ACE Conference 2026

Researchers Look to Find Motivations Behind Solar

John Davis

KiranResearchers are trying to figure what motivates which consumers to buy solar equipment. This article from Sandia National Laboratories in California says they’re trying to better understand what persuades people to buy photovoltaic (PV) systems for their homes in hopes of increasing the amount of solar energy in the electricity market from its current share of less than .05 percent to at least 14 percent by 2030.

“If we can develop effective and accurate predictive models, we can help identify policy variables that could increase purchases of residential PV systems and ultimately help advance the mission of the SunShot Initiative,” said Kiran Lakkaraju, Sandia’s project lead. Specifically, he said, an effective model of solar purchase dynamics can be used to predict and even influence consumer purchasing decisions.

The modeling project, part of the Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies (SEEDS) program, is one of many activities in the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity. SEEDS projects are designed to investigate methods for transforming the operations of solar researchers, manufacturers, developers, installers and policymakers.

Meanwhile, another group of researchers at Sandia are using computer models to predict homeowners’ likelihood to buy and invest in PV systems. A group of 1,000 respondents who have bought PV systems and another 1,000 who have not are being surveyed about their choices with those results being examined by quantitative modeling experts and fed into modeling tools. Other research is looking at how messaging about solar can influence consumer demand.

Research, Solar

Fuels America Campaign Reminds Drivers of Savings

John Davis

fuels-americaJust as a good-sized portion of the country is hitting the road for Memorial Day weekend, Fuels America launches an ad campaign to remind drivers just how much they are saving at the pump, thanks to ethanol and biodiesel. The coalition of groups committed to protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and promoting alternative fuels is airing the campaign on Washington, D.C.’s WTOP Radio and on gas pump monitors in the D.C. area.

The advertisement playing on gas station monitors, conveniently positioned to highlight the gas prices consumers are paying just as the advertisement is playing, points out that “supporting clean energy production here in America is better for the environment, is better for your wallet, and because biofuel is higher octane, it’s actually even better for your engine.” The ad also celebrates the benefits that the RFS is already delivering to American consumers: “Thanks to America’s Renewable Fuel Standard, homegrown biofuels are cheaper than gasoline, saving you money every time you fill up… Tell President Obama: Support America’s Renewable Fuel Standard.”

“If you’re like a lot of folks, you’re probably getting ready to hit the road. And that means the oil companies are getting ready to hit you – because when you pay more, they make more,” says the WTOP spot. “So it’s no surprise Big Oil is fighting to eliminate something called the Renewable Fuel Standard, so they can lower the amount of renewable fuels in the gas supply.” The WTOP ad closes by observing that “Memorial Day is a great American Tradition,” while “getting hosed by Big Oil isn’t.”

Fuels America launched the robust inside-the-beltway advertising campaign this week and is encouraging Americans to ask the Obama Administration to protect the RFS.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Fuels America

What Features of MyNewHolland.com Do You Like

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is the best way to market to millennials? “

I think we all could have guessed that marketing online to millennials is used most often. Digital forms of media are easily in our grasp with smartphones, tablets and computers. However, I was surprised that radio beat TV.

Our poll results:

  • Online – 52%
  • Print – 7%
  • Television – 11%
  • Radio – 16%
  • Other – 14%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What features of MyNewHolland.com do you like?”

On April 22 New Holland North America launched MyNewHolland.com, an online destination for all things New Holland and open to all farmers. Current features include the ability to create an inventory of your equipment, a section on Precision Land Management, a Configurator tool to let you design your own configuration of new equipment you’d like to order, a topical discussion on ethanol which you are invited to read and comment on and more. More features will be rolled out in the future as the community grows. As the sponsor of our weekly ZimmPoll we’d like to get your feedback for New Holland on their newest announcement.

