Greenleaf Hits 1 Million Gallons of Biodiesel

John Davis

greenleafConnecticut-based Greenleaf Biofuels, LLC, has produced its 1 millionth gallon of biodiesel since opening its New Haven facility this summer. This company news release says most of that green fuel is going into local heating oil supplies.

“We are extremely proud to have achieved this production milestone. Our team has worked tirelessly over the last six months to commission the plant and scale production. This is a testament to our employees’ high level of expertise and dedication to our mission,” said Gus Kellogg, Founder and COO of Greenleaf. Added Mark McCall, CEO of Greenleaf, “We have been driving towards this day since we began commercial production. I am extremely proud of our entire team. We look forward to increasing our production further with a goal of exceeding 1 million gallons per month next year.”

Senator Richard Blumenthal, the Senior Senator from Connecticut said, “I congratulate Greenleaf Biofuels for producing its 1 millionth gallon of biodiesel. The company is assisting our nation in becoming more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, and creating much needed clean energy manufacturing jobs in Connecticut. Greenleaf is a tremendous asset to our state and our nation.”

Senator Chris Murphy added, “Connecticut is proving resilient in finding new economic drivers that support manufacturing jobs in our state, while at the same time supporting our national policy of increasing the supply of domestically produced renewable fuels. Greenleaf is a great example of a public-private partnership that delivers on the promise of economic growth and policy objectives. I applaud this milestone and look forward to additional growth in this important sector of our economy.”

The Greenleaf Biofuels refinery will eventually crank out 10 million gallons a year of biodiesel, the largest biofuel plant in New England.

Miscellaneous

Whole Energy Opens Biodiesel By-Product Refinery

John Davis

wholeenergylogoA Washington state-based biodiesel distributor opens a new glycerin refinery. This article from Biodiesel Magazine says Whole Energy of Bellingham, Wash. opened its new facility in Mount Vernon, Wash.

Since 2006, Whole Energy has been exploring the potential pathways for upgrading and using glycerin in various commercial applications. In 2010, Whole Energy applied for state funding, which was awarded by the end of 2010. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the project had to be revised by placing Whole Energy as the lead applicant. The revised project and facility plans were put in place and, despite a year-long delay, the plant is now up and running.

Atul Deshmane, president of Whole Energy, says the company plans to wait until after the Holiday Season to ramp up production. Currently, Whole Energy is optimizing the process during the commissioning phase.

The new refinery can process 15,000 tons of crude glycerin per year using a standard distillation process with reflux. The refined glycerin is between 85 and 95 percent pure.

A grand opening is expected in the near future.

Biodiesel

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reach $544B

Joanna Schroeder

According to the World Energy Outlook fossil fuel consumption subsidies have reached $544 billion in 2012, up from $523 billion in 2011. This news has caused the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) to criticize leaders of the most developed nations for failing to reduce fossil fuel subsidies despite their commitment to eliminate them four years ago.

This weekend marked the end of this year’s United Climate Change Conference and Bliss Baker, GRFA spokesperson said “Another year has passed without any progress being made in eliminating these wasteful crude oil subsidies. These market distorting subsidies hurt developing economies and slow the development of alternative fuels, like biofuels.”

Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 11.22.41 AMIn 2009, at the Pittsburgh G20 Summit, the world’s most developed countries committed to eliminating unnecessary fossil fuel subsidies. Back in 2009, fossil fuel subsidies had reached $300 billion, 45 percent less than where they are today.

This year’s figure of $544 billion in fossil fuel consumption subsidies shows that efforts to reduce them are not working says Baker. Even more egregious is the fact that this number does not include the production subsidies governments provide directly to crude oil companies, which is widely accepted to be in excess of $100 billion he adds.

“The GRFA finds it worrying that although we seem to be very aware of climate change, the leaders of the world’s most important nations have not slowed the subsidization of the consumption and production of crude oil in four years,” said Baker.

This year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference featured a “Transport Day” and “Fossil-Fuel Subsidies and Climate Change” side events. The focus of these events was land transport and fossil fuel subsidy reform. Land transport, according to the International Energy Agency (EIA), is the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing 13 percent of global emissions. Eliminating fossil fuel subsidies could further reduce global emissions by a minimum of 10 percent.

“It is disturbing that no progress on the sources of over 20% of the world’s carbon emissions was made and that land transport and fossil fuels subsidies were reduced to side events at the premier conference established to determine the best ways of combating climate change,” added Baker.

