Motor Club Rep: No Ethanol-Related Claims

Cindy Zimmerman March 26, 2015

While AAA may be an outspoken critic of ethanol blended gasoline and E15 in particular, some other motor clubs think differently, and one of them was on Capitol Hill this week with the American Coalition for Ethanol to tell his story to lawmakers.

Gene Hammond with Association Motor Club Marketing and Travelers Motor Club, which represent 50 years in the business and over 20 million members, says they studied their claims over the past several years to see if there were any related to ethanol. “And what we discovered is that we have not had one ethanol-related claim where we’ve had to go out and tow,” said Hammond. “In fact, the opposite is true.”

Hammond explains that claims related to gasoline freeze used to be common in the northern part of the country, “but that’s gone away, we don’t have that anymore with ethanol.”

Hammond was pleased to join ethanol supporters in Washington this week for the ACE Fly-in to tell members of Congress and their staff his experiences with ethanol from an automotive standpoint. Interview with Gene Hammond, AMCM and Travelers Motor Club

2015 ACE Fly-In Photo Album

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder March 26, 2015

Ceres, Inc. has announced that its biotech sugarcane traits have been advanced to the next stage of testing ahead of schedule due to positive data from initial field evaluations under tropical conditions in Latin America. Leading product candidates are currently being multiplied for wider-scale field evaluations which are scheduled to begin in May and June 2015.
Eco Wave Power, a world leader in electricity from ocean waves, has established a Subsidiary in Changshu under the name of “Suzhou Eco Wave Technology”. The Company was established with investment from a Chinese Governmental fund that believes in EWP’s innovative technology and provides funding for EWP’s first 100KW grid connected plant, to be completed by the end of this year.
EnerKnol, Inc. has announced that the third annual New York Energy Week (NYEW) series will take place June 15-19, 2015, featuring five days of events. Since 2013, the series has served as a catalyst for progress, by breaking down barriers across the historically siloed sectors of the energy industry. Breaking from a typical conference format, the New York Energy Week distributed hosting model brings a unique experience by demonstrating the leadership direction of the market makers themselves, and inviting the community to address the key energy topics at their corporate offices.
Waaree Energies Limited has announced the launch of its solar power calculator application (beta version) for mobile phones. This app helps you estimate the size of solar power system. It can generate a customised cost estimate for the given location with basic inputs like monthly electricity bill, units consumed, battery backup and area available. Apart from tax depreciation, it will also calculate area needed for solar array. The prices and calculations are indicative and gives the user a broad level indication of the probable savings and system size requirements.

Bioenergy Bytes

Appropriations Request Targets Corn Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman March 26, 2015

A group of Congressional representatives wrote to the House Appropriations leadership this week specifically asking that any funding to help install blender pumps or promote corn ethanol exports be eliminated from the USDA budget.

In response to the letter, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis said “the request is neither helpful nor logical,” and also “unnecessary since there is already a prohibition on USDA funding blender pump grants in the 2014 Farm Bill.”

The letter was signed by 18 mostly Republican members of Congress, led by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Jim Costa (R-CA), who claim that “the federal government’s creation of an artificial market for the ethanol industry is negatively impacting American consumers, livestock farmers, food producers, retailers, air and water quality, and the ability to feed our nation’s hungry.”

“This request stems from a flawed and inaccurate argument that has been disproven time and again,” said Buis. “The government is not creating an artificial market for ethanol, but the RFS is seeking to level the playing field and ensure alternatives to fossil fuels have market access so consumers are given a choice instead of a de-facto mandate to use petroleum based products.”

The 18 members of Congress who signed the letter represent ten states – California, South Carolina, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Vermont, Virginia, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

corn, Ethanol, Growth Energy

US Troops in Afghanistan Getting Biodiesel Makers

John Davis March 26, 2015

U.S. troops in Afghanistan will soon get some small-scale biodiesel makers. Springboard Biodiesel has been selected to provide the turn-key equipment at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

Springboard Biodiesel’s BioPro™ 380EX and SpringPro™ T76 comprise a small-scale biodiesel processing system designed to inexpensively convert the base’s used cooking oil into ASTM-grade biodiesel that can then be used in diesel vehicles on base.

Springboard Biodiesel’s CEO, Mark Roberts, commented, “Springboard is excited to provide this made-in-the-USA, clean technology solution to the US military. In Afghanistan, the fully burdened cost of diesel fuel is extremely high. We’ve heard estimates North of $10/gallon. The BioPro™ systems made by Springboard will enable the base to produce high quality biodiesel fuel for less than $1.00 per gallon – not to mention, biodiesel made from used cooking oil burns up to 90% cleaner than regular diesel.”

Springboard Biodiesel hopes to see other military bases copy the Bagram model.

Biodiesel

EPA Changes Cellulosic Waiver Credit Provisions

Cindy Zimmerman March 25, 2015

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued final rulemaking this week to clarify the data sources and methodology used to calculate the Cellulosic Waiver Credit (CWC) price.

Under the rule, EPA has calculated the CWC prices for 2014 at $0.49 and for 2015 at $0.64. According to the EPA document, “The price of CWCs are determined using a formula specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA). The cellulosic waiver credit price is the greater of $0.25 or $3.00 minus the wholesale price of gasoline, where both the $0.25 and $3.00 are adjusted for inflation.”

The direct final rule also amends the regulations to remove the CWC prices from the code of federal regulations allowing them to be announced in a more timely fashion on EPA’s website.

Cellulosic, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFS

SEIA Supports Florida Solar Bill

Joanna Schroeder March 25, 2015

Floridians have a chance to vote in support of solar by supporting the Solar Choice 2016 ballot initiative. This grassroots community effort was launched as a means to allow more homes and businesses to generate electricity from solar. Florida is one of only five states in the nation that prohibits its citizens from buying electricity from companies that install solar panels on homes and businesses. Calling it vitally important to the development of clean energy resources in Florida, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has announced its “strong support” of the bill.