ZimmPoll

Ethanol Conference Themed Power by People

Cindy Zimmerman

ace-14-themeRegistration is now open for the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) 27th annual Ethanol Conference scheduled for August 4-6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The theme of the event is “Power by People” and the agenda includes sessions on new innovations in the ethanol industry, the octane and high performance potential of ethanol, overseas opportunities for ethanol producers, rail regulations and possible long-term improvements of the domestic rail system, and much more. A Retailer Roundtable entitled “Power to the People” focusing on the sale and marketing of higher ethanol blends will also be featured.

Domestic Fuel will be covering the conference, thanks to the generous support of ACE and Patriot Renewable Fuels, so please be sure to join us. This conference is more important than ever before to the ethanol industry. Find out more and register today.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Maryland Gov Vetoes Wind Turbine Moratorium

John Davis

omalleyA moratorium that would have stopped construction of wind turbines for more than a year near a U.S. military base in Maryland has been vetoed by that state’s governor. This article from the Star Democrat says Gov. Martin O’Malley vetoed the 13-month wind turbine moratorium that would have kept the structures from being put up within 56 miles of the U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River,calling the bill unnecessary and a chilling message to renewable energy developers.

The bill would have delayed construction on wind turbines to wait for a study on how they could affect radar use around the base. Supporters of the bill argued it was important to consider needs of the base, a big economic engine in southern Maryland. But opponents contended it sent a bad message to businesses and harms wind farm development in Maryland.

“There are already safeguards in place to ensure that no renewable energy projects conflict with military facilities — those safeguards render this bill unnecessary,” O’Malley said in a statement.

Opponents of the bill said it would have threatened development of a wind farm in Somerset County due to expiring federal tax credits.

The governor explained that the bill would have killed a $200 million investment in the county and said it was unfair because the developers had invested millions of dollars and played by every regulatory rule.

“If this moratorium were to take effect, it would send a chilling message to clean energy investors, developers, manufacturers, construction firms, engineers and sustainable businesses that the state can change the rules at the eleventh hour,” O’Malley wrote.

Wind

Maas Auctioning Connecticut Biodiesel Equipment

John Davis

maasctbiopur1Seller of used biodiesel brewing equipment, Maas Companies, will hold an online auction of biodiesel equipment used in Connecticut. The sale includes a 1.5 MGY Biodiesel Equipment Package, along with a 250 Kilowatt CAT Cogen System, centrifuge, lab equipment, forklift, chiller, new and surplus parts. It will take place on Thursday, June 19th with the bidding ending at 5:00 pm EDT.

BioPur Inc. Was the First Commercial Bio-Diesel Production Facility in the State of Connecticut When it Started in 2006. The Plant Used a Batch Processing Configuration to produce 1.5MGY of ASTM D 6751, B99 and B100 Fuel Grade Biodiesel. The Plant Used Mainly Soy Bean Oil and Recycled Cooking Oil (Yellow Grease) for Feedstocks in a Dry Wash Process.

BioPur Light & Power Inc., Was the Next Step in Using Plant Produced Biodiesel to Produce Clean Electric Power for the Plant’s Own Use, Selling the Remaining Power Back to the Grid to Power 150 Neighboring Homes. The State-of-the-Art BioWatz Project, Monitored Real Time, Generator Production, Power Consumption, Feedstock Performance and Environmental Efficiencies. BioPur was a Recipient of Several Federal US Department of Energy Grants through the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition. During it’s Operation the BioWatz Project Gathered Over 1000hrs. of Data for the DOE.

You can inspect the equipment in person by appointment on Wednesday, June 4, from 10 am to 2 pm and Wednesday, June 18 from 10 am to 2 pm.

Biodiesel

Georgia Wants Fleet Mgrs to Get Alt Fuel Facts

John Davis

GAaltfuel1Officials in Georgia want municipal and private fleet managers to get the good news and the facts about alternative fuels in the state. The state is holding an eight-city series of events that talk about the latest in electric vehicle charging stations, E85 and B20 pumps, flex-fuel vehicles, CNG filling opportunities, and more, during the 4th Annual Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow, June 17-26th

Registration and more information is available here.