He concluded, “This year’s Warsaw Climate Conference is another lost opportunity for leaders of the most developed nations to show some leadership and get serious about cutting subsidies to crude oil and increase biofuels share of the global future energy mix.”

biofuels, International, Oil

U.S. Breaks Commitment to Biofuels Industry

Joanna Schroeder

Mr Stu LambStaurt Lamb, president and CEO of Stuart, Florida-based Viesel Fuel LLC, embarked on the journey to revolutionize the way biodiesel is made about one-and-a-half years ago. The company is focused on “junk oils and greases” as its feedstock. Using a process of enzymes and resins, Lamb believes they can produce biodiesel cheaper than anyone in the country and also believes they are the only company using this type of technology to produce ASTM quality biodiesel.

Lamb’s family owned business employes 45 people and he embarked on this venture because he thought it was the right thing to do and because he thought it was part of his continuing service to this country – he is an ex fighter pilot who severed in Vietnam.

But the announcement by the EPA of its proposed 2014 renewable fuel volumes as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has made his venture questionable. Lamb said he counted on the RFS to help make his business successful.

“Without these mandates, without this criteria, without this support from the United States government, I cannot make this fuel and put it into the marketplace and compete with major oil companies,” said Lamb.

He notes that he can’t succeed, not because he didn’t follow through on his commitment, but because the United States has changed its commitment to him. “I’m in a difficult position now. Without this support, I face bankruptcy that will put 45 people out of work.”

Listen to Stuart Lamb’s comments about the RFS during a media call hosted by the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA). U.S. Breaks Commitment to Biofuels Industry

Simmons__Wayne_MG_0296_201312051527201Wayne Simmons, President and CEO, Sundrop Fuels and Chairman, ABFA noted during the call that as Chairman, he represents many advanced biofuel companies, such as Sundrop Fuels, who are looking for investments to advance their technologies. He said without this investment, that is tied to the RFS, these businesses can’t move forward. RFS = demand = stability for the investment community, said Simmons.

Listen to Simmons comments about the RFS: No RFS = No Investment = No Advanced Biofuels

advanced biofuels, Audio, EPA, RFS

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFFast Stop in Elkader, Iowa has begun selling E15 to 2001 and newer vehicles, making it the 12th registered E15 station in Iowa. In addition to E15, Fast Stop also offers E20, E30 and E85 to flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) owners. Fast Stop is located in Northeast Iowa at 24544 Highway 13 in Elkader.
  • Central MN Ethanol Co-op (“CMEC”) has received shareholder approval on the Asset Purchase Agreement for the sale of its Little Falls, MN ethanol facility to Green Biologics, Inc (“GBI”). CMEC and GBI executed the Asset Purchase Agreement on October 15, 2013 and received formal shareholder approval at CMEC’s Special Shareholder Meeting on November 27, 2013. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed and timing of the transaction closing is expected in 2014. Green Biologics Ltd. has also recently closed on a £15.4 million (U.S. $25 million) funding round led by Sofinnova Partners with strategic participation by Swire Pacific Limited.
  • Texas A&M is hosting a “Fermentation and Separation” Short course in February 2-4, 2014, sponsored by Food Protein R&D Center and National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing at Texas A&M University. Early bird rates are available until January 17, 2014. Click here to see the full agenda and to register.
  • Sullivan Solar Power’s founder and chief executive officer, Daniel Sullivan, was awarded Most Admired CEO for a medium sized privately held company by the San Diego Business Journal Thursday. For its seventh year, the San Diego Business Journal hosted the Most Admired CEO event, recognizing dynamic business leaders and role models, selected for their achievements and contributions to San Diego companies.
Bioenergy Bytes

New Waste Biomass Project Announced

Joanna Schroeder

Concord Blue USA, Inc. and LanzaTech have entered into an agreement to integrate their individually proven technologies to demonstrate the production of fuels and chemicals from waste materials.

Concord Blue TechnologyLanzaTech will install a Concord Blue Reformer at its Freedom Pines facility in Soperton, Georgia to convert waste biomass from regional forestry operations into syngas. The syngas will be converted by LanzaTech’s gas fermentation process into a range of biofuels and chemicals. The company says the integration and testing at Freedom Pines will serve as an important step towards commercialization of the integrated technologies for multiple projects that both companies have under contract and in development.

