PERC Recognizes Top Clean Cities Coalitions

Joanna Schroeder

Five Clean Cities Coalitions were awarded with the first ever Outstanding Propane Supporter awards at the Energy Independence Summit in Washington, D.C. by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). The award recipients included Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition, Clean Fuels Ohio, Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities, and Virginia Clean Cities. They were given the award in recognition of Propane-Council logotheir promotion of the use of propane autogas and other alternative fuels through grants, training programs, and community outreach. Their support of clean, American-made propane autogas has led to major adoptions of propane autogas vehicles in their states and across the U.S.

“For 20 years, Clean Cities has built partnerships with local and statewide organizations to encourage the adoption of alternative fuels and new transportation technology,” PERC President and CEO Roy Willis said. “Our Outstanding Propane Supporter award winners are examples of how public and private partnerships in the transportation sector are creating a cleaner future for fleets and communities nationwide.”

About the award winners:

  • Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition works with a large number of propane stakeholders, including propane retailers AmeriGas, Blossman Gas, Ferrellgas, and Heritage Propane in addition to the Alabama Propane Gas Association and propane vehicle manufacturer Roush CleanTech. They also promote propane vehicles on their website by listing applicable vehicle purchase incentives.
  • Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition managed a Recovery Act grant that has put more than 1,300 propane vehicles on the road in Indiana to date. The coalition also helped facilitate the construction of 120 alternative fueling stations in partnership with eight other project partners, and has secured more than $22 million in federal and state grants since 2002 for coalition member projects.
  • Clean Fuels Ohio helps organize the state’s Energy Independence Day event and actively promotes the use of alternative fuel vehicles. They’re also working on a $16 million project that would provide funding for conversions and infrastructure.
  • Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities is a major participant in organizing the Texas Alt Car Expo and helps fleets identify and obtain Texas grant funding for conversions. The group also works with the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas County Schools, the City of Fort Worth, and other fleet managers on new vehicle purchases and training.
  • Virginia Clean Cities manages a Recovery Act grant to convert more than 1,200 vehicles to propane autogas. The coalition created a propane subcommittee and hosts frequent webinars and events promoting propane autogas.
Alternative energy, Propane

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFMillions of California households will see a Climate Credit averaging $35 dollars on their April utility bill. The California Public Utilities Commission and California Air Resources Board said the Climate Credit is made to households and small businesses to promote a cleaner and more efficient energy California. The goal of the credit is to encourage consumers to save money while fighting climate change.
  • Ocean Electric, Inc. a developer of marine-based alternative energy solutions, received notification from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office that its application for international patent PCT/ES2013/070911 will be processed. The patent, titled “Power Plant for the Generation of Electrical Energy from Waves,” protects the company’s core innovation: a low-cost, floating platform that converts wave action directly into electricity. The company says this patented technology represents a major clean energy opportunity, decreasing the cost of owning and deploying wave-generated electricity plants and making the ocean a more practical source of renewable electricity.
  • Data from satellite sensors show that during the Northern Hemisphere’s growing season, the Midwest region of the United States boasts more photosynthetic activity than any other spot on Earth, according to NASA and university scientists. According to co-author Christian Frankenberg of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., “The paper shows that fluorescence is a much better proxy for agricultural productivity than anything we’ve had before. This can go a long way regarding monitoring – and maybe even predicting – regional crop yields.” The research found that during the Northern Hemisphere’s growing season, the U.S. Corn Belt “really stands out”.
  • The City of Lancaster has partnered with Green Charge Networks to install an intelligent energy storage system and an electric vehicle charging station at the Lancaster Museum of Art & History. Funded by a California Energy Commission grant, the system will be installed by private partner Green Charge Networks at no cost to the City. The project will generate an estimated $3,200 annually in cost savings. The energy storage system will be the first installed in the High Desert region of California. The electric vehicle (EV) charging station – specifically, a Nissan DC fast charger – will also be the first of its kind in the High Desert.
Bioenergy Bytes

Sustainability Ctr. Gets Springfield Biodiesel Refiner

John Davis

springboardbiodieselA maker of biodiesel equipment has donated a processor to a center dedicated to sustainable farming practices. California-based Springboard Biodiesel gave the Center for Sustainable Energy Farming (CfSEF), a nonprofit research organization, its industry-leading biodiesel processor.