Alternative Vehicles

American Ethanol Brings NASCAR Back to St. Louis

John Davis

amethanolflagThe roar of NASCAR comes back to the Gateway Arch as our friends at American Ethanol are announced as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “Drivin’ for Linemen 200” official presenting sponsor. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), which partnered with Growth Energy to form American Ethanol, says it’s NASCAR’s first visit to the St. Louis area since the 2010 racing season.

“We’re pleased to bring the farmers behind American Ethanol to Gateway Motorsports Park here in the heart of America’s corn country,” said Larry Hasheider, Okawville, Illinois, farmer and chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. “This race provides a great way to remind race fans that they have a choice in fuel with more retailers offering higher ethanol blends like E15 and E85.”

“NASCAR has driven more than 5.5 million miles on E15 and we hope that fans will make the connection that they can also choose E15 or another flex-fuel ethanol blend, like E85 for their own cars. It’s good for the environment, performs well, and saves money at the pump,” Hasheider added.

“The enthusiasm for professional motorsports in the St. Louis region is greater than anyone could have ever imagined,” said Gateway Motorsports Park Owner and President Curtis Francois. “American Ethanol understands the power of this energy to the relevance of this community. We are working hard to build a coalition of support among the civic and business leaders in the region so that when we talk to major sanctioning bodies like NASCAR, we can unequivocally demonstrate that we have complete community support. We are grateful for their partnership.”

The “Drivin’ for Linemen 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event will be held over the Father’s Day weekend next month and broadcast in primetime on Fox Sports 1.

American Ethanol, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, NASCAR, NCGA

REG Buys Tyson’s Share of Renewable Diesel Plant

John Davis

REG LogoBiodiesel giant Renewable Energy Group (REG) is buying Tyson Foods’ 50 percent share of a renewable diesel plant. REG says the deal gives the company full control of Syntroleum Corporation’s 75-million gallon per year nameplate capacity renewable diesel biorefinery in Geismar, Louisiana.

Tyson and Syntroleum formed Dynamic Fuels in 2007 as a 50/50 joint venture. The Geismar facility, completed in 2010, was the first large scale renewable diesel biorefinery built in the U.S.

“Upon closing, this is another milestone for REG in growing our core advanced biofuels business,” said Daniel J. Oh, REG President & CEO. “It gives us the opportunity to further expand our production capacity into new product lines, while growing our overall advanced biofuel manufacturing capability, and bringing on other renewable chemical applications.”

“Selling our interest in Dynamic Fuels to REG provides capital for Tyson to redeploy into other opportunities,” said Andrew Rojeski, Vice President-Renewable Energy for Tyson Foods. “REG is a long-term customer of ours, buying fats, oils and greases to make renewable fuel, and we hope to continue that relationship.”

The deal is expected to raise REG’s total renewable energy production, including its 257 million gallons at biodiesel plants in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Texas, to 332 million gallons.

Biodiesel

Researchers Find Better Way to Store Hydrogen

John Davis

hydrogenstorage1One of the challenges to using hydrogen as a clean fuel is how to store the gas. But an article in the American Chemical Society journal Chemistry of Materials says researchers have found a new solid, stable material that can pack in a large amount of hydrogen that can be used as a fuel.

Umit B. Demirci and colleagues explain that storing hydrogen in solids is a recent development and a promising step toward building a hydrogen economy. That’s the idea originated in the 1970s and promoted by former President George W. Bush that we replace fossil fuels with hydrogen, which can serve as a clean fuel. Although a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, hydrogen has posed a number of technological challenges that scientists are still overcoming. One of those issues has to do with storage. Previously, researchers were focused on developing hydrogen-containing liquids or compressing it in gas form. Now, solid storage is showing potential for holding hydrogen in a safe, stable and efficient way. In the latest development on this front, Demirci’s team looked to a new kind of material.

They figured out a way to make a novel crystal phase of a material containing lithium, boron and the key ingredient, hydrogen. To check how they could get the hydrogen back out of the material, the scientists heated it and found that it released hydrogen easily, quickly and only traces of unwanted by-products.

The researchers received funding from groups in France and Belgium.

Hydrogen, International