ARF Reacts to Hillary Clinton’s Ag, Energy Plan

Joanna Schroeder

Presidential candidate Sec. Hillary Clinton (D) made another visit to Iowa this week where she unveiled her agriculture and rural policy plan. She called for strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) so that it continues to drive the development of advanced cellulosic and other advanced biofuels. Clinton called for more consumer choice at the pump with better access to ethanol blends such as E15 and E85 as well as biodiesel. She also called for more renewable energy to be phased into the electricity sector.

Sec Hillary ClintonAmerica’s Renewable Future (ARF), who is meeting with candidates to discuss the benefits of biofuels, released the following statement in response to the plan.

“We thank Sec. Clinton for her commitment to Iowa’s farmers, consumers, and investors with her call of a strengthened RFS. We enthusiastically echo that call, especially in light of President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) disastrous Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) proposal. The EPA’s proposal is another example of conceding to the oil industry’s demands at the expense of clean, domestic renewable fuels and American jobs.

Billions of dollars were invested by famers and local investors to produce biofuels with the promise of a strong RFS. Reducing the RVO will strand capitol and punish the pioneers who invested in clean, homegrown renewable energy. The RFS has created 73,000 jobs here in Iowa and hundreds of thousands more around the country that cannot be outsourced, reduced our dependence on foreign oil, helped clean our air, and provided consumers savings at the pump.

Iowa’s rural communities and economy depend on the RFS for stability and growth and the EPA must get it back on track and focus on protecting the jobs and economic progress it has yielded.”

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, RFS

Biodiesel & Bioheat Forum Great Success

Joanna Schroeder

Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (MSRPC) hosted the Biodiesel/Bioheat Forum recently and it was a huge success said Keith Schrader, Chairman of MSPRC. He told DomesticFuel that what promoted the Council to put the event together was having gone to New York City for the past few years to participate in the Bioheat Tour.

biodiesel-bioheat-15-schrader“So I went out this Winter and saw what they were doing in the heating oil market out there and the diesel market,” said Schrader. “We thought we’d really like to have these guys come and spread the good news they have about their industry here in the Midwest. So we invited them to come and look around our industry and then do the Forum.”

The event featured a wide, diverse group with retailers, associations, research organizations, fuel marketers and more and who really want to spread the word on how successful the Northeast has been with biodiesel (new York City uses B20 to offset the emission problems due to heating oil) and Bioheat.

The goal of the Forum, that was achieved, was bigger awareness with retailers and fuel marketers in the Midwest to understand how successful these programs are in other parts of the country. And the people who visited the Midwest enjoyed the opportunity to meet the growers who are growing and producing the biodiesel they use every day.

Learn more about the Biodiesel and Bioheat Forum by listening to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Keith Schrader: Keith Schrader, MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council

Biodiesel/Bioheat Forum Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Audio, Biodiesel, Bioheat, Soybeans

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1ReneSola has announced that it has sold its 34.6 MW Port Farms utility scale project in the United Kingdom to Foresight Solar Fund Limited. This represents ReneSola’s second project sale to Foresight Group, a leading, independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, following the sale of its 6.4 MW Field House project in July 2015 to other funds managed by Foresight.
  • A survey commissioned by an environmental group found that 6 in 10 voters support President Obama’s landmark climate rule for power plants. The poll, released by the League of Conservation Voters, also concluded that 70 percent of United States voters want their state governors to comply with the regulation. Only 31 percent disagreed with the rule, and 17 percent said their states’ governors should not comply. The group characterized the support for the rule as an “overwhelming majority.”
  • Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and Climate Investment Funds have released analysis on “the Role of Public Finance in Deploying Geothermal Energy in Developing Countries.” The research relied on stakeholder dialogue as well as three case studies on geothermal projects of different sizes and development models in Turkey, Kenya and Indonesia. Among the key findings, the researchers estimate public finance for geothermal “needs to increase 7-10 fold (from USD 7.4 billion currently to USD 56-73 billion) in order to drive enough private investment to meet developing countries’ deployment targets of 23GW out to 2030.” Policy recommendations include ambitious deployment targets, feed-in tariffs and centralized data-sharing.
  • In a supplement to federal loan guarantee solicitation announcements, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) has issued guidance for potential applicants who are looking for support on distributed energy projects. This supplement joins the existing Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects and Advanced Fossil Energy Projects solicitations. Distributed thermal heating and/or cooling installations, including solar thermal and groundsourced geothermal, are included.
Bioenergy Bytes

Alliance AutoGas Gets ‘Protect & Save’ Certs

Joanna Schroeder

Alliance AutoGas has received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their bi-fuel police vehicles that can run using propane autogas or conventional gasoline. The certifications cover the following vehicles: Ford Taurus Interceptor 3.5L (2015, 2014, 2013), Ford Explorer Interceptor 3.5L & 3.7L (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013), Dodge Charger 3.6L (2015) and Dodge Charger 5.7 HEMI (2015, 2014, 2013). The company said of specific interest to U.S. Law Enforcement fleets are the certifications of the, Explorer Police Interceptor, the Taurus Police Interceptor, and the Charger Pursuit.