The processor, a BioPro™ 380, is an appliance that converts a wide variety of vegetable and animal oils into premium-grade biodiesel. This fully automated biodiesel processor is capable of producing 100 gallons (or 380 liters) of biofuel every 48 hours.

Springboard’s CEO, Mark Roberts, said in a statement: “We are impressed by the research that CfSEF is doing into alternative non-food-based seed crops that can be economically grown and converted into renewable fuels. We are hopeful their research, specifically with Camelina and Jatropha, will be enhanced by Springboard Biodiesel’s equipment and that American farmers will continue to benefit from their findings.”

“The Center is very pleased to receive this donation from Springboard Biodiesel,” says CfSEF’s President & CEO, Richard Palmer. “We are planning to use this equipment to demonstrate the effectiveness of local farmers growing, processing and utilizing biodiesel on their own farms. This unit has the potential to help farmers achieve true sustainability by eliminating their need for diesel fuel to power their farming equipment. They can grow their own non-food-based energy crops, such as Camelina sativa and Jatropha curcas, and process it on-farm for their own use.”

Springboard Biodiesel is known for its small-scale biodiesel production equipment.

Biodiesel

Hemp-to-Biofuels Research Gets Green Light

John Davis

vote-hempA crop that has had an undeserved stigma attached to it could now become a source for biodiesel and ethanol. The recently passed and signed Farm Bill contains a provision that would allow hemp to be grown for research purposes, including making it into the green fuels.

“Hemp is a great crop for biodiesel, and we’ve already started experimenting with [cellulosic ethanol made from hemp],” explained Ben Droz with Vote Hemp, a group trying revitalize industrial hemp production in the U.S., at last week’s National Agriculture Day in Washington, D.C. He pointed out that hemp goes back a long ways in this country’s history, including being grown by the Founding Fathers and the founder of our modern automobile industry. “Henry Ford was actually doing research on hemp fuels and hemp biocomposites. And now today we are looking back to see if we can grow hemp once again.”

Ben said the Farm Bill defined industrial hemp, not to be confused with marijuana despite its similar appearance, as having 3/10 of a percent or less of THC – the active ingredient in the drug. Even if you smoked a hemp joint the size of a telephone pole, Ben said you still wouldn’t get high. But it’s only legal to do the research at universities and state ag departments in the 10 states where hemp is already legal to grow. He’s hoping that positive results in those locations will allow the effort to go nationwide.

“Those results will then encourage lawmakers to change the law so farmers can grow this profitable crop. There’s literally thousands of uses for hemp.”

Listen to all of Cindy’s conversation with Ben here: Interview with Ben Droz, Vote Hemp

2014 Ag Day Photo Album

Audio, biofuels, farm bill, Government, Legislation, Research

ASA Applauds Biodiesel Tax Credit in Package

John Davis

ASAlogo1Soybean growers are welcoming news of a couple of important measures moved forward in legislation for biodiesel. The American Soybean Association says a two-year extension of the dollar-per-gallon biodiesel tax incentive and a reinstatement of the pre-2014 expensing amounts for farm infrastructure and equipment under Section 179, both in the Senate Finance Committee Chairman’s Tax Extenders Package, are key issues for group’s members.

ASA First Vice President Wade Cowan, a farmer from Brownfield, Texas, issued the following statement on the committee’s proposal:

“The extension of the biodiesel tax credit is huge. Biodiesel blenders create a renewable and safe domestic energy source for our country and a valuable market for the soybean oil American farmers produce. The credit further encourages the development and sustained success of the biodiesel marketplace, and much credit goes to Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Hatch and specifically Sens. Grassley and Cantwell for recognizing the importance of the biodiesel tax incentive and including it in their proposal…

“The proposal’s Section 179 reinstatement is also important. This enables farmers and other small business owners to expense investments made in new technology, equipment and infrastructure in their operations. Given the land-based and capital-intensive nature of farming, not to mention the ever-advancing technology we need to farm sustainably and competitively, this program helps us to stay on the cutting edge of our industry.”

