The Green Power Academy has released a new training course calendar that includes 25 new courses. One popular class is the Renewable Energy Mini-MBA. In addition, there are multiple courses about bioenergy and bioproducts, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal, clean technologies and project business & finance planning. Click here to get details on all the courses.- The Fuels America Coalition has sponsored Politico’s Morning Energy for the second week in a row, underscoring that gutting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) would pose an enormous threat to America’s emerging cellulosic ethanol and advanced biofuel industry. “Caving to oil industry pressure and reducing the market for renewable fuels would undercut the industry’s ability to make investments in advanced biofuels,” the advertisement pointed pointed out. “Especially if the administration’s rationale for the reduction is the fact that the oil industry is refusing to provide the infrastructure to sell renewable fuels in spite of a law requiring them to do so.”
- Royal DSM has announced that it has joined the Solliance CIGS Research program. It has entered into a 3-year agreement to participate in this alliance that focuses on developing new solutions for solar modules. DSM is already developing proprietary innovative materials for the solar industry to increase module efficiencies to lower the cost of the energy produced, allowing for a further penetration of solar energy. Solliance is an alliance of TNO, TU/e, Holst Centre, ECN, imec and Forschungszentrum Jülich for research and development in the field of thin film photovoltaic solar energy (PV) in the ELAT-region (Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen triangle).
- AMSC, a global solutions provider serving wind and power grid industry leaders, has announced that it has received a $40 million order for wind turbine electrical control systems (ECS) from Inox Wind Limited, part of India’s Inox Group of Companies. AMSC expects to begin shipments under this new order during the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and expects to complete shipments during calendar year 2015. This is the sixth and largest order that AMSC has received from Inox since the company began volume production of its 2 megawatt (MW) wind turbines, which were licensed from AMSC in May 2009.
Clean Power Plan Should Give Utility Industry a Boost
Earlier this week the EPA announced a legacy proposal that would reduce carbon pollution from power plants by 30 percent below 2005 numbers. While much of the response from organizations was positive, may associations believe the proposed Clean Power Plan regulation will harm rural areas, not help.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the reduction in carbon will lead to higher energy prices; but not only would farmers face higher prices for electricity, but any energy-related input such as fertilizer. They also claim rural electric cooperatives that rely on old coal plants for cheap electricity would be hit especially hit hard.
“U.S. agriculture will pay more for energy and fertilizer under this plan, but the harm won’t stop there,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. “Effects will especially hit home in rural America.”
Yet according to Lux Research, the Clean Power Plan have noted that while the proposed regulation has spurred furious debate, what is missing from the conversation it the role of innovation. The firm said these rules can help spur innovation that will make it easier for the world to reduce its emissions.
The new EPA rules are unlikely to have a dramatic impact on global emissions on their own, said Lux Research, given that almost all future growth in carbon emissions will come from developing and underdeveloped countries – most notably China, which became the largest carbon emitter in 2007. Hence, much of the debate about the rules has centered on how likely they are to help induce China and other nations to agree to binding targets of their own.
“The political discussion about climate change misses a critical point; whatever their role in climate negotiations, these new rules will accelerate technology development and deployment, making it more practical and affordable for nations everywhere to reduce emissions,” said Aditya Ranade, Senior Analyst at Lux Research. “Their influence on innovation is where they will need to have the biggest impact for the world to achieve its CO2 reduction goals.”
Lux Research analysts predict that four major technology sectors will get a boost:Read More
Methes Energies’ Biodiesel Earns BQ-9000 Status
Methes Energies’ biodiesel has earned an important quality status. This company news release says it has received BQ-9000 Producer and Marketer status from the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission (NBAC).
The National Biodiesel Accreditation Program is a cooperative and voluntary program for the accreditation of producers and marketers of biodiesel fuel called BQ-9000®. The program is a unique combination of the ASTM standard for biodiesel, ASTM D6751, and a quality systems program that includes storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices.
Nicholas Ng, President of Methes Energies, said, “We are very proud of this achievement. There are not many companies that are both accredited as a producer and a marketer by the NBAC. Our team has done a great job over the last several months to place the company in this unique position. Both accreditations send a strong message to our clients that we take quality and processes very seriously.”
Meanwhile, in another quality note, Methes has chosen Genscape Inc. as its Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) provider for Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) verification.
