Biofuel Groups Welcome Court’s RFS Decision

Joanna Schroeder

Biofuel groups are happy today with the decision handed down by the District of Columbia Circuit Court rejecting a petition filed by Monroe Energy, LLC that challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS). Several biofuel organizations intervened in the case including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

logo-dc-circuit-of-appealsAfter EPA reduced the cellulosic biofuel volume for 2013, Monroe Energy challenged EPA’s decision not to reduce the renewable fuel and advanced biofuel volumes by the same or a lesser amount. The Court rejected Monroe Energy’s argument that EPA’s decision served no “statutory purpose,” and reaffirmed Congress’s directive that EPA ensure that U.S. transportation fuel contains at least the volumes provided in the statute. The Court also rejected Monroe Energy’s attempts to revisit decisions about the RFS program that EPA made in earlier years, stating that “the time to challenge that decision has passed.”

The biofuel groups said that today’s decision is a victory for American consumers, renewable fuel advocates, and the RFS program. Once again, they note, the Court has rejected attempts of the anti-biofuel parties to undermine the RFS in court. The RFS is arguably the nation’s most effective energy policy. It has spurred the development of a domestic biofuels industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that cannot be outsourced. In addition, it is providing environmental benefits, helping to decrease the nation’s reliance on imported oil, and reducing prices at the pump, as Congress intended.

BIO, biofuels, EPA, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFA, RFS

Iowans Increase Use of Higher Blends of Renewables

Joanna Schroeder

New data from the Iowa Department of Revenue shows major growth in the use of Iowa Dept of Revenue Logohigher-level blends of ethanol and biodiesel in 2013. The report showed 2013 sales of pure biodiesel (B100) increased 24 percent over 2012, setting a new record of 28.9 million gallons. Biodiesel also saw a 21 percent increase in blended gallons sold, with immense growth in B10 (a fuel blend containing 10 percent biodiesel). Sales of B10 increased by nearly 121 percent, from 32.8 million gallons sold in 2012 to more than 72.4 million gallons sold in 2013. Nearly half of the diesel sold in Iowa is now blended with biodiesel.

The report also showed sales of mid-level ethanol blends, from E15 to E69, increased more than 158 percent in 2013, totaling more than 5.4 million gallons sold. Sales of E85 also hit an all-time high with more than 11.1 million gallons sold, an increase of 18 percent over 2012.

“Iowa motorists and retailers showed a serious commitment to higher-level ethanol and biodiesel blends in 2013,” said Monte Shaw, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) executive director. “The biodiesel sector realized the most growth, with retail locations moving away from low-level blends like B2 to offer consumers B5, B10, and B20. This shows biodiesel is a proven, high-quality fuel and consumers will choose it when offered.”

Shaw added, “Across the board increases in the use of ethanol blends above E10 prove, despite the petroleum industry’s well-funded scare campaign, consumers prefer low-cost, homegrown ethanol. The EPA’s proposal to slash 2014 targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard would be detrimental to the great progress we’ve made improving air quality and increasing our energy security through domestically produced, less expensive ethanol and biodiesel blends.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, blends, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

SolarEdge Solar Array Completed at Challenger Site

Joanna Schroeder

Bouygues Construction has completed the installation of 2.5 MWs of PV modules at the Challenger site near Versailles, France. Several key technological components of the solar project, including inverters and power optimizers, was from SolarEdge, selected, said Bouygues Construction, for their 20 percent increase in energy yield.

“Bouygues Construction was looking, on the one hand, for technology that would make PV installation safe by allowing the immediate shutdown of energy production on demand, and Challenger 2on the other hand, technology that would simplify maintenance by allowing a faulty PV module to be easily pinpointed,” said Phillippe Metgès, Director of the Center for General Affairs at Bouygues S.A. “This is the reason we chose SolarEdge power optimizers. In addition, SolarEdge technology increases our installation’s yield.”

Bouygues Construction installed six SolarEdge firefighter gateways, which are designed to enable firefighters to immediately stop energy production including decreasing the system voltage to safe DC levels, either manually through an emergency stop button or automatically through a Fire Alarm Control Panel System.

On a total surface of 25,000 m2, the Challenger’s PV installation consists of ground-mounted and roof-mounted sections. With 12,180 SolarEdge power optimizers and 202 SolarEdge inverters optimizing part of the installation, the system is expected to produce a simulated 2,500 MWh annually. The fixed-string voltage in SolarEdge technology allows an increase in the number of modules per string of at least 43 percent compared to a traditional inverter, according to SolarEdge.

“SolarEdge technology is becoming a standard feature in commercial systems because it improves the bottom line of large projects,” stated Lior Handelsman, VP Marketing & Product Strategy SolarEdge. “Being selected by Bouygues Construction, a leader in its field, demonstrates the growing trend to use module-level optimization in large PV systems in order to protect these significant investments.”

