Bill Howell Wins New Holland Boomer 47

Joanna Schroeder

Bill Howell was the winner of the 2015 Growth Energy Individual Member Sweepstakes and took home a Boomer 47, a 47 hp tractor customized with Growth Energy racing decals. The contest was sponsored by New Holland and Growth Energy and Howell was presented with his Boomer 47 in Carroll, Iowa this week.

Bill and Katherine Howell take a seat in their new New Holland Boomer 47 as part of the 2015 Growth Energy Individual Member Sweepstakes. Photo Credit: Carroll Broadcasting Company.

Bill and Katherine Howell take a seat in their new New Holland Boomer 47 as part of the 2015 Growth Energy Individual Member Sweepstakes. Photo Credit: Carroll Broadcasting Company.

“We are proud to support farmers and those who choose to work the land and who work so hard every day to grow crops to help feed the world and fuel our nation,” said Growth Energy Co-Chair, Tom Buis. “Our members are working hard to revitalize our rural economies, create new jobs and ensure our nation will have a sustainable and secure energy future. This sweepstakes was part of a larger effort to continue to build grassroots support for biofuels across the country. Our growing grassroots advocates, such as Mr. Howell, help promote our industry and ensure that lawmakers in Washington understand the important role biofuels play in America’s heartland.”

Howell was presented with the Boomer 47 by Clay Haley with Haley Equipment who sells New Holland equipment, along with Scott Wangsgard and George Rigdon representing New Holland Agriculture.

“New Holland is proud to support Growth Energy in their individual membership growth initiatives and we look forward to continuing the partnership in 2016,” said Ron Shaffer, Director of Commercial Sales Regions and Network Development for New Holland North America. “We are also pleased to have the opportunity to provide Mr. Howell with the Boomer 47 and we hope he will find it to be a valuable asset to his operation.”

Agribusiness, biofuels, Growth Energy, New Holland

RFA Analysis: More Automakers Approving E15

Joanna Schroeder

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

According to an analysis conducted by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) of 2016 model year (MY) warranty statements and owners manuals, auto makers are approving E15 use in more than 70 percent of new vehicles. This is an increase from MY 2015 when a little over 60 percent of vehicles were approved to use E15.

RFA’s analysis shows that, for the first time, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA Group) has approved the use of E15 in its MY 2016 Chrysler/Fiat, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles. FCA’s decision means it joins the other members of the “Detroit Three” (General Motors and Ford) in unequivocally allowing E15. Other key points from RFA’s analysis include:

  • GM started approving the use of E15 with its MY 2012 vehicles, while Ford joined a year later with its MY 2013 vehicles.
  • More than 45 percent of the vehicles sold in the United States this year have been produced by the Detroit Three, according to industry data.
  • Other automakers offering explicit approval of E15 in MY 2016 vehicles include Toyota/Lexus, Audi/Porsche/Volkswagen, Honda/Acura, Jaguar, and Land Rover. Together with the Detroit Three, these manufactures have produced approximately 72 percent of the vehicles sold in 2015.
  • When flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) produced by Nissan and Mercedes-Benz are included, RFA estimates the percentage of MY 2016 automobiles explicitly approved by manufacturers to use E15 is even larger (FFVs are approved to use up to 85 percent ethanol blends).
  • With a U.S. market share of 8.5 percent, Nissan Motor Company is the largest “hold-out” when it comes to approving the use of E15 in its vehicles. Nissan even goes as far as suggesting that “E-15 fuel will adversely affect the emission control devices and systems of the vehicle,” which raises questions about why Nissan is not able to provide the same quality of technology as automakers approving the use of E15. Curiously, Nissan also warns drivers that oxygenates like ethanol “can cause paint damage.”
  • Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru also continue to exclude E15 from their fuel recommendations. Together, these three foreign automakers account for about 11 percent of U.S. auto sales. While Subaru recommends that gasoline used in its vehicles contain “no more than 10% ethanol,” it allows the use of gasoline containing 15% MTBE—a toxic substance banned in dozens of states because of groundwater pollution concerns.
  • Interestingly, BMW’s MINI Hardtop appears to allow the use of 25% ethanol blends. The manufacturer states, “Fuels with a maximum ethanol content of 25%, i.e., E10 or E25, may be used for refueling.”