Genscape’s robust program is registered with the EPA and ensures Methes Energies’ RINs will maintain a high standard for quality and reliability while providing the flexibility to offer both QAP A and QAP B RINs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to implement a quality assurance program for RINs generated on biofuels produced at foreign facilities and imported into the U.S. as well as for U.S. facilities that generate their own RINs. The EPA expects the program to promote greater liquidity in the transfer and use of RINs, especially for smaller producers.
Waste Management Converts Trucks to CNG
While you might not see a garbage truck as one of the cleanest vehicles on the road, one company is trying to make sure that at least its emissions are clean. Waste Management, in a partnership with the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest (ALAUM), the American Lung Association in Utah (ALAUT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, converted seven diesel engine waste haulers to compressed natural gas (CNG) engines.
By switching to CNG, Waste Management is reducing over 14,000 tons of lifetime tailpipe emissions, benefitting the residential neighborhoods and schools these trucks frequently operate near. The waste haulers will reduce 47.31 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 2.38 tons of particulate matter (PM), 2.22 tons of hydrocarbons (HC), 10.84 tons of carbon monoxide (CO) and 13,944.49 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Mobile source emissions are the leading cause of outdoor air pollution. This project achieved significant emission reductions, helping the American Lung Associations mission to fight lung disease and improve lung health, said Glenn Lanham, Executive Director, American Lung Association in Utah.
In addition to helping people breathe easier, the CNG-powered vehicles beat Waste Management’s emissions reductions and fuel efficiency goals set in the company’s corporate sustainability program.
REG Completes Deal to Buy Renewable Diesel Plant
Iowa-based Renewable Energy has closed on the deal to buy all of the assets of a renewable diesel plant owner. REG was able to finalize the deal when a majority of Syntroleum shareholders voted to approve the asset sale to REG.
The assets acquired from Syntroleum include a 50% ownership interest in Dynamic Fuels, LLC, which owns a 75 million gallon per year nameplate capacity renewable diesel biorefinery located in Geismar, Louisiana. REG has a separate pending agreement with Tyson Foods, Inc. to acquire the remaining interests in Dynamic Fuels.
Most of the employees at Syntroleum’s Tulsa headquarters will join REG as part of the newly formed REG Synthetic Fuels.
“We are very pleased to bring new advanced biofuel technologies into the REG portfolio of products that will expand our biomass-based diesel business and launch us into new customer segments,” said Daniel J. Oh, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. “We welcome the newest members of our team in Tulsa to REG Synthetic Fuels.”
REG owns and operates nine active biorefineries in five states and distributes biodiesel through a national network of distribution terminals.
Verdicts in on Co-existence of Organic & GMO Crops
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Can organic & GMO crops co-exist?”
It’s clear everyone has their own opinion on this topic. And it’s important that farmers are able to voice their opinions and farm the way they see fit. Many pollers believe that organic and GMO crops can live harmoniously on the same or neighboring farms. But cross pollination is still a fear of many. Believe what you want, but let’s not put farmers against farmers.
Our poll results:
- Yes – without legal regulation – 25%
- Yes – with legal regulation – 7%
- Yes – farmers choice to grow – 26%
- No – due to cross pollination – 30%
- No – it’s one or the other – 3%
- Don’t know – 3%
- Don’t care – 2%
- Other – 4%
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What do you think about the new AgWired look?”
As you can tell the ZimmComm Team has been busy changing things up a bit. Don’t worry, we are still covering everything agriculture. AgWired.com has just undergone a complete transformation on the back end and now incorporates WorldDairyDiary.com as Animal.AgWired.com and PrecisionPays.com as Precision.AgWired.com. And new features including a built in mobile app that you create on your device when you browse to AgWired.com.
Solazyme Opens Renewable Oil Plant with Bunge
California-based Solazyme, Inc. has opened a renewable oils plant in Brazil with its partner Bunge Limited. This news release from Solazyme says the plant includes 625,000 liter fermentation tanks and produces the renewable oil and encapsulated lubricant, Encapso™, products.
“With production underway at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant, Solazyme is manufacturing products at three large scale facilities, including our 2,000 MT/year integrated facility in Peoria, the 20,000 MT/year Iowa facilities in Clinton/Galva and the 100,000 MT/year facility in Brazil,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO Solazyme. “Continued progress at the recently completed adjoining co-gen facility has resulted in more reliable power and steam, enabling startup of commercial operations and production of our first commercially saleable product. We are truly excited to have begun manufacturing operations at our joint venture’s flagship facility in Brazil.”
