Iowa State Fair to Host Prez Soapbox

Joanna Schroeder

dms-register-soapboxIowa State Fair visitors have an opportunity to see what presidential candidates think about energy and agricultural issues compliments of the Des Moines Register’s Presidential Soapbox series.

A majority of the presidential candidates from both parties have confirmed they will speak from the soapbox during the fair. A total of 14 Republicans and four Democrats are on the soapbox schedule starting Thursday August 13 through Saturday August 22. Notably missing from the list are the frontrunners for both parties – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Check the schedule from the Des Moines Register for updates. Candidate speeches will be live-streamed at DesMoinesRegister.com/SoapboxLive. The ZimmComm blogging team will be following the Presidential Soapbox series as well and bring you news of relevant issues.

Agribusiness, biofuels, Government, politics

Need Biomass? There’s an App for That

Joanna Schroeder

Genera Energy has developed a biomass app to use as a crop planning and learning tool for biomass farmers and landowners. The Biomass app has multiple features including a biomass crop library complete with detailed information, photos and range maps for the most utilized biomass crops in the U.S., along with the ability to overlap crop ranges in a live, interactive map function.

Genera-Logo-150x75“We are very pleased with the Biomass app’s features,” said Sam Jackson, vice president of business development for Genera Energy, Inc. “The information that the app is built on is the result of years of research and development in the biofuels management industry.”

According to the company, another key function, is a multi-function biomass calculator that helps the user determine how much biomass they’ll need for their specific situation, including conversion technology, conversion rate, and location. The results can then be emailed to the user. People wishing to convert biomass to biofuels, biochemical, bioproducts, or biopower, the app will provide realistic projections and crop suggestions based on actual, in-the-field studies and crop outcomes.

Jackson added, “Probably the most important aspect in developing the app was working directly with biomass producers, project developers, and policy makers across the different aspects of the industry. This helped us to develop an app specifically targeted to what users actually needed and wanted.”

The free version of the app is available for both Apple- and Android-based devices. Visit the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store from your phone to download.

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, biomass, bioproducts

MN Soy Helps Bring Bioheat Awareness to Midwest

Joanna Schroeder

Bill Zurn is a farmer from Minnesota who grows soybeans, corns and sugar beets. Last fall he had a chance to go out to the bioheat tour in New York City where they explained why they use Bioheat, a biodiesel blended oil commonly used for heating homes and buildings in the northeast. He said the port authority is also a user of biodiesel in their vehicles.

bill-zurnZurn said they realized they should invite the group to Minnesota so they could visit some biodiesel plants and soybean farms and learn about how the state makes the biodiesel that is ultimately blended into fuel and Bioheat. This event is the Biodiesel and Bioheat Forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council.

While, Zurn noted the Midwest is not a big user of the heating oil due to lack of concentration in homes, the demand in the northeast continues to grow and he and other growers in Minnesota and helping to meet that demand.

The event is taking place August 19, 2015 in Mankato, Minnesota. Event panelists include: Paul Nazzaro- President of the Nazzaro Group, he represents organizations pursuing commercial market acceptance for their specific fuels; John Huber- President of the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA); and Michael C. Trunzo- President of Northeast Public Affairs, LLC., a government affairs, lobbying and association management firm.

Registration is still open. To learn more about the event listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Bill Zurn: Bill Zurn Talks Biodiesel & Bioheat Forum

Ag group, Audio, Biodiesel, Bioheat, Biotech, Soybeans

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1ScottMadden, Inc., has recently published “The Electric Vehicle Market: Utility Perspective and Considerations for Utility Infrastructure Deployment.” This report is designed to help utilities who are considering the initial launch or expansion of their electric transportation program with Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) infrastructure and other market support offerings.
  • Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner has introduced legislation that requires the Environmental Protection Agency to limit the volume of cellulosic biofuel to be blended into the nation’s fuel supply to what is commercially available until a comprehensive study from the National Academy of Sciences is completed.
  • On August 6th, the U.S. and Indonesia conducted a workshop with regulatory, financial, and technical experts, as well as high-level government officials, to advance geothermal development in Indonesia. The country’s plan to increase collaborations and explore opportunities over the coming weeks and months to accelerate private investment. Experts explored world-class approaches to reduce risks associated with geothermal development, to increase the efficiency of government processes and to create the financial certainty necessary to increase overall levels of geothermal energy investment.
  • Gratt Industria de Maquinas has proposed an experimental plant for production of ethanol using sweet potato crops. The facility would produce nearly 5,000 litres of ethanol and would be sold to fuel distributors, electric utilities, and the government with waste to used as animal feed. If approved, the plant could begin operations within 12 months.
Bioenergy Bytes