“This analysis should open some eyes and finally lay to rest the ridiculous myth that automakers do not allow the use of E15 in their vehicles,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “In fact, 2016 will be the fifth year in a row in which some auto manufacturers have explicitly included E15 in owners’ manuals and warranty statements as an approved fuel. With each passing year, more and more vehicles sold in the U.S. carry the manufacturer’s unequivocal approval for E15; and with each passing year, the auto warranty misinformation campaign undertaken by AAA and Big Oil fades further into irrelevance.”Read More

biofuels, E15, RFA

Enviva Buys Virginia Wood Pellet Plant

John Davis

envivaEnviva has bought a Virginia wood pellet fuel plant for $131 million. This news release from the company says the Southampton plant will produce more than half a million metric tons per year of the green fuel and brings Enviva’s production capacity to 2.2 million metric tons per year.

“We are excited to announce our first drop-down transaction with our sponsor. The fully-contracted Southampton plant is a world-class facility that fits seamlessly into our core business and will significantly increase our production capacity and the tenor of our contracted cash flows,” said John Keppler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The acquisition, which is expected to be immediately accretive to the Partnership’s distributable cash flow per unit, provides the opportunity to substantially increase our distribution while still maintaining conservative coverage ratios.”

“Having a strong sponsor is a major advantage during a period of choppy financial markets,” said Mr. Keppler. “Our sponsor’s support ensured that this highly accretive transaction was completed on schedule.”

The conflicts committee of the board of directors of Enviva’s general partner, comprised entirely of independent directors, approved the terms of the transaction. Evercore served as exclusive financial advisor to the conflicts committee on the transaction. Andrews and Kurth, LLP served as legal counsel to the conflicts committee. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. served as legal counsel to the sponsor’s joint venture.

biomass

Waste Fat Biodiesel to Power London Buses

John Davis

londonbus1About one-third of London’s buses will soon be running on biodiesel made from animal fat waste. This article from the Guardian says two bus operators, Stagecoach and Metroline, will get the green fuel from Argent Energy at a 20 percent biodiesel (B20) blend.

By March next year, almost 3,000 of the capital’s 8,900 buses will be powered by the B20 fuel blend.

It is estimated that buses running on waste-based B20 produce 10 per cent less carbon emissions than a bus using ordinary diesel.

Transport for London (TfL) said it is resulting in a huge reduction in CO2 emissions of 21,000 tonnes each year.

Mike Weston, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “Our bus fleet is now making a major contribution to improving air quality and bringing down CO2 emissions.

“This improvement, which will reduce CO2 emissions by 21,000 tonnes each year, is being introduced now with no extra spend needed and no long delay for the fitting of new kit.

“It’s just one of a number of measures we are taking to make London’s environment better for everyone.”

Biodiesel, International, Waste-to-Energy

American Wind Power Blows Beyond 70 GW

Joanna Schroeder

American wind power has blown beyond the 70 gigawatt (GW) mark. There is now enough power generated from wind to supply more than 19 million average American homes. This milestone was achieved in November leading into a historic climate agreement by global leaders to reduce carbon emission. This, along with the Clean Power Plan will continue to drive demand for wind energy in the U.S.

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

“This American wind power success story just gets better. There’s now enough wind power installed to meet the equivalent of total electricity demand in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming,” said Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “Wind energy is the biggest, fastest and cheapest way we can cut carbon pollution here in the U.S., and as wind power grows, so will savings for American families and businesses all across the country.”

Wind energy crossed the 50 GW and 60 GW thresholds in 2012, as developers rushed to complete projects before the expiration of the Production Tax Credit (PTC). However, noted Kiernan, the subsequent policy uncertainty in 2013 derailed that momentum, and wind energy installations declined by 92 percent that year. Now, with recent extensions, new wind power projects has resulted in a near-record amount of construction now underway across the U.S.

Last week, Congress passed a multi-year extension of the performance-based PTC and alternative Investment Tax Credit (ITC) as part of the government spending bill, securing, says Kiernan, the predictable business environment needed to keep U.S. factories open and further scale up American wind power. Previous short-term extensions of the wind tax incentives helped spur a near-record of more than 13,250 MW of wind capacity currently under construction in the U.S., with an additional 4,100 MW in advanced stages of development. This year’s multi-year extension is expected to add to that number.Read More

Clean Energy, Clean Power Plan, Electricity, Wind

New Report, Some Hits…Some Misses for Renewables

Joanna Schroeder

A new report, “Some Hits, Some Misses…All-in-All…To Be Taken with a Grain of Salt,” looks at the accuracy of the forecasts for renewable electricity made by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its monthly “Short-Term Energy Outlook” (STEO) reports. Published by the SUN DAY Campaign, the report finds 2015 forecasts have generally followed the actual pattern of ups-and-downs in electricity generation rates from renewable energy sources. However, finds the report, with a few exceptions, EIA underestimated the actual overall growth.

