RFA Wants California to Consider New ILUC Report

Cindy Zimmerman

RFANewlogoThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to adjust its current indirect land use change (ILUC) analysis to better reflect real-world land use patterns.

In written comments submitted on Friday, RFA’s Senior Vice President Geoff Cooper pointed to the recent study released by Iowa State University’s Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) raising concerns about CARB’s current ILUC predictions. Cooper called on CARB to “take into account the new CARD/ISU research and use it to immediately re-calibrate” the agency’s ILUC model.

Cooper calls the study a “remarkably important—and potentially gamechanging—contribution to the debate over ILUC modeling” which used empirical data to conclude that “…the primary land use change response of the world’s farmers in the last 10 years has been to use available land resources more efficiently rather than to expand the amount of land brought into production.”

RFA’s comments urged CARB to calibrate its ILUC model using the new CARD/ISU analysis as a guide before sending the proposed rule for Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) re-adoption to the Board for consideration. If adjustments are unable to be made before the final proposal is submitted, RFA calls on CARB to “…delay proposing new ILUC factors until such time as the calibration is completed and new ILUC results are generated.”

Read more from RFA here.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indirect Land Use, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFLauritzen Bulkers has signed its longest contract ever with U.S.-based Green Circle Bio Energy involving transportation of 600,000 tonnes of wood pellets from the U.S. to the UK and the European continent over the next eight years. Green Circle Bio Energy owns one of the world’s largest wood pellet plants.
  • Amyris, Inc. has announced the appointment of Raffi Asadorian as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective January 6, 2015. The Company’s interim Chief Financial Officer, Paulo Diniz, will transition to a new role as Chairman of Amyris Brasil.
  • The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $2 million funding support to develop a solution for collecting renewable biomass from fast growing trees. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said Biosystems Engineering would be further developing, building and testing an innovative woody biomass harvester.
  • Sino Group, Arup and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have unveiled a research project on the first in-building hydro power that makes use of unused water head in pipelines. Installed at Olympian City 2, the prototype is the second phase of hydro power research and the generator (output: 100Wh) represents a six-fold leap from the first phase. Under the model, water current passing through the pipe drives a novel vertical-axis turbine developed by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Water Supplies Department, which generates hydroelectricity from water pipelines. Electricity generated is stored in a battery, and can be used to power a typical lift lobby’s lighting system.
Bioenergy Bytes

Georgia Biomass Plant to be Built

John Davis

albanyboilerThe approval of a nearly quarter billion dollar biomass energy is closer to fruition. This article from the Albany (GA) Herald says the Albany-Dougherty Payroll Development Authority approved a $250 million bond issuance for the project to be built next to the local Procter & Gamble campus.

“It does appear (P&G, in conjunction with Albany Green Energy, which will manage the plant) is going through with this project,” PDA attorney Jay Reynolds said. “They’ve asked that we approve this bond resolution so that the tax abatements you previously approved will be in place by the first of the year.

“This is the culmination of something this board has been working on for a long time.”

The biomass plant will create steam energy that will be used to power P&G-Albany facilities, allowing the world’s largest home products manufacturer to realize global green initiatives it has established for its plants. Another vital cog in the construction and management of the plant is a plan that will allow Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany to utilize the plant for energy as well.

Not only will the plant provide power for the P&G facilities, it will allow the U.S. Marine Corps base at Albany to be the first Department of Defense installation in the country to realize net-zero energy consumption.

biomass

Ormat to Expand Kenya Olkaria III Geothermal Plant

Joanna Schroeder

Ormat - Kenya Geothermal PlantOrmat Technologies has announced they are expanding their Oklaria geothermal energy complex located in Kenya. The company has signed an amended and restated Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Kenya Power and Lighting Company Limited (KPLC).

Under the terms of the agreement, Ormat expects to increase the generating capacity of the complex by 24 MW, bringing the complex’s total capacity to 134 MW. The fourth plant is expected to come on line in the second half of 2016 and to sell electricity under a 20 year PPA with KPLC.