“This fight is about consumer choice and private property rights – cherished, long-standing American principals that we strongly support as an organization and an industry,” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “Despite its sun-rich resources, Florida ranked only 20th in the nation last year in new installed solar capacity. For a state that touts itself as the ‘sunshine state,’ that’s a huge disappointment. Clearly, the legal prohibition against certain solar installations represents a serious roadblock to the development of clean, reliable solar energy statewide. We urge Floridians to sign this critically important, freedom-of-choice petition, allowing it to be placed on next year’s ballot.”

According to Florida law, 683,149 signatures are needed by February 1, 2016 to be included on the ballot. If ultimately successful, Resch said the ballot initiative could dramatically spur new solar development in Florida, providing the state with a big economic boost.

“Today, the U.S. solar industry employs 174,000 Americans nationwide – more than tech giants Apple, Google, Facebook and Twitter combined – and pumps nearly $18 billion a year into our economy,” Resch added. “This remarkable growth is due, in large part, to smart and effective public policies, such as the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). By any measurement, these policies are paying huge dividends for both the U.S. economy and our environment. It’s time for Florida to share in this growth, too.”

Clean Energy, Electricity, Legislation, Solar

Report – Bioenergy Does Not Raise Prices

Joanna Schroeder March 25, 2015

There has been a pervading argument that an increase in renewable energy in the U.S. will increase the price of energy. According to a new report, “Renewables Are Driving Up Electricity Prices. What Wait?” This is not true.

The paper was authored by Nancy E. Pfund & Anand Chhabra with DBL Investors examines the 100 year old utility business model by looking at the top and bottom states that derive electricity from renewable sources.

The report finds that over the past 10 years, greater generation from renewable energy sources, or bioenergy, did not equate to skyrocketing electricity prices. In fact, states that generate a larger proportion of their electricity from renewable sources often experienced average retail electricity prices significantly below states that are producing less renewable electricity.

Clean Energy, Electricity

Ethanol Advocate on a Mission

Cindy Zimmerman March 25, 2015

Iowa cattle producer and ethanol advocate Bill Couser was a man on a mission this week in Washington DC with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Fly-In.

Couser finally got a sit down with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy to talk about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other issues. “I was able to schedule a half hour with her and I took the cattle industry and the ethanol industry in there and we sat down there as one,” said Couser. “The impression we got from Gina is that she’s there to work with us.”

Couser is co-chair of the Iowa-based America’s Renewable Future, which recently helped to sponsor the Iowa Ag Summit where potential presidential candidates were interviewed live about their views on important agricultural issues, including the RFS. At that event, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who just became the first to officially throw his hat in the ring for the Republican presidential race, stated his opposition to the RFS and Couser had a chance to speak with him about it. “He’s a man from Texas who is set in his ways,” said Couser. “We’re looking forward to the future and visiting with him more.”

Listen to an interview with Bill from the ACE fly-in here: Interview with Bill Couser, America's Renewable Future

2015 ACE Fly-In Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, livestock

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder March 25, 2015

Solar Power, Inc. has announced that it has entered into a Joint Development Agreement with SG Panama Solar LLC, a division of SDL Solar, to develop, build, own and operate solar assets. The agreement calls for SPI to provide technical and financial support to complete the development and implementation of over 100 MW of identified solar projects in the Republic of Panama by establishing a joint venture with SG Panama Solar LLC, in which SPI will hold a controlling interest.
SunEdison, Inc. has announced that it plans to purchase up to 1,000 vanadium flow batteries (over 100 megawatt hours) from Imergy Power Systems, a leader in advanced energy storage solutions. The vanadium flow batteries will be used to store solar-generated electricity for SunEdison’s rural electrification and solar powered minigrid projects in India.
Blackbird International Corporation (BBRD), a global leader in renewable sea wave energy technology, is in the process of arranging a visit to Grenada in order to begin negotiations in the private and public sectors to implement its sea wave energy system. BBRD with their partner in the Caribbean, Mr. Jarvis of SEEDSOWERS corporation, have been in communication with top ranking government personnel in order to introduce BBRD’s sea wave energy technology power stations in the region and help the Government battle the energy crisis – a result of the lately constant El Ninue seasons and storms that have caused so much upheaval in the region.
Green Charge Networks has announced a strategic partnership with one of Japan’s largest trading houses, ITOCHU Corporation. ITOCHU will distribute, supply and procure Green Charge Networks’ intelligent energy storage solutions internationally. The agreement enables Green Charge to expand its footprint into new markets both in Japan and other international regions. ITOCHU has more than 130 offices in 65 countries worldwide with over $53 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in 2013.

Bioenergy Bytes

Ethanol Fly-In Focus on RFS

Cindy Zimmerman March 25, 2015

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and more than 70 of its members have been in Washington, DC this week meeting with lawmakers, administration officials, and top staff members as part of the group’s “Biofuels Beltway March” annual fly-in.

The group had 160 meetings with lawmakers or their staff representing 43 states scheduled during the two day event with a primary focus on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and ACE President Ron Alverson of Dakota Ethanol was pleased with how the meetings went Tuesday. “It was really a stark contrast to the last few years we’ve been out here in that these folks really know the RFS now,” he said.

Alverson noted in particular meetings that he had with senators from Arkansas and Delaware who had concerns about poultry feed costs, but they were able to find areas of common ground. “One of them is energy security and the other is the low cost fuel we produce,” he said. “I thought we had really constructive conversations.”

Listen to Jamie Johansen’s interview with Alverson here: Interview with ACE president Ron Alverson

2015 ACE Fly-In Photo Album

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFS

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