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

Photo Credit: Joanna Schroeder

Ken Bossong, executive director of the SUN DAY Campaign notes that EIA’s monthly predictions of new capacity from renewable sources including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind, have been lower than what went into production. He says EIA has failed to capture the magnitude of the swift growth rates in utility-scale solar. Forecasts, he predicts, will likely be exceeded by actual growth. For example, EIA’s 2016 predictions of 0.6 percent – 0.7 percent for utility-scale solar’s share of total U.S. electrical generation will very possibly be met a year earlier. Predictions of 10 – 12 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity installed between 2014 and 2016 are also likely to be exceeded.

Bossong finds that 2015 reports began with more optimism about the prospects of hydropower and wind, than what has actually gone into production. However, generation by wind and hydropower new appear to be bouncing back, he says. Despite a slow start to the year, Bossong ultimately, EIA forecasts will be underestimated as wind generation is headed for levels above those recorded in 2014 while hydro’s shortfall for 2015 will more than likely be less than EIA anticipated.

“While EIA’s short-term energy forecasts can provide a very useful pulse of changes in the nation’ energy mix, they tend to mirror the agency’s long-term forecasts which notoriously low-ball expectations for renewable energy growth,” explains Bossong. “In recent years, renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, have vastly outpaced and outperformed EIA’s predictions – even those made for very short-term time periods.”

In addition, Bossong’s analysis finds actual end-of-the-year figures for new capacity and electricity generated by both nonhydro renewables, and renewables including conventional hydropower, will likely exceed EIA’s predictions by at least modest levels. It is almost certain, adds Bossong, that the majority of new electrical generating capacity installed during 2015 will be from renewables and renewables will account for more than 17.5 percent of total installed U.S. operating generating capacity by year’s end.

biomass, Electricity, Geothermal, Hydro, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1At a campaign stop in Orange City, Iowa over the weekend Ben Carson told Iowans the promise of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) needed to be kept through 2022. “… As far as the Renewable Fuel Standard is concerned, there were certain promises that were made that extend out until 2022. And many people, you know, invested a lot of time, energy and resources based on those promises that were made. Those promises have to be kept.” Carson went further by calling for ending preferences for the oil industry. He made similar comments at stops in Council Bluffs and Carroll on his latest swing through Iowa.
  • DTE Energy, in collaboration with the City of Lapeer, Michigan, plans to break ground in the spring of 2016 on 45 MW of new solar generating capacity at two project sites. The larger of the two projects will be 30 MW, located off Interstate 69 between Michigan Highway 24 and Lake Nepessing Road. When completed, it will be the largest operating utility-owned photovoltaic solar array east of the Mississippi and the third largest in the country. A second project totaling 15 MW will be developed simultaneously at a site located on Turrill Road between Michigan Highway 24 and Clark Road.
  • Dominion Virginia Power and the Commonwealth of Virginia reached an agreement to deploy 110 megawatts of solar power generation. Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Dominion joined together to announce the multi-year agreement. The Commonwealth will purchase the solar-generated electricity through a long-term agreement with Dominion.
  • Pardee Resources Company reports that its subsidiary, Pardee Solar 1 LLC, recently closed on investments in two renewable energy partnerships. One partnership owns 125 mobile solar generator units which are committed to a major telecommunications company under a long-term lease. The Company’s investment in this partnership is $7.7 million and it was funded through its credit facility. The other partnership owns a roof top solar photovoltaic system located in Harrison, New York. The Company’s investment in this partnership is $716,000 and it was funded through available cash.
Bioenergy Bytes

Power Generation Fueling Global Biomass Growth

John Davis

woodpelletsThe global biomass market has been growing and will continue to do so, thanks to power generation. This analysis from P&S Market Research says increased use of biomass pellets in power generation, along with increased government initiatives and stringent environment regulations, are the key drivers promoting the growth of the global biomass pellet market.

The power sector application segment is expected to witness the fastest growth (12.4% CAGR) during 2015 – 2020, in the global market. Based on application, the heat sector segment held the largest market size, with 14,256.0 million tons volume in 2014, and it is expected to reach 27,122.3 million tons by 2020, growing with a CAGR of 8.7% during the period 2015-2020.