AllianceAutoGasThese platforms are being offered with Alliance’s exclusive plug and play technology. This technology allows for consistent OEM quality installs in a matter of hours. Certifications are secured by Blossman Services Inc. (BSI), the equipment distributor for Alliance AutoGas. BSI is the exclusive United States distributor and the Manufacturer of Record (MOR) for EPA and CARB certifications on behalf of Alliance AutoGas and its members.

Alliance AutoGas said they offer the only comprehensive conversion program in the United States and assist companies in determining if propane autogas is right for their fleet. From there they convert existing vehicles — without voiding any warranties. The state-of-the-art conversions are EPA-certified, to ensure safety and maximum efficiency, and performed for zero upfront cost. In addition, Alliance builds the fueling station wherever the fleet is based at no upfront cost and provides a guaranteed fuel supply going forward. Refueling infrastructure, said Alliance, is considerably cheaper than any other fuel source and scalable, growing with a fleet.

Alternative Vehicles, Propane

Justice Cracks Down on Biodiesel RIN Defrauders

John Davis

scalesofjustice1To maintain the integrity of government incentives for biodiesel, the feds are cracking down on defrauders. This news release from the U.S. Department of Justice says four individuals have been sentenced for their part in the $23 million scheme.

Dean Daniels, 52, Richard Smith, 57, Brenda Daniels, 45 and William Bradley, 58, all of Florida, pleaded guilty and were sentenced today in U.S. district court for charges related to a scheme involving the false production of biodiesel.

Dean Daniels was sentenced to 63 months incarceration, Bradley was sentenced to 51 months incarceration, Smith was sentenced to 41 months incarceration and Brenda Daniels was sentenced to 366 days incarceration.

According to court documents, the defendants profited by unjustly generating and selling biodiesel credits (RINs) and unjustly claiming biodiesel tax credits for the production and blending of fuel that was not actually biodiesel.

“Congress enacted incentives for the production of biofuels to make the United States stronger and more energy independent and to move our energy economy into the 21st century,” said Assistant Attorney General Cruden. “The fraud perpetrated by the defendants threatens these important public policies. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute those seeking to line their pockets using scams like this one.”

The defendants were all employees and officers of New Energy Fuels LLC, a business in Waller, Texas, that claimed to process animal fats and vegetable oils into biodiesel. The defendants subsequently relocated, operating a similar scheme at Chieftain Biofuels LLC in Logan, Ohio.

The defendants produced a low-grade fuel that was not biodiesel, however, the defendants would represent to the EPA that they had produced biodiesel. They would generate fraudulent biodiesel RINs and sell them to various third parties.

Biodiesel, RINS

Olleco Acquisition Expands Biodiesel Abilities

John Davis

ollecoc2gUK-based Olleco has acquired another company that also converts used cooking oil and food waste into biodiesel. This company news release says it bought Convert2Green Ltd.

Bringing together Convert2Green and Olleco increases our number of depots to 17 across the UK and enables us to improve efficiencies and coverage to enhance the used cooking oil collection service offered to our customers. The work done by Convert2Green on producing carbon efficient fuels is an exciting addition to Olleco’s range of low carbon bio-liquid fuels and they look forward to developing the possibilities of these fuels in the future.

Commercial Director Adam Baisley said: “We are delighted to welcome Convert2Green customers and staff to Olleco. We aim to build on the strong foundation they have established and extend our reliable and award winning services to our new customers.”

Olleco is fully committed to helping its customers waste nothing from their foodservice business. Olleco ensures that all of the organic waste it collects is converted into renewable energy and compost; nothing goes to landfill.

Biodiesel, International, Waste-to-Energy

RINS, Tax Credit Good Drivers of Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

John Wenzel, with FC Stone, is a large energy dealer and works primarily with large fuel dealers and end users. He spoke during the Biodiesel/Bioheat Forum in Mankato, Minnesota last week. He recently moved to Kansas City from Minnesota and said it was good to be be back.

biodiesel-bioheat-15-wenzelWhen asked what he was hoping to convey to attendees he answered, “I wanted to show how the current oil market is oversupplied but at some point we think it will balance out. I also took a good look at some of the cost drivers around biodiesel and there still is a good opportunity for fuel dealers, I think, to blend biodiesel and for it to be really profitable. It goes back to where are some of the RIN values and also with the tax credit coming up, that’s a big driver and will help fuel dealers blend more biodiesel.”

Wenzel said that it was good to be at an event where he could see biodiesel used in different ways such as with Bioheat. He also noted that Minnesota has a B10 mandate while New York is marketing biodiesel through Bioheat and he thought these are good examples for other states. Ultimately though, he said the biodiesel industry will need to work closely with the oil heating industry to ensure that Bioheat is affordable for consumers who are considering a move to natural gas to meet statewide emission goals.