Cowan also pointed out the biodiesel industry has been operating without the credit since the end of the fiscal year in September and called on the full committee to take up the measures quickly and move them on to the full Senate and House for final approval.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation, Soybeans

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFFiberight LLC has moved a step closer to constructing a $15-million facility designed to grab the organic material in garbage to convert into ethanol coined “trashahol,” at the company’s ethanol plant now being renovated in Blairstown, Iowa. The Marion City Council agreed to provide the Maryland-based firm with an economic-development incentive worth up to $850,000 to help it build its 50,000-square-foot facility in Marion’s “eco-industrial” park. The money will come from new property taxes generated from Fiberight’s investment, a common economic-development incentive called tax increment financing or TIF.
  • Canadian Solar Inc. has announced that The Manufacturer’s Life Insurance Company has agreed to provide approximately C$50.5 million in construction and term financing to Canadian Solar for the Company’s Mighty Solar power project located in Ontario, Canada. The Mighty Solar project will be acquired by Concord Green Energy Inc. after Commercial Operation. Bowmont Capital and Advisory acted as the Financial Advisor to Concord. Construction of the 10 MW (AC) Mighty Solar power project commenced and connection is expected in Q2 2014.
  • Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. has announced the closing of the acquisition of the remaining 40% of the 400 MW wind power portfolio in the United States from Gamesa Wind US, LLC for total consideration of approximately US$115 million.
  • EverStream Energy Capital Management LLC has announced that a group of investors, led by EverStream and Claro y Asociados and including SunEdison, has recently closed on the 50.7 MWp solar power plant (known as “San Andres”) located in the Atacama Region of Chile, near the city of Copiapo. SunEdison developed the San Andres project, which reached commercial operation on March 14th, 2014, and will retain a partial equity position. It is the largest merchant solar power plant in Latin America and one of the largest such plants in the world.
Bioenergy Bytes

Midtex Oil Offers E85 in San Marcos, Texas

Joanna Schroeder

Midtex Oil, L.P. is now offering E85 at its Spirit-branded convenience store located in San Marcos, Texas. Its fifth E85 station in the state, it is located off the interstate at 1214 IH-35 South, San Marcos, TX 78666.

Midtex Oil E85 pump in San Marcos Texas“Our local drivers are savvy enough to know the benefits of E85 fuel,” said Rodney Fischer, owner, Midtex Oil. “When we put up that E85 sign, we usually don’t even need to advertise about ethanol. It speaks for itself. This is one of several eco initiatives we have at Midtex.”

According to Midtex Oil, by offering this blend of 85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline, these E85 stations will help the area reduce emissions, lower dependence on foreign oil and spur domestic economic growth.

“We have a longstanding benefit from Midtex’s bullishness on giving their customers more choice in fuels, that also happen to be better for the environment,” said Steve Walk, an Executive Director of Protec Fuel who worked with MidTex Oil to install the E85 pump. “This E85 station is instrumental in the greater Austin and San Antonio area to provide the building blocks for additional higher ethanol blends, like up-and-coming E15.” Protec also did a complete dispenser island renovation at this Spirit.

San Marcos, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kyle and Austin are all also home to other E85 stations as well, making it very convenient for Flex-fuel (FFV) drivers utilizing E85 to fuel up.

“The Lone Star Clean Fuels Alliance and its stakeholders are pleased to see more E85 available in the region,” added Stacy Neef, Exec. Director of the Austin-based Clean Cities coalition. “The choice of E85 provides a large proportion of vehicles on the road today the ability to choose an alternative fuel at the pump, since half the new U.S.-produced cars can use E85.”

E85, Ethanol

IPCC Releases Fifth Assessment Climate Report

Joanna Schroeder

AR5cover1_275_355_70The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued its Fifth Assessment Climate Report that says the effects of climate change are already occurring on all continents and across the oceans. The report finds in many cases the world is ill-prepared for risks from a changing climate. The report also concludes that there are opportunities to respond to such risks, though the risks will be difficult to manage with high levels of warming.

The report, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability,” from Working Group II of the IPCC, details the impacts of climate change to date, the future risks from a changing climate, and the opportunities for effective action to reduce risks. A total of 309 coordinating lead authors and review editors, drawn from 70 countries, were selected to produce the report. They enlisted the help of 436 contributing authors, and a total of 1,729 expert and government reviewers.