E15 Hot Topic at ACE Ethanol Conference

Joanna Schroeder

E15 will be a hot topic at the upcoming American Coalition for Ethanol Conference next week. The topic of how higher blends can help fuel retailers to succeed will be discussed during a panel in Omaha, Nebraksa August 19-21. Panelists include Todd Garner, CEO of ProTec Fuel and Jim Pirolli, VP of Fuels for Kum & Go. The August 20th dialogue will delve into the sale and handling of E15 and flex fuels.

aceAlso scheduled to speak August 20th is Kristi Moriarty, one of the authors of a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report investigating the true costs of E15 fueling infrastructure.

“The ethanol industry needs to understand the challenges facing fuel retailers who want to sell more ethanol-blended fuels. Last year’s conference presentation by single-station and small chain operators received overwhelmingly positive reviews, so we’re providing this year’s attendees with two additional perspectives from the ‘downstream’ fuel marketplace,” explained ACE Senior VP Ron Lamberty.

“Kum & Go is a large c-store retail chain with a history of leadership with E85, that can tell us why adding E15 isn’t as simple as decaling pumps and dropping fuel in the tank. ProTec is a fuel distributor with an interesting approach to expanding the availability of E15 and flex fuels by providing retailers with ethanol-blended fuels and the equipment needed to sell them,” he continued.

“And, Lamberty added, “on the topic of ‘equipment needed to sell E15,’ we’re excited to have NREL present their recent authoritative study on that very subject. It’s good news for fuel marketers, but fuel marketer groups seem strangely unhappy their $400,000 per store cost predictions have been proven wildly inaccurate.”

The theme of the August 19-21 ACE Conference is “Quiet Ingenuity, Bold Advance.” The event will also feature a talk on technology and advanced biofuel innovations involving Ray Defenbaugh, President and CEO of Big River Resources LLC, Delayne Johnson, CEO of Quad County Corn Processors, and Jeff Oestmann, President and CEO of East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC, a progress report on ethanol and DDGs exports, ethanol plant board member training, and much more.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol

Scottish Scientists Identify Algae Best for Biofuels

John Davis

stephenslocombe1Scientists in Scotland have identified which algae are the best for biofuels. This article from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) says the researchers used a new technique to figure out which ocean-based strains had the highest oil content.

The screening revealed two marine strains, Nannochloropis oceanica and Chlorella vulgaris, which had a dry-weight oil content of more than 50 per cent. This makes them ideal sources of biofuel for vehicles and aircraft.

The results of the screening, part of the BioMara project, have been published in Nature’s online journal Scientific Reports and are likely to help bring forward research into algae as a source of biodiesel and other biofuels by a number of years.

SAMS scientists have demonstrated that Nannochloropsis, for example, is very efficient at converting nutrients, so it has the perfect combination of high levels of oil and high productivity.

The report’s lead author, Dr Stephen Slocombe, SAMS research associate in molecular biology, said: “In order to produce biofuels from micro-algae we will have to generate high yields, so we need to know which strains will produce the most oil.

“While there is a lot of work being done on micro-algae biotechnology – currently around 10,000 researchers across the world – no-one has identified a shortlist of the best performing strains and how their properties could be used.”

The research also identified algae varieties best for the health food industry.

algae, Biodiesel, biofuels, International, Research

What Iowa Legislators Support the RFS?

Joanna Schroeder

ARF-Logo-Retina-AltIn celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), America’s Renewable Future (ARF) has published a list of which legislators support the RFS in Iowa. Iowa is the top producing biodiesel and ethanol state and is also a leading cellulosic ethanol producing state. The bipartisan list includes city, county and state government officials who publicly support the policy.

