the Renewable Fuel Standard going into the Iowa caucuses, the oil industry is making much about the fact that one of the only two candidates opposed to the RFS won the Republican vote in the state. In this Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen analyzes the caucus results and the position GOP winner Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has taken on ethanol, and comments on the successful efforts of America’s Renewable Future to educate all the candidates about the RFS and renewable fuels.
With 49 more states yet to make their choices for candidates in the November presidential election, Dinneen says the conversation about ethanol and the RFS is far from over. “The debate about renewable fuels, the RFS and ethanol is not just a one state debate,” he says. “It is something that is important across the country.”
Dinneen also predicts that the final nominees for both parties will be supportive of ethanol “and quite likely supportive of the Renewable Fuel Standard.” Listen here: Ethanol Report on Iowa Caucuses
Enviva Building NC Biomass Wood Pellet Plant
Alternative energy maker Enviva will begin construction on a biomass wood pellet plant in North Carolina this year with a projected opening in 2017. This article from the Richmond County (NC) Journal says a company representative made the announcement at a Richmond County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Glen Gray, project sponsor for the proposed sites in Richmond and Sampson counties, said the company just recently passed a major hurdle and is moving forward.
Gray added that the N.C. Division of Environment and Natural Resources reported there was “overwhelming support” for Enviva’s project in Richmond County.
He said the company needs to be making product by the fourth quarter of next year, so construction at the site outside Hamlet should begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
Enviva has already spent more than $3 million on the project, has cleared the property and has been working with CSX and the N.C. Department of Transportation, he added.
“We’re like a duck in a pond,” Gray said. “Don’t look like we’re doing much, but if you look under the water, there’s a lot going on.”
State and local officials announced in September of 2014 that the wood pellet manufacturer will bring 80 jobs and a $107 million investment to Richmond County.
This will be the company’s fifth plant in the past five years.
Gevo, Porta Building Isobutanol Plants in Argentina
Renewable energy technology company Gevo, Inc. has inked a deal with South American alcohol maker Porta Hnos S.A. to build several isobutanol plants in Argentina. This Gevo news release says they plan to use corn as a feedstock.
The first plant is to be wholly owned by Porta and is anticipated to begin producing isobutanol in 2017. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of up to five million gallons of isobutanol per year. Based on projected isobutanol pricing, Gevo estimates that it could generate approximately $1 million in annual revenues once the plant is operational, through royalties, sales and marketing fees, and other revenue streams such as yeast sales.
The agreements also contemplate Porta constructing at least three additional isobutanol plants for certain of their existing ethanol plant customers. For these projects, Gevo would be the direct licensor of its technology and the marketer for any isobutanol produced, and would expect to receive all royalties and sales and marketing fees generated from these projects. As one of the leading engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) service providers to the ethanol industry in Argentina, Porta would provide the EPC services for the projects. The production capacity of these additional plants is still to be determined.
“Porta is a unique partner for Gevo, as they are expected to be both a direct isobutanol licensee, as well as a partner in building out isobutanol plants for other plant owners. We are excited to leverage their EPC expertise and their local Argentinian presence to accelerate the adoption of our isobutanol technology throughout Argentina, and potentially elsewhere in South America. By partnering with Porta, this will dramatically decrease the investment in engineering and business development resources that Gevo would otherwise have to deploy to roll out our technology in the region. As a result, we anticipate any revenue derived from the Porta relationship to be high margin in nature,” said Dr. Patrick Gruber, Gevo’s Chief Executive Officer.
“We appreciate Porta’s desire to be the first direct licensee of Gevo’s isobutanol technology, as well as their agreement to be our EPC partner in Argentina. Consequently, we have agreed to waive an up-front license fee for the first plant that is to be wholly-owned by Porta,” added Gruber.
Ethanol Plays Key Role in Iowa Campaigning
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) won the Republican ticket in Iowa last night with Donald Trump coming in second despite Cruz’s ambiguity on ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). However, compared to the campaigning four years ago, ethanol has gained a significant amount of positive ground according to a press conference held by Growth Energy. The Iowa Caucus kicks off the beginning of the nomination process for the next U.S. president.