International, Renewable Energy, Solar

NC Company Partners with Schools for Biodiesel

John Davis

biodiesel4schools1A North Carolina company that makes biodiesel from used cooking oil is now expanding to put more than green fuel in school buses. Company officials now want to put green bucks also back into the school systems. This story from WRAL says Green Circle NC collects old cooking oil from area restaurants and sells it to biodiesel companies and is looking to make the ultimate fundraiser for schools.

Dean Price supplies the fuel, and he’s hoping that his Biodiesel 4 Schools program will help local school systems.

Green Circle NC splits profits with school systems and furnishes biodiesel for school buses. Johnston and Durham county schools have already signed up, and buses in the Bull City could be running on biodiesel by the start of the next school year.

“That will allow them to put biodiesel directly into buses from this program,” Price said.

Communities can grow and sell the canola oil to the local restaurants, and after it is used up there, it can go into the biodiesel system where the schools can profit again. Officials with Green Circle NC hope to see the system go nationwide.

Biodiesel

UCO-for-Biodiesel Workshop Slated for July

John Davis

ISCCU.S. makers of biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO) will be able to learn how to get their green fuel into the European marketplace. The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), the global leader in certifying UCO and other feedstocks for the European biofuels market, holds a workshop on the subject July 8th in Chicago.

“In order for feedstocks to be used in the European Union (EU) they must first be independently certified as sustainable by a system like ISCC,” said Dr. Norbert Schmitz, Managing Director of ISCC. “There are certain requirements that must be met by United States (US) and Canadian companies supplying UCO to this large market. The purpose of the workshop is to advise waste oil collectors and traders exactly how to do get certified for export into the EU market and to explain to auditors how to verify,” said Dr. Schmitz.

The EU market for UCO has dramatically increased over the past year and North America has become a major supplier in this market. “A key reason for interest in the EU market has been pricing,” said Dr. Schmitz. “The UCO market in the EU has commanded premium prices and as a result generated large interest from North American exporters.”

For more information and registration, click here.

Biodiesel

Ten New E15 Stations Open in Wisconsin

Joanna Schroeder

Ten new E15 stations have opened in Wisconsin. Vehicles manufactured after 2001 and flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) can fill up at the United Cooperative Cenex convenience stores located throughout Wisconsin: Beaver Dam, Baraboo, Hustisford, Iron Ridge, Pickett, Poynette, Reedsburg, Watertown, and Wyocena. The stations offer blender pumps that include additional mid-level ethanol blends: E30 and E85 for use in FFVs.

David Cramer, United Cooperative president and chief executive officer, noted, “Ethanol-blended fuels like E15 are better for the United Cooperative E15-E85 station in Wisconsinenvironment, originate from locally-grown corn, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. United Cooperative enjoys offering our customers multiple ethanol options at the pump and doing our part to support the American economy.”

With the addition of these 10 new stations, there are now 75 E15 stations in 12 states.

“United Cooperative understands the vital importance of choice in the transportation fuel market. The addition of blender pumps to these 10 stations give the people of Wisconsin access to E15, E30, and E85, all low-cost fuel options,” said Robert White, director of market development at the Renewable Fuels Association. “The expansion of E15 in Wisconsin is only the beginning as retailers continue to see the economic benefits of installing blender pumps and offering higher-level ethanol blends to their customers.”

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E15, E85, Ethanol, RFA

U.S. Policy Outlook Featured at World Congress

Joanna Schroeder

A special pre-conference workshop has been added to the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology that is taking place May 12-15, 2014 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. “U.S. Policy Outlook: From the RFS to Tax Reform to Farm Bill Implementation – What Lies Ahead for Advanced Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals?” is designed to assess the threats and opportunities on the U.S. federal policy landscape for 2014. Issues discussed will include the Farm Bill, tax reform and potential changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

BIO logo“This robust policy discussion is a great way to start to the world’s largest event on industrial biotechnology. Industrial biotechnology touches all of our lives and changes to these policies could have significant impact the industry’s future growth,” said James Greenwood, President and CEO of Biotechnology Industry Organization. “I am pleased to lead a panel of such prominent policy experts in a conversation during a time when the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Farm Bill and tax reform have become top Congressional priorities, the Obama Administration and key federal agencies.”

Pre-conference Workshop on U.S. policy outlook for industrial biotechnology will be moderated by James Greenwood, President & CEO, Biotechnology Industry Organization, with opening remarks from Representative Allyson Schwartz (D), Member of Congress for Pennsylvania’s 13th District and Candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania (invited). Panelists include James Massie, Alpine Group; Ryan Stroschein, Green Capitol LLC; Tim Urban, Washington Council Ernst & Young; and Dr. Matt Carr, Managing Director, BIO.

advanced biofuels, bioenergy, Biotech, RFS

Six ‘Grand Challenges’ Face the United States

Joanna Schroeder

There are six “grand challenges” facing the United States over the next decade according to a report from the national Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). The challenges include sustainability, water, climate change, agriculture, energy and education. The APLU project was co-chaired by W. Daniel Edge, head of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University.

APLU Natural Resources RoadmapEdge said “Science, Education, and Outreach Roadmap for Natural Resources” is the first comprehensive, nationwide report on research, education and outreach needs for natural resources the country’s university community has ever attempted.