The organization released the following statement today:

“The RFS is a commonsense, bipartisan issue that infuses competition into the motor fuel market, lowers consumers’ price at the pump, and strengthens rural communities. The 10-year old policy bolsters the national and state economy supporting over 852,000 American jobs and 73,000 jobs across the state of Iowa. 

These elected leaders know firsthand the benefits of the RFS, ethanol and biofuels, and they join supporters from every corner of the state coming together to ensure that the RFS is protected.”

Click here to read the full list.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, RFS

Growth Energy Praises 10 Years of RFS

Joanna Schroeder

Saturday, August 8 marked the official 10th anniversary of President Bush signing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) into law. The legislation promotes the use of biofuels in replacement of fossil fuels and is in effect until 2020. According to Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis, the RFS has been an overwhelming success and is accomplishing the goals it was designed to achieve.

Buis said, “The RFS has been an overwhelming success and it is important that we as a nation recognize how much this policy has done to help improve the lives of all Americans. This bipartisan law was passed in Congress in 2005 and strengthened in growth-energy-logo12007 with several policy goals: energy security, job creation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. I am pleased to say that it has done that and more.”

He cited that America’s dependence on foreign oil has been reduced from 60 to 27 percent and said nearly 400,000 jobs have been created. “Furthermore, said Buis, “no beaches have ever been closed because of an ethanol spill – and that is something to celebrate as Americans across the country take their vacations over the summer to beaches near and far.”

Buis also using the levels set forth in the RFS will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in an equivalent of removing 27 million cars off the road. And in 2014, 13.4 billion gallons of ethanol was blended into fuel across the country, eliminating the equivalent of GHGs of removing 8 million cars off the road. In addition, he said farmers from across the country are celebrating the event as a milestone for opening new markets and creating economic opportunity for their families and communities and he encouraged consumers to also celebrate the anniversary because ethanol lowers the cost of fuel at the pump.

“The RFS is the only meaningful policy to help break Big Oil’s stranglehold on the liquid fuels marketplace. The RFS is working. It is doing exactly what it was intended to do, with great success,” added Buis. “That is why we should acknowledge this historic milestone, but more importantly, the success of the RFS should renew Congress’ and EPA’s faith in this program. They must ensure we continue down a path of renewable fuel innovation by continuing to support the RFS and refusing to accept the status quo of foreign oil and fossil fuels as our transportation energy future.”

biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFS

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a DOE-Labor Working group that will help unions maximize job creation as states develop Clean Power Plan compliance plans. The partnership is with the DOE, Utility Workers Union of America, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and United Steelworkers. The Quadrennial Energy Review noted that the energy sector is expected to produce 1.5 million new jobs over the next 15 years.
  • Bigbelly, Inc., the leader in smart waste and recycling management, today announced it has established a wholly-owned UK subsidiary effective August 1, 2015. The subsidiary, operating as Bigbelly UK, will have flagship offices in Bath, England, and will now directly serve all existing and future UK-based Bigbelly customers.
  • Abengoa and Toshiba Corporation, have been selected as preferred bidders to build the Tees Renewable Energy Plant owned by MGT Teesside. This will be the world’s newly built largest power and steam from biomass plant, and will be located in the Port of Teesside, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom. It will have a capacity of 299 MW of electricity and steam, both for self-sufficiency and to be exported to nearby industry and users.
Bioenergy Bytes

Time to Learn More about Biodiesel & Bioheat

Chuck Zimmerman

Biodiesel and Bioheat ForumNext week I’ll be attending the Biodiesel and Bioheat Forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. Want to join me? Get registered now.

Home heating oil and biodiesel leaders will discuss a biodiesel blend with significant environmental and economic benefits and the role Minnesota soybean farmers can play in meeting the demand of this market.

“The Midwest use of biodiesel is lower in the winter while the East Coast use of heating oil is much higher,” said Tom Slunecka, CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. “Minnesota has an opportunity to grow our supply and better serve both markets.”

Some of the panelists scheduled to appear include: Read More

Ag group, Biodiesel, biofuels, Soybeans