“The start of production at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant is an important milestone for this joint venture. We’re proud of the work we have done with our partner Solazyme in bringing the world’s first built-for-purpose renewable oil plant on line. We remain committed to the success of the joint venture and see significant market opportunities that we can address together,” said Ben Pearcy, Managing Director, Sugar & Bioenergy, Bunge Limited.
The plant is expected to hit its nameplate capacity within the next 12-18 months.
I-75 Corridor Creates Biodiesel, Ethanol Roadtrip
![I-75-Corridor-Map[1]](http://energy.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2014/06/I-75-Corridor-Map1.jpg)
The summer travel season is here, and if you’re looking for a way to see the U.S.A. while driving on clean-burning biodiesel and ethanol, a roadtrip down Interstate 75 might be just the ticket. The latest edition of the National Biodiesel Board’s Biodiesel Bulletin talks about the I-75 Green Corridor, the planet’s longest biofuels corridor, that runs from Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. to Miami, Fla. where they’ve just upped the availability of B20 and E85.
The project’s goal was to install biofuel pumps at least every 200 miles or to fill in gaps between existing biofuel stations along the interstate.
To date, over 2.8 million gallons of biofuels have been sold from project stations, and 2.2 million gallons of petroleum have been displaced. This equates to 6,735 tons of CO2 emissions avoided compared to conventional petroleum-based fuels. Thus far, nearly 30 new biofuel pumps have been installed, resulting in the 1,786-mile interstate becoming what is believed to be the planet’s longest biofuels corridor.
Time to hit the road, you eco-Road Warriors!
Wet and Dry Milling Focus of Conference
The 2014 Corn Utilization and Technology Conference is underway in Louisville, Kentucky and this year the focus is on wet and dry milling technologies and new uses.
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president Martin Barbre says the event brings together researchers with the common goal of facilitating the next ground-breaking technologies and corn-based products of the future. “It’s a great place for researchers to see what others are doing,” he said. “We also have a very good international focus with visitors and attendees from all four corners of the world.”
As corn growers are just about finished planting what is expected to be another record crop this year, Barbre says they are happy to see increased export demand for corn and the ethanol co-product distillers grains. “When you put an ethanol plant in, it doesn’t change the market (for corn),” he said. “Really there’s only two things that change the market – weather and exports. We’re working hard to increase corn exports worldwide and we’re even working with other countries to open up new markets.” Interview with NCGA president Martin Barbre
AgWired Gets a Facelift
When you visit the ZimmComm New Media websites dedicated to agriculture, you will see a new integrated AgWired brand 
and new website names to better serve the animal agriculture segment of the industry.
WorldDairyDiary.com will now be known as Animal.Agwired.com, which will offer news and information about all segments of livestock and poultry. “We regularly cover events such as the International Production and Processing Expo, World Pork Expo, and national beef cattle meetings, in addition to World Dairy Expo,” said ZimmComm president Chuck Zimmerman. “We wanted to consolidate all of our animal agriculture coverage into one site to make it easier for our readers to access.”
PrecisionPays.com is now Precision.Agwired.com and will continue to include the latest news and information about precision agriculture, conservation, biotechnology and more. “Both websites (PrecisionPays and WorldDairyDiary) will remain accessible under the old URLs,” explained Zimmerman. “But they will now also be prominently featured on the AgWired.com home page.”
In addition, the AgWired App for the iOS and Android store has also been innovated and users can now create the AgWired App on their mobile device themselves. To do this, just visit AgWired.com on your mobile device of choice and a popup will ask if you want to create a desktop icon. AgWired will then open with a click of the app in a very user-friendly format. Full instructions are included in an instructional video on YouTube.
AgWired.com is ZimmComm’s flagship agribusiness news and information site, started in August of 2004. WorldDairyDiary began the following year and Precision Pays was started in February 2007. “The new design will provide consistency in the look of ZimmComm’s major agricultural websites,” Zimmerman added. energy.agwired.com, started in September 2005, will also sport a new look consistent with the other sites, but will remain under its current name. So keep an eye out for a DF Facelift as well.
Other ZimmComm online services of interest include AgNewsWire.com dedicated to news release distribution and audio combined from all websites and available to all agricultural media.