Twenty teams have successfully navigated the first technology gate of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wave Energy Prize to become official qualified teams. The 20 qualified teams, selected from the field of 92 official registered teams announced on July 6, will continue their quest to double the energy captured from ocean waves and win a prize purse totaling more than $2 million. Click here to see the qualified teams.- RGS Energy, one of the nation’s leading rooftop installers of solar equipment, has received notification from NASDAQ that it has regained compliance with NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. “This compliance with NASDAQ standards is the outcome of recent financial transactions which have returned the company to positive stockholders’ equity and positive working capital,” noted Dennis Lacey, CEO of RGS Energy. “We have now refocused our turnaround efforts on revenue growth by expanding our sales and construction capabilities.”
- On Friday, August 14th, as part of the celebration of the 10-year anniversary of America’s Renewable Fuel Standard, Fuels America released a video, “Voices of the RFS,” featuring farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural Americans who discuss what the RFS means to them and their communities. Interviews are from the Rally for Rural America in Kansas City.
- CalEnergy, a subsidiary of BHE Renewables, executed a contract with the Imperial Irrigation District to provide Imperial and Coachella Valley residents and businesses with 50 megawatts of renewable geothermal energy through 2029. CalEnergy is leading the efforts that promote geothermal procurement in the state of California to enable a reliable electrical grid.
Poll Finds Biodiesel Matters
A new poll commissioned by the Iowa Biodiesel Board finds that 76 percent of voters in Iowa widely support expanding the Renewable Fuel Standard to increase biodiesel use in the U.S. The poll comes out during the Iowa State Fair where presidential hopefuls are taking the Des Moines Register Soapbox and speaking to the crowd. The majority of voters surveyed also said a presidential candidate’s view on the RFS is important to their vote.
Grant Kimberley, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, said a candidate’s support for renewable fuels should be a central campaign issue, both in Iowa and beyond. “Growing a diverse, domestic energy supply is one of the most critical challenges our nation faces. “There are many foreign security threats today, which only strengthen the argument for domestic fuel production. The RFS has helped us move in that direction, but it’s a policy constantly under threat. Where the next president stands on this matters to voters.”
The IBB has reached out to several campaign leaders, inviting candidates from both parties to tour one of the state’s 12 biodiesel plants. The group plans to share the voter data with the campaigns.
Kimberly added, “As a sustainable, commercially available advanced biofuel with economic and environmental benefits, biodiesel is a shining success in what America’s innovative farmers and small business community can achieve in energy production.”
Santorum, Sanders Miss Energy Boat, Chafee Pro Hydro
There are a lot of candidates vying to be the next president of the United States floating around the Iowa State Fair, but for being in Iowa, many are missing the boat on two very important issues to the state – energy and agriculture. This weekend, presidential candidates Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator of Pennsylvania (Republican); Lincoln Chafee, former Governor of Rhode Island (Democrat); and Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont (Independent running for the Democratic nomination) all pushed their economic and military agendas as part of the Des Moines Register Soapbox series while laying low on other major issues. Let’s recap their remarks.
Rick Santorum touted his military expertise by noting that “no one in this race has the record I do on national security”. If elected, he will defeat ISIS and how he will do this is being explained in his 2020 Perfect Vision for the Future. Like George Pataki (R-NY) he wants to cut corporate taxes. Santorum was silent on renewable energy, agriculture and climate change.
Listen to why Rick Santorum wants to be president here:Rick Santorum at the Iowa State Fair
Bernie Sanders had quite the crowd and has set himself apart as being the only candidate to speak on the soapbox so far who wants to expand social security. He plans on doing this by lifting the cap on taxable income. Several other hot button issues: make all higher education free; overhaul campaign finance; end racism by bringing about major reform in the criminal justice system; equity pay for women in the workforce; and economy – “We need an economy that works for working people”.
And, climate change is real. He said, “When we talk about our responsibilities, as adults, as parents, as citizens of this Earth, we have a moral responsibility to make certain that we leave this planet in a way that is habitable for our kids and grandchildren. The debate is over. Climate change is real. Climate change is caused by human activity. Climate change is already causing devastating problems in our country and around the world. What the United State must do, and I will do as president, is lead the world in working with other countries to transform our energy system.”
Listen to why Bernie Sanders wants to be president here:Bernie Sanders at the Iowa State Fair
Lincoln Chafee believes that when electing legislators, voters need to look at past performance, character and vision. He told the crowd that while he was governor, he worked to curb climate change; fought for marriage equality; made investments in education a priority; and helped to lead the nation in the rollout of Obama Care. In terms of national security, he will work hard to end wars if elected saying, “Prosperity comes with peace”.
While he didn’t address renewable energy during his remarks, he did answer the question on his stance on renewable power for rural America. His answer: hydropower. He was part of a group who worked with Canada to bring hydropwer down to the northeast. He stressed that it is reliable, affordable and clean and needs to have a more prominent position in the energy discussion. He also supports other forms of renewable energy including geothermal, wind and solar.