“Ormat’s Olkaria geothermal complex provides clean, reliable and firm power to over 200,000 Kenyan households, increasing the complex by an additional 24 MW will further benefit the Kenyan people,” said Ormat CEO Isaac Angel. “We see Kenya, with its progressive renewable energy policy, as an important market for us and where we will continue to explore additional projects. The synergies that derive from adding units to the existing complex allow smaller plants to be a cost effective and provide the additional power that the country needs in record speeds.”

Electricity, Geothermal, International, Renewable Energy

Quad County’s Delayne Johnson Featured on Car Clinic

Joanna Schroeder

Bobby Likis Car ClinicThe first cellulosic ethanol plant to go online in the U.S., Quad County Corn Processors, is being featured in an upcoming “Bobby Likis Car Clinic” program. Quad County CEO Delayne Johnson will be live on air this Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 11:25 am Eastern at WatchBobbyLive.com.

During the interview, Johnson will shine light on many renewable fuels related topics including a deeper look into the differences between cellulosic vs. conventional ethanol, the many benefits ethanol offers and what is in store for the future of cellulosic ethanol.

tN_112580_delayneJohnson expands on the benefits of cellulosic ethanol, “Quad County Corn Processors is proud to be one of the first companies out of the gate to produce cellulosic ethanol. The ethanol produced at our facility is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping lower America’s dependence on foreign oil. I am excited to join Bobby Likis to explain to listeners how cellulosic ethanol is made and the benefits of next-generation biofuels.”

Likis adds, “On Car Clinic globalcasts, I’m committed to expand listeners’ and viewers’ knowledge base beyond ‘the rumor mill’ so often associated with renewable fuels. Delayne will clear the air about how, specifically, cellulosic ethanol production is accelerating solutions on many levels.”

biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol

MIT Study Finds Wind Turbines No Risk to Humans

Joanna Schroeder

A new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found that living near wind turbines poses no risk for human health. The review took into consideration health effects such as stress, annoyance and sleep disturbance among others that have, in the past, been raised in association with living close to wind turbines.

“No clear or consistent association is seen between noise from wind turbines and any reported disease or other indicator of harm to human health,” the study found.

JOEMThe MIT authors considered a number of case studies in Europe and the U.S. to assess the impact of infrasound and quality of life for the populations close to wind farms. Although complaints from residents were more common during the construction of wind farms, other technologies such as gas and oil facilities drew more public criticism.

For example, one human health case study based on a wind farm located in northern Poland found that those living next to wind farms reported the best quality of life and those living further than 1,500 meters scored the worst. The report concluded that living in close proximity to wind farms does not result in the worsening of, and might even improve, the quality of life in that particular region.

Iván Pineda, head of policy analysis at the European Wind Energy Association commented on the report. “These results should lay to rest any concerns that some citizens may have with regard to living near wind turbines.”

Measurements of low-frequency sound (LFN), infrasound and tonal sound show that infrasound is emitted by wind turbines but disturbances to homes are typically well below audibility levels. Four large turbines and 44 smaller turbines were investigated in the Netherlands but infrasound levels were not deemed to cause problems and LFN sound in residential areas did not exceed levels from other common noise sources such as traffic.