Tom Buis, co-chair of Growth Energy, noted on the call that the oil industry is calling the results proof that Iowans don’t care about ethanol. However, he says the facts are, “Over 80 percent of the votes yesterday in Iowa were cast for candidates that are in favor for the RFS.” The results find that there were more pro-RFS votes made in Iowa this year than in 2012.
For example, in 2012 in Iowa, anti-RFS candidate votes were cast for Ron Paul: 21.5 percent; Rick Perry: 10.4 percent; and Michele Bachmann: 5 percent for a total of 36.9 percent. Whereas in 2016, anti-RFS votes were for Ted Cruz: 27.7 percent and Rand Paul: 4.5 percent for a total of 32.2 percent.
According to Paul Tewes, political strategist, who has been a keen observer of the campaigning process, said he has never seen ethanol more talked about, perform better as a whole, or have a politician like Ted Cruz be more contorted about how to talk about it than this one. “This was a race here where ethanol was put on the map, where candidates had to talk about it and most of the candidates moved either completely for it, or the few that didn’t, moved towards it.”
He also noted that if Cruz is the Republican nominee, then he believes Democrats will take the state in November.
Monte Shaw, executive director for the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) added that the effort to support the RFS in Iowa has always been more than about one candidate. “It was about trying to get candidates to understand the reality of the support oil gets from the government and how the RFS cracks through that monopoly.”
To learn more about Iowa voter support for ethanol and the RFS, listen to the full press conference including the Q&A here: Iowa Caucus Results Press Conference
RFA: Cruz In But Ethanol Not Out
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) may have won in Iowa last night, but according to the Renewable Fuel Association (RFS), ethanol is not out. RFS President and CEO Bob Dinneen said that his win has created a narrative that presidential candidates campaigning in the state no longer have to voice support for ethanol or the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Dinneen said this is not the case.
“The narrative com
ing out after last night’s Iowa caucus that the domestic ethanol industry is somehow on the ropes is false,” said Dinneen. “Many people seem to have forgotten that, in the run-up to last night’s caucus vote, though Sen. Cruz stated he was opposed to the RFS he also expressed support for ethanol as a fuel. In fact the senator has discussed the need to provide American consumers better access to ethanol fuels like E25 or E30, stating that they could prove to be quite popular with American consumers who are increasingly concerned about fuel economy. The senator also called ethanol an effective additive because it increases octane and decreases harmful tailpipe emissions. That doesn’t sound like someone to me who is writing off the domestic ethanol industry. That sounds to me like someone who is just being true to his no-mandates of any kind philosophy.”
Dinneen added, “Moreover, pundits anxious to write off ethanol’s potential currency in Iowa should note that more than 85 percent of the votes cast in Iowa last night were in support of candidates who continue to champion the RFS.”
BioEnergy Bytes
- Posty Cards is among the first companies in the area to help fill the infrastructure gap for plug-in electric vehicles (EV) by joining the Workplace Charging Challenge, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative. The company installed the first privately owned EV charging station in Kansas City in 2010. The EV station is available to Posty Cards’ employees and to the public. The Posty Cards headquarters is located two blocks south of I-70 near downtown Kansas City, making it a convenient location for commuters and long-distance travelers to stop and charge an EV.
- According to a Offshore Wind Market Update from Navigant Research, 2015 represented a record year for the offshore wind energy market, with more than 3.7 GW that came online, up from just under one GW installed in 2014.
- Investment firm Vision Ridge Partners has announced that it has closed an investment fund that seeks to deliver competitive returns while meeting the growing demand for sustainable businesses and clean energy. At $430 million, the fund is one of the largest in this space to date and one of the few private investment portfolios focused on later stage clean energy companies and other sustainable assets.