Listen to why Lincoln Chafee wants to be president here:Lincoln Chafee at the Iowa State Fair
None of the candidates specifically addressed the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) this time around. But at some point all candidates in the race will have to discuss their position to win the state’s nomination- Iowa is the leader in biofuels production including ethanol and biodiesel and has been leading several campaigns to save the RFS.
Click here to read our coverage of the Des Moines Register Presidential Soapbox series at the Iowa State Fair.
Republicans Carson, Pataki on the Soapbox
Republican presidential hopefuls Dr. Ben Carson and former New York Governor George Pataki took the Des Moines Register Soapbox during the Iowa State Fair this weekend with a common message of reducing America’s debt.
Dr. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, focused much of his remarks on personal stories yet engaged the crowd with lessons learned. For example, he said, “The person who has the most to do with what happens in life is you.” Smart words from a smart man. His big campaign focus, though, is that the country is in the process of destroying the future of the next generation in part because both Democrats and Republicans are “blowing up the budget”. He stressed the real problem is the fiscal gap – program needs that don’t meet needed funding – or unfunded liabilities (Medicare, Social Security).
The closest he came to addressing energy was when he spoke about the importance of the arts in education and when he was growing up if he said Van Gogh, the response was, ‘add gas and the van will go’. All joking aside, in the first Republican debate he said, “I would probably be in favor of taking that $4 billion a year we spend on oil subsidies and using that in new fueling stations’ for 30 percent ethanol blends.”
Listen to why Ben Carson wants to be president here:Ben Carson at the Iowa State Fair
Pataki stood strong on both economy and the military. He was the NY Governor during 9-11 and said “we must shut down ISIS”. He wants to give “the power back to the people”. He wants to throw-out the corrupt tax codes, reduce the government workforce by 15 percent and lower tax rates for small business and families.
He also said he is the only candidate that grew up on a farm. “I don’t have a plane. I have three tractors. In fact, I was out on a tractor last week moving hay.” He spent most of his life living on a farm and he, his wife and family farm today in upstate New York. “Great, but what does that does it mean? It teaches you values,” stressed Pataki.
Pataki didn’t discuss energy so voters who care about the issue will need to keep an ear to the ground in future months to learn more about his stance on renewable energy in America.
Listen to why George Pataki wants to be president here:George Pataki at the Iowa State Fair
Click here to read our coverage of the Des Moines Register Presidential Soapbox series at the Iowa State Fair.
RFA to EPA: Provide Consumers Relief at Pump
In light of a refinery shutdown of the BP plant in Whiting, Indiana that produces 240,000-barrels-per-day, the Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen is asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide consumers relief at the pump. Late last week, gas prices jumped an average of 80 cents per gallon overnight in several states including Illinois, Michigan Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and Wisconsin as well as other states including Iowa.
BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana. Photo Credit: GasBuddy.com
Dinneen said that the total lost gasoline output, nearly 120,000 barrels per day, could be offset by increasing ethanol blends from E10 to E15. He sourced ethanol prices in the Chicago wholesale market as around $1 per gallon lower than gas. It should be noted that during the summer months, E15 is only allowed to be used by flex fuel vehicles although the rest of the year the ethanol blend can be used by all vehicles manufactured in 2001 or newer.
“That means, Dinneen said, “if refiners and blenders serving the Midwest market immediately switched to producing E15 to blunt the impacts of this refinery outage, gas prices would instantly fall by at least 5 cents per gallon and drivers in the Midwest would save about $6 million per day. In reality, the price impacts would likely be even more significant, as ramping up ethanol blending would immediately take the pressure off tightening gasoline stocks and ease wholesale gasoline prices.”
Dinned added, “EPA and the Obama Administration have all the tools they need to help alleviate this situation quickly. We call on EPA to immediately waive RVP requirements for E15 and also allow E12 blending—based on the fact that it is substantially similar to E10—in the Midwest region to facilitate expanded ethanol blending and blunt the consumer impacts of this refinery outage.”
BioEnergy Bytes
- Consumers Energy is moving forward with plans to add new sources of renewable energy in Michigan, launching its community solar program called Solar Gardens. Solar Gardens is the first program of its kind for Consumers Energy, and customers will be able to participate.
- Solar3D, a provider of solar power solutions and the developer of a proprietary high efficiency solar cell, has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Elite Solar, a Durham, California-based solar systems provider. The purchase is a continuation of Solar3D’s aggressive growth-by-acquisition strategy, which is intended to boost the company’s top line revenue as well as operating earnings.
- The SunPower facility in Mexicali, Mexico, that produces Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver solar panels has earned Landfill-Free Verification from NSF Sustainability, a division of the global nonprofit public health organization NSF International. With this recognition, SunPower continues to establish its sustainability leadership by demonstrating that 99 percent of the waste generated from the company’s operations in Mexicali is diverted from landfills. The facility is also the first of any industry in Mexico to be third-party verified as landfill-free.