The report concludes that responding to climate change involves making choices about risks in a changing world. The nature of the risks of climate change is increasingly clear, though the report finds climate change will also continue to produce surprises. The report identifies vulnerable people, industries, and ecosystems around the world. It finds that risk from a changing climate comes from vulnerability (lack of preparedness) and exposure (people or assets in harm’s way) overlapping with hazards (triggering climate events or trends). Each of these three components can be a target for smart actions to decrease risk.

“We live in an era of man-made climate change,” said Vicente Barros, Co-Chair of Working Group II. “In many cases, we are not prepared for the climate-related risks that we already face. Investments in better preparation can pay dividends both for the present and for the future.”

According to Chris Field, Co-Chair of Working Group II, adaptation to reduce the risks from a changing climate is now starting to occur, but with a stronger focus on reacting to past events than on preparing for a changing future.

“Climate-change adaptation is not an exotic agenda that has never been tried. Governments, firms, and communities around the world are building experience with adaptation,” Field said. “This experience forms a starting point for bolder, more ambitious adaptations that will be important as climate and society continue to change.”

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Environment

Iowa Senate Votes for Renewable Fuels

Joanna Schroeder

The Iowa State Senate has voted unanimously (48-0) to pass Senate File 2344. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) commended the Senate and noted the policy move showed tremendous, bipartisan support for renewable fuels.

“I applaud the Iowa Senate for voting unanimously to protect Iowa jobs and access to homegrown, clean-burning renewable fuels,” said IRFA Policy Director Grant Menke. “This vote sends a clear message that Iowans are serious about increasing renewable fuels Iowa fuel pumpproduction and use, expanding consumer fuel choice and growing Iowa’s economy.”

With renewable fuels producers facing significant federal policy uncertainty, Senate File 2344 protects Iowa’s renewable fuels industry by extending the state’s biodiesel production tax credit that is set to expire at the end of this year, and enhancing the state’s E15 retailer tax credit to help alleviate extra costs to Iowa retailers who want to offer E15 as a registered fuel during the summer driving season. The bill also updates Iowa Code to define biobutanol as a legal renewable fuel option for Iowans.

Iowa’s biodiesel producer incentive offers a $.02 per gallon refundable credit on the first 25 million gallons of biodiesel produced in any single plant. The incentive is set to expire at the end of calendar year 2014, but the legislation passed by the senate would extend the credit through 2019.

An amendment added to the bill would also extend an Iowa retailer credit of 4.5 cents per gallon for 5 percent biodiesel (B5) through 2019. It was set to expire in 2017. The amendment also extends retailer tax credits for biodiesel, E15 and E85.

The Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB) commended the vote. “This state policy will encourage biodiesel production to remain in Iowa, which benefits Iowa’s economy and reputation as an American energy producer,” said Grant Kimberley, executive director of IBB. “It will also help shelter our state’s biodiesel industry from the impact of uncertainty over the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and other federal policies.”

biobutanol, Biodiesel, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

ASA Concerned over Argentine Biodiesel for RFS

John Davis

argentinaflagWhile Argentine biodiesel is having a hard time getting into Europe, its prospects to make it into the U.S. could be boosted. And that is worrying soybean growers in this country. This story from Agri-View says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering whether it should allow Argentine biodiesel to be eligible under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The potential for CARBIO, the trade association representing Argentine biodiesel producers, with its 1.3 billion gallons of biodiesel production capacity and export subsidies, prompted the American Soybean Association (ASA) to send a letter to EPA to register its concerns.

ASA believes that the far reaching impacts of this issue require an exhaustive review by EPA that includes a public comment period and input from the various stakeholders as well as other government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

EPA must be made aware of the fact that Argentine biodiesel is being heavily subsidized into world markets, and the European Union already has imposed anti-dumping duties on Argentine biodiesel imports due to the significant subsidies that Argentine biodiesel receives as the result of Argentina’s differential export tax system (DET).

ASA also says the CARBIO application needs to be done far in advance so EPA can figure in the amount of Argentine biodiesel when calculating the Required Volume Obligation (RVO) for Biomass-based diesel for that year.

Biodiesel, EPA, Government, International, RFS