The global biomass pellet market was valued at $6,976.3 million in 2014, and it is expected to grow with a CAGR of 11.1% during 2015 – 2020. Europe accounted for the largest share of the global biomass pellet market with 20,000.0 million tons consumed in 2014. The major reasons behind growth of the market in the region were low GHG emission from biomass and increased government initiatives for renewable technologies. The market in Europe is expected to maintain its growth rate, mainly driven by various subsidies and legislation.

In 2014, North America accounted for the second largest share in the global biomass pellet market, in terms of value and volume. The major reason behind growth of the market in the region were increasing demand of biomass pellets in industrial sector, strict environmental regulations, and increasing concern for global warming. Therefore, the high rate of depletion of fossil fuels and increasing demand for the reduction of greenhouse gases are indirectly creating ample opportunities for the growth of the North American market.

The report adds that higher levels of investments in the biomass industry are helping advance the technology, making biomass more competitive against conventional fossil fuels.

biomass

Solar Industry Celebrates Passage of Tax Extenders

Joanna Schroeder

The solar industry is celebrating the passage of the tax extenders package on Friday, December 18, 2015 that included several clean energy credits. The omnibus appropriations bill included a 5-year solar investment tax credit (ITC) extension. The 30 percent ITC for solar will be extended for another three years. It will then ramp down to 26 percent in 2020 and 22 percent in 2021 and then remain at 10 percent permanently beyond 2022.

“This historic vote brings the solar industry to the forefront of the conversation about American energy. The ITC extension makes America and its solar industry the world’s preeminent producer of clean and affordable energy,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). “We commend members of Congress in both parties for taking this bold step and we look forward to delivering on the promise that this policy now offers all Americans.”

© Martinlisner | Dreamstime.com - Solar Energy Panels With Blue Sky Photo

© Martinlisner | Dreamstime.com – Solar Energy Panels With Blue Sky Photo

Resch noted the ITC will will lead to more than $133 billion in new, private sector investment in the U.S. economy by 2020 with much of this growth will coming from small businesses, which make up more than 85 percent of America’s 8,000 solar companies.

“With Congressional approval on a five-year extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), we have a fresh runway that will only accelerate the global energy transformation to clean, sustainable sources such as solar,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “The ITC extension provides a sense of certainty that allows for new investments that might not have been possible in its absence. We thank our elected representatives for supporting the continued growth of solar power in the U.S. – for the health and prosperity of our communities, our country, and the planet.”

Jason Bak, chairman and CEO of Finavera Solar Energy commented, “The extension of the solar ITC provides long term certainty for the U.S. solar industry in general, and for our San Diego-based subsidiary Solar Alliance of America in particular. Our customers in southern California have benefited from the ability to offset the purchase of a residential solar system with these tax incentives in the past and this extension will give new customers that same incentive. The Solar ITC extension passed today will have a positive impact on our bottom line and will drive an increase in revenues that will benefit shareholders. It also provides the ideal platform for us to aggressively move forward with our expansion plans for Solar Alliance.”

Clean Energy, Electricity, politics, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1ET Solar, a global leading energy solutions provider, announces that its wholly owned subsidiary ET Solutions AG has expanded its portfolio again with two ground-mounted solar projects totaling 10 MWp in the UK for Europe’s leading solar company, Lightsource Renewable Energy. So far, ET Solar’s grid-connected PV projects have reached 75 MWp in the UK.
  • Salesforce has announced its first major renewable energy agreement. The company signed a 12-year wind energy agreement for 40 MW of a new West Virginia wind farm through a virtual power purchase agreement. The electricity generated under the agreement is expected to be 125,000 megawatthours annually, which is more than Salesforce’s data center electricity use in its full fiscal year 2015. The wind farm is expected to be operational by December 2016.
  • Scatec Solar ASA has formally commissioned the 104 MW PV solar plant in Parowan, Utah. The Utah Red Hills Renewable Park (URHRP) is Utah’s first utility-scale solar plant and will more than double the state’s current solar footprint. The plant was commissioned on schedule and constructed in less than a year. The solar farm will generate nearly 210 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per year to be fed into the grid under a 20 year PPA with PacifiCorp’s Rocky Mountain Power.
  • Martifer Solar has added 7 PV ground plants in a total of 31 MW of new third party O&M contracts to its portfolio in Spain. The plants are located in the Centre and South East of Spain and are being supervised and provided O&M Services for the companies Eland Private Equity and European Energy.
Bioenergy Bytes