“The report identifies critical natural resources issues that interdisciplinary research programs need to focus on over the next 5-10 years in order to address emerging challenges,” Edge noted. “We hope that policy-makers and federal agencies will adopt recommendations in the roadmap when developing near-term research priorities and strategies.”

The six grand challenges addressed in the report are:

  • Sustainability: The need to conserve and manage natural landscapes and maintain environmental quality while optimizing renewable resource productivity to meet increasing human demands for natural resources, particularly with respect to increasing water, food, and energy demands.
  • Water: The need to restore, protect and conserve watersheds for biodiversity, water resources, pollution reduction and water security.
  • Climate Change: The need to understand the impacts of climate change on our environment, including such aspects as disease transmission, air quality, water supply, ecosystems, fire, species survival, and pest risk. Further, a comprehensive strategy is needed for managing natural resources to adapt to climate change.
  • Agriculture: The need to develop a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally responsible agriculture industry.
  • Energy: The need to identify new and alternative renewable energy sources and improve the efficiency of existing renewable resource-based energy to meet increasing energy demands while reducing the ecological footprint of energy production and consumption.
  • Education: The need to maintain and strengthen natural resources education at our schools at all levels in order to have the informed citizenry, civic leaders, and practicing professionals needed to sustain the natural resources of the United States.

“The natural resources issues with traditional sources of energy already are well-understood,” George Boehlert, report co-author, said, “with the possible exception of fracking. As the country moves more into renewable energy areas, there are many more uncertainties with respect to natural resources that need to be understood and addressed. There are no energy sources that do not have some environmental issues.”

The project was sponsored by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Oregon State University, which partnered with APLU and authors from numerous institutions.

Climate Change, Education, Energy, Research, water

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFRenewable energy provider Wheelabrator Technologies will provide live online video coverage of its annual youth environmental summit taking place May 5-8, 2014 in Sunrise, Florida. In all, 150 students from 15 schools in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Florida will gather to present their projects to a panel of Wheelabrator employees, educators and environmental experts. A first for the Symposium series, each team presentation will be made available online, enabling schools, family members,friends, and community and business leaders to watch the presentations unfold live Tuesday, May 6. Interested spectators can view the school presentations by logging on to Wheelabrator’s website.
  • The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is accepting nominations for six awards that honors persons making significant contributions to the field of solar, renewable energy and the Society. Award nominees must be a member of ASES and nominations are due May 16, 2014. ASES is also accepting nominations for new Fellows of the Society. Click here for more information on the awards and to submit a nomination.
  • Admirals Bank, a leading provider of residential solar and renewable energy lending, has worked with Heatspring Learning Institute to bring an interactive, online training course to residential solar installers across the United States. The online training course, titled Solar Loans vs PPAs: How to Use Simple Solar Loans to Sell More Residential Solar, runs from May 5, 2014 through May 23, 2014. This 3-week online training course was developed by Admirals Bank to provide solar installers and other industry professionals with a comprehensive understanding of how to use residential solar financing to increase sales and home solar installations.
  • International renewable energy consultancy Natural Power has further strengthened its services in North America by appointing wind technical professional, Scott McDonald. Formerly of AWS Scientific (AWS Truepower), PPM Atlantic Renewable, Iberdrola Renewables and Ogin, Inc. McDonald joins Natural Power as Head of Energy Assessments in North America.
Bioenergy Bytes

California Celebrates Geothermal Awareness Day

Joanna Schroeder

Today is Geothermal Awareness Day in California and the geothermal industry is participating with several activities throughout the state including Sacramento, the state’s capitol. On this day, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is making a call for people to submit entries for the GEA Honors awards program, which recognizes the contributions made by companies and individuals in the past year that have advanced technology, business and environmental sustainabilityGEA logo through the field of geothermal energy.

“There is a growing need to educate Californians about the benefits of geothermal energy, and Geothermal Awareness Day is a great opportunity to make progress on understanding geothermal power,” said Karl Gawell, GEA’s executive director. “May 5 is Geothermal Awareness Day in Sacramento, and GEA is making key information available at its website free to the public to encourage Californians to learn more about the benefits of geothermal to the state.”

Free reports of interest that are available to the public include:

  • Report on the State of Geothermal In California, April 2012
  • The Values of Geothermal Energy: A Discussion of the Benefits Geothermal Power Provides to the Future US Power System, October 2013 (published jointly with the Geothermal Resources Council);
  • Geothermal Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, November 2012
  • Geothermal Basics

“It’s amazing to see the success being achieved in the geothermal sector, from cutting edge technology that are bring projects online to valuable research that are bringing us closer to a sustainable future. GEA Honors offers a moment to pause and celebrate the positive developments in the geothermal energy industry,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell.

The deadline for GEA Honors submissions is July 7. Winners of GEA Honors will be announced on August 5 at the National Geothermal Summit at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino in Reno, Neveda. Click here to view all the categories and to submit a nomination.

Geothermal, Renewable Energy