Learn more about by listening to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with John Wenzel: John Wenzel, FC Stone

Biodiesel/Bioheat Forum Photo Album

advanced biofuels, Audio, Biodiesel, Bioheat, Soybeans

Clinton Voices Support for Renewable Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

clinton-iowaWith a John Deere tractor as a backdrop, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton voiced her strong support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), solar and wind energy during a visit to Iowa this week.

“We need to capitalize on rural America’s strength as a producer of clean, renewable energy,” said Mrs. Clinton during a speech in Ankeny, adding that she has two main goals in that area. “Half a billion solar panels within four years and enough energy production from renewables to power every home in America within 10 years.”

Noting that Iowa produces a third of its total energy from renewables, especially wind and biofuels. “If Iowa can do it…so can the rest of America,” she said.

“We need to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard,” Mrs. Clinton continued to applause. “So that it drives the development of advanced biofuels and expand the overall contribution that renewable fuels make to our overall fuel supply.”

Introduced by former Iowa governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Clinton discussed her plan to support rural America which includes investments in rural areas and rural transportation, making the production of agricultural products more profitable for farmers, and promoting the use of clean energy and renewable energy sources.

Listen to Vilsack’s introduction and Clinton’s speech here: Hillary Clinton on Ag in Iowa

Audio, Energy, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, politics, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Scottish Whisky Used to Power Homes

Joanna Schroeder

Scottish Whisky is being used to power homes. Well, not exactly the whisky, but the by-products, such as energy, as being used to power communities. The project, The Rothes CoRDe, part-owned by The Combination of Rothes Distillers, is leading the distilleries program.

“A number of whisky companies are part of an industry consortium looking at sustainable ways of processing by-products from our distilleries,” explained Iain Lochhead, Operations Director for John Dewar & Sons Ltd., part of the Bacardi group of companies.  “We believe we are doing our part in protecting the environment of Scotland. Since we use natural ingredients to make our whisky, we want to leave our surroundings in the same pristine condition as we find them.”

draff from whisky production

The plant utilises draff which is a by-product of whisky production. This comes from 17 different distilleries and is mixed 50/50 with wood chips.

The Speyside area of the Scottish Highlands is home to around 50 whisky distilleries. Rothes, in the heart of that region, is the site of a new, blended-biomass plant that generates heat and power for local communities. It works by burning draff (the spent grains used in the distilling process) with woodchips to create steam-generating electricity.

“We generate 8.3 megawatts of electricity every hour of every day. We use some onsite and export the rest – enough for 20,000 people in 8,000 homes,” said Frank Burns, Managing Director, Rothes CoRDe. “We are powering all of the local communities.”

Another innovation is converting pot ale – the residue from copper whisky stills – into organic feedstock that local farmers use for their animals. “By recovering by-products from our distilleries, we turn them into material of purpose and value,” Burns said. “Ultimately, everything we make, whether it’s animal feed – or even the ash from our boiler process – goes back to the land or to the farm.”

David Williamson of the Scotch Whisky Association, added, “In the end, we want to take this industry forward, to invest and grow, but also make sure we preserve the natural environment we rely on to support Scotch whisky for many years to come.”

biomass, Clean Energy, Electricity

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1The Public Utilities Commission voted to keep solar net metered customers on existing rates until the Commissioners determine long-term rules by December 31. The Commission’s decision allows Nevadans to go back to work. The solar market shut down last Thursday when NV Energy declared that the previous cap had been hit. Hundreds of solar workers appeared before the Commission during several hearings over the last month to tell their personal stories about the impact of NV Energy’s attempt to stop solar competition.
  • The World Wildlife Fund and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA recently highlighted the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing model as one of five top priorities to be addressed at the state and national levels, in order to support cities in their fight against climate change. PACE programs provide financing for energy- and water-efficiency improvements and enable property owners to pay for them over time through their property taxes. Meanwhile owners see immediate savings on their utility bills, while reducing their greenhouse gas footprint or their water use.
  • Marathon Capital has announced the successful sale of OwnEnergy, a leader in locally-owned renewable energy systems, to EDF Renewable Energy. The acquisition of OwnEnergy’s team, development platform, and pipeline of wind projects will add to EDF RE’s already extensive North American portfolio containing 3.2 gigawatts (GW) of wind, solar, biomass, and biogas projects.
  • PosiGen Solar Solutions, marked the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by making a clean energy contribution to the City of New Orleans to help create a resilient City Hall. PosiGen, with partners SimpliPhi Power and Schneider Electric, is providing 25 kW of solar PV panels, energy storage and an educational monitoring display for the public. The rooftop solar installation will deliver clean power for City Hall to reduce energy costs, as well as provide backup power in the event of power disruptions or a future natural disaster.
Bioenergy Bytes