- CoPower, an online platform for clean energy investing, has opened its first green bond to investors across Canada. Accessible through CoPower’s secure online platform, and eligible for holding in a self-directed RRSP, TFSA or other registered account, this green bond makes it easy for Canadians to invest in clean energy infrastructure in their communities. The bond is backed by loans to rooftop solar projects in Windsor, Ontario and Chesley, Ontario, and an energy efficiency project at the Harbourfront Centre inToronto.
Iowa Caucus & Agriculture
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your planting intentions prediction for 2016?”
Are you still debating what will inhabit your fields this growing season. If so, it’s crunch time. It looks like many will be planting more soybeans this year or keeping it similar to 2015.
Here are the poll results:
- More corn, less soybeans – 7%
- Less corn, more soybeans – 7%
- More corn and soybeans – 6%
- More soybeans, less corn – 27%
- Similar to last year – 27%
- No idea – 26%
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, Do Iowa Caucus results reflect ag views?
In a new Agri-Pulse poll of how U.S. farmers and ranchers plan to vote for president, respondents overwhelmingly said they’ll support a Republican, and 40 percent of those are Trump supporters. That compares to 15 percent for Sen. Ted Cruz, 11 percent for Sen. Marco Rubio and 10 percent for Ben Carson. Now that we have the Iowa Caucus results, do you feel they are a reflection of agricultures view?
Armow Wind Farm Powers Up
The 180 MW Armow Wind power facility in Ontario has powered up. The Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy Group project used Ontario-made products. Towers for the 91 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines were made in Windsor and the 273 blades were manufactured in Tillsonburg.
“Samsung is proud to complete our fourth wind project under our Green Energy Investment Agreement with the government of Ontario,” said Steve Cho, Vice President, Samsung C&T. “Armow Wind created more than 350 jobs during peak construction and supported over 750 workers from our Ontario manufacturing facilities. Samsung and its partners are creating jobs and investing in the community which is benefiting real people in Kincardine and across the province.”
According to a press statement, Armow Wind is also bringing strong economic benefits to the Kincardine community, including more than $75 million over 20 years in property taxes, landowner lease royalties and community benefits. As part of a long-term Community Benefit Program, Armow Wind committed $13.6 million dollars to the Municipality of Kincardine. The program supports education and other initiatives.
“Armow Wind is a great example of how Ontario is changing the future of electricity. Armow Wind is a project that produces clean, renewable energy and that was built by Ontario workers with Ontario-made wind turbine components,” added Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development. “Armow Wind is now generating millions of dollars in local lease payments and property taxes, updating the local airport, and improving the community of Kincardine through our community benefits program. We want to thank the landowners, other community members and the municipality for their hard work and collaboration on this project. We are honored to become a part of this great community.”
The Armow Wind power facility operates under a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
Cruz Takes Iowa Despite #RFS Campaign
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas finished a strong first in the Iowa caucuses, despite heavy campaigning against him by the ethanol industry and even Governor Terry Branstad saying it would be a “big mistake for Iowa to support him.” Still, America’s Renewable Future, headed by Branstad’s son Eric, took a positive tone on the caucus results, noting that 100% of Democrats and “more than two-thirds of Republicans are caucusing for a pro-ethanol, pro-RFS candidate.”
“We feel good about our results. The vast majority of our candidates and the vast majority of caucus-goers realize the economic, national security, and environmental benefits of the (Renewable Fuel Standard),” said Eric Branstad. “And even though Sen. Cruz’s position would be devastating to our economy and tens of thousands of Iowans’ livelihoods, even he, who has accepted more donations from oil than any other candidate and is personally invested in oil companies, claims that he’s pro-ethanol and wants to eliminate oil subsidies. That’s a sure sign how important the RFS and ethanol are.”
Donald Trump was “honored” that he placed second in the Monday caucuses in Iowa and expressed his love for the state during his speech to supporters last night, with a parting note that he could become a farmer.
“Iowa, we love you, we thank you, you’re special,” said Trump. “We will be back many, many times – in fact, I think I may come here and buy a farm – I love it!”
Listen to Trump’s remarks here: Donald Trump after Iowa Caucuses