Research, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFLloyd’s Register Energy has released a new Guidance Note that provides a step-by-step approach for industry on how to develop and operate new technologies in a safe, reliable and environmentally friendly way. John Yates with Lloyd’s Register says the new Technology Guidance Note represents a recommended practice with a goal-based approach to risk that can be applied to any technology, from unconventional LNG offloading arrangements through to subsea processing, and even new wind and wave technology.
  • IKEA has announced plans to increase the solar array atop its Detroit-area store that opened eight years ago in Canton, MI. In September, IKEA began work on a 44,000-square-foot expansion to the store, atop which new panels will be installed beginning Spring 2015, with a completion by Summer. The 40,000-square-foot solar addition will consist of a 240.9-kW system built with 765 panels, and will produce 287,490 kWh more of electricity annually for the store.
  • SunEdison, Inc. has announced they have executed power purchase agreements with 16 separate public housing authorities across Massachusetts, totaling 39.5 megawatts in peak capacity. Over the next 20 years, SunEdison’s solar systems will save these housing authorities an estimated $60 million in avoided electricity costs.
  • 8minutenergy Renewables has announced that it has joined board of directors for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy. 8minutenergy has over 1,100 megawatts (MW) in power purchase agreements (PPAs), has successfully built 260 MW and has 15,000 acres of land under contract.
Bioenergy Bytes

Boeing Burns Neste’s Renewable Diesel in Test Flight

John Davis

nesteboeing1Aircraft maker Boeing has made a successful test flight using Neste Oil’s NEXBTL renewable diesel fuel. This Neste news release says the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flew as part of the ecoDemonstrator program on a 15 percent blend of the green fuel for the first time in history.

“The airplane performed as designed with the green diesel blend, just as it does with conventional jet fuel,” said Capt. Mike Carriker, Chief Pilot Boeing Product Development and 777X. “This is exactly what we want to see in flight tests with a new type of fuel.”

“Aviation is one of our target markets, and we were happy to be involved in this test. NEXBTL has already been used on approximately 1,200 regular flights, but the fuel was specifically manufactured as aviation fuel. The successful test flight was carried out using renewable diesel as a 15% component of fossil kerosene. The objective is that low blends of high-quality renewable diesel will be used in aviation fuels in the future,” says Kaisa Hietala, Neste Oil’s Executive Vice President of Renewable Products Business Area.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel Industry Wants Longer Tax Extension

Cindy Zimmerman

nbb-logoBiodiesel producers are pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive as part of the tax extenders package passed on Wednesday, but they would prefer a longer term deal to provide more certainty for the industry.

“While we appreciate a one-year extension, we are urging Congress to continue pressing for a longer-term policy that can afford this industry the certainty needed to invest and grow,” said National Biodiesel Board VP of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel. “Biodiesel businesses across the country are poised to expand their operations, hire new workers and build new infrastructure, but we need forward-looking policy.”

She added that the deal passed Thursday is only good until the end of this year, so the biodiesel tax incentive expire once again on January 1,for the fourth time in six years. “It is very difficult to run a business with that kind of uncertainty,” Steckel said.

“The biodiesel incentive is proven to create jobs and economic activity, and it pays tremendous dividends in terms of reducing costly pollution and improving our energy security as well,” said NBB Board Chairman Steven J. Levy, managing director at Sprague Operating Resources. “It is a successful policy that is working so there is no reason to have this kind of perpetual uncertainty.”

The House voted 378-46 Wednesday night to approve HR 5771, setting up a potential Senate vote in the coming days.

Biodiesel, Government, NBB

Tax Breaks – How Should Congress Handle?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What’s your favorite Thanksgiving side dish?”

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with plates piled high of your favorites. I know I am still stuffed. It looks like our Zimmpollers prefer sweet potatoes, but only slightly. We did have quite an array of Others including oysters and some Pinot Noir.

Here are the poll results:

  • Dressing – 19%
  • Mashed potatoes & gravy – 13%
  • Greenbean casserole – 11%
  • Cranberries – 12%
  • Sweet potatoes – 20%
  • Does pumpkin pie count? – 16%
  • Other – 9%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, How should Congress handle tax breaks?

Congress is once again considering a package of tax breaks for businesses and individuals that include everything from section 179 deductions to renewable energy tax credits. In typically Washington fashion, these tax provisions expired at the end of last year and will have to be renewed retroactively before the end of this year to be applied to 2014 tax returns. An effort to make them permanent was ditched when the White House threatened a veto – but what do you think Congress should do?

ZimmPoll