API Releases “Flawed Study”
A new published study from the University of Michigan and funded by the American Petroleum Institute (API) finds that when using annual basis carbon (ABC) accounting, corn-ethanol is not better than its petroleum counterpart. ABC accounting uses spatially and temporally explicit analysis of the direct greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) exchanges between the atmosphere and a physical vehicle-fuel system. LCA is the analysis of the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave, or in the case of liquid transportation fuels, “well to wheel”.
The study abstract states that using an ABC case study of a corn ethanol biorefinery and the farmland that supplies it shows that using the ethanol it produced instead of gasoline provided no significant reduction in GHG emissions, in contrast to an LCA result that found a 40% GHG reduction for the same facility.
In response to the recent study Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said, “We can add this study to the ever growing pile of flawed research funded by Big Oil, who has a vested interest in protecting its monopoly on our nation’s fuel and ensuring that America stays addicted to oil. The standard life-cycle assessment tool accepted by the scientific community, Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model, shows that ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 34 percent compared to gasoline. No amount of self-serving science will change the fact that in addition to reducing GHG emissions, ethanol also reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and the price of gasoline for America’s drivers.”
Propane Autogas Revs Up the FS System
Businesses and organizations are recognizing the benefits of switching from gasoline or diesel fuel to propane autogas.
The GROWMARK FS System is enjoying the benefits firsthand through the use of propane powered vehicles and supplying and servicing customers such as school districts and municipalities.
Becky Borkgren, GROWMARK’s Propane marketing and technical services manager, is a vocal advocate in her new propane powered pickup truck. “I love this truck. It is bi-fuel and is equipped to run on gasoline or propane,” said Borkgren. “We worked with Hendrix Industrial Gastrux located in Wauconda, IL to install an Icom North America liquid injection system. It’s all “plug and play,” meaning this system eliminates “splicing and dicing” of parts and minimizes the risk of errors.”
The industry refers to overall savings as “total cost of ownership” because fuel expense is only one component affecting the bottom line. Savings can be attributed to less fuel consumed, less maintenance, reduced oil consumption, less electricity to plug in diesel engines, and no diesel exhaust fluid.
Visit www.fspropane.com to learn more about the FS System and Propane Autogas.
Jeb Bush Kicks off Fair Speech on Energy
Republican Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and presidential hopeful, kicked off his time on the Presidential Soapbox promoting his support of renewable energy and agriculture. Florida has a huge agriculture community and is home to one of the first advanced cellulosic facilities, Ineos Bio located in Vera Beach, that began production in May of 2013. The plant uses wood, plant and landfill waste. And this May, the Advanced Disposal plant began producing gas-to-energy from the emissions created by the Sarasota County, Florida landfill.
Bush began his 
remarks by focusing on an America in decline. But unlike his predecessors, he enveloped his support of two of Iowa’s largest industry’s – renewable energy and agriculture – at the very beginning of his talk rather than waiting until he was asked by an Iowa State fairgoer his stand of the two issues.
Bush noted that the EPA, through its Clean Air Act, “will stifle the ability for industry to be created and agriculture to work leading the world”. “We have serious, serious problems,” continued Bush. “We need to embrace the energy revolution, and be energy secure with North American resources in a short period of time with American ingenuity, American innovation and American technology.”
Listen to why Jeb Bush wants to be president here:Jeb Bush at the Iowa State Fair
Click here to read our coverage of the Des Moines Register Presidential Soapbox series at the Iowa State Fair.
BioEnergy Bytes
- Governor Charlie Baker and leaders from Bristol Community College (BCC) and its partners unveiled New England’s largest solar parking canopy to date, a 3.2 megawatt solar array covering 800-parking spaces on five acres of the College’s Fall River Campus. Built in partnership with the nonprofit energy-buying consortium PowerOptions and its solar partner SunEdison the solar array will generate more than 34 million kilowatt hours of energy each year, enough to cover half of the campus’ electricity needs and generate a 20-year savings of more than $1.75 million.
- SF Suntech Australia announced today the company’s partnership with Reclaim PV Recycling, the Australia-based waste management company that focuses on reclaiming PV modules. Suntech was recently awarded the first Reclaim certificate in Australia for recycling 84 of its damaged or nonoperational warranty modules.
- As home solar installations surge in New York State, Solar to the People has released a study detailing the cost of solar in metro areas across the state. The actual cost of installing solar is a point of confusion for many homeowners, and this study aims to provide transparency for New York state homeowners who are considering making the switch.
- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law S-2420, a bill that increases the existing cap on net metering and secures the 7,000 solar industry jobs in the state. Former Republican Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr. and his conservative group Tell Utilities Solar won’t be Killed (TUSK) applauded Governor Christie’s leadership in ensuring that New Jerseyans have choice and independence in their energy sources and protecting the state from policies that harm the free market.