“As the U.S. continues to diversify its energy mix and produce more domestic energy, low carbon fuels derived from waste woody biomass and municipal solid waste will play an increasingly important role,” said Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech. “Our partnership with Concord Blue will enable us to extend our technology to these important resources.”

Concord Blue says it has developed a closed-loop, commercially proven, non-incineration process that recycles nearly any form of waste, including landfill waste and sewage sludge, into energy at virtually any scale. By working closely with leading businesses, governments and communities around the globe, Concord Blue creates tailored solutions that safely and effectively dispose of waste streams while producing clean energy through advanced waste conversion.

“This partnership and demonstration facility lays the foundation for the expeditious development of large scale projects we have been awarded, like the Four Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI),” said Charlie Thannhaeuser, chairman and chief executive officer of Concord Blue. “This represents a critical step towards achieving our company’s objective to produce drop-in fuels from waste resources and bolster foreign oil independence by producing sustainable non fossil-based fuels.”

biofuels, biomass, biomaterials, Waste-to-Energy

DuPont Starts Solar Project on Landfill Site

Joanna Schroeder

DuPont has commissioned a 548kw solar installation located on five-acres of former Superfun landfill site in Newport, Delaware. The solar farm will produce enough electricity to power 60 homes and will generate approximately 729,000 kilowatt hours of power per year.

NewportPVSiteAfter successfully completing remediation at the Newport site, and with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Delaware Division of Natural Resources & Environmental Control (DNREC), DuPont collaborated with Tangent Energy Solutions to put develop the solar project. Greenwood Energy owns the project and solar panels were provided by DuPont Apollo.

During a celebration event held at DuPont’s Photovoltaics Application Lab, Delaware Governor Jack Markell said of the new project, “The DuPont Solar Power Project complements Delaware’s commitment toward using clean, renewable energy sources. Generating solar energy benefits the residents of Newport, and positively impacts our state – increasing our competitiveness, reducing air pollution, improving public health and creating jobs.”

Linda Fisher, vice president – DuPont Safety, Health & Environment & Chief Sustainability Officer said to the crowd, “We’re very excited about this project because it is the first time we’ve utilized solar on a former landfill. The project will reduce DuPont’s greenhouse gas emissions by 350 tons a year and reuse a portion of a federal Superfund site that had been considered to be unusable land. This is a great example of what we’re trying to do at DuPont around the world: working collaboratively to help meet the growing demand for energy with renewable fuels.”

This represents the 11th solar installation on DuPont land to date, and the fourth in Delaware.

“Under the RE-Powering America Initiative, EPA encourages renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated land when it is aligned with the community’s vision for the site,” added Shawn Garvin, regional administrator – EPA Mid-Atlantic Region 3. “When we work together to turn an environmental problem into an opportunity, we create the best of what is possible – here solar energy will serve the families of Newport and inspire others to re-power America with alternative energy solutions.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Solar

Fueling the Future Grants Available

Joanna Schroeder

Iowa petroleum retailers interested in offering consumers higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel are encouraged to apply for the “Fueling our Future” pilot program to consider applying for cost share funding. A total of $250,000 in federal funds are available through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board to support projects that will increase the usage of higher blends of both ethanol and biodiesel.

E15-Blender-Pump-in-Cresco-Iowa“The renewable fuels industry has been a great asset to Iowa’s economy and making higher blends of renewable fuels will give customers greater access to clean burning, home-grown renewable fuels,” Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said. “It is important we help create opportunities for customers to see the benefits of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel.”

The Fueling Our Future pilot project is designed to reduce particulate matter (PM-2.5) vehicle emissions by increasing the use of higher blends of biobased fuels, specifically ethanol and biodiesel. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 7, 2014 and will be reviewed by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program board of directors at their quarterly meeting later that month.

All Iowa petroleum retailers offering fuel to the general public are eligible to apply. Applicants must provide a minimum 50 percent match and the total assistance available is capped at $250,000 of matching federal funds. Funds will be targeted equally to the most outstanding proposal focused on biodiesel (B5 blends and higher) and ethanol (especially E30). A single proposal that includes both of these bio-renewable products on the same site could be selected.

Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said of the program, “Iowa is fortunate to have many fuel retailers committed to renewable fuels and this pilot program is an exciting opportunity Biodiesel Pump in Galva Iowafor them to demonstrate their ideas for creating a modern fueling site focused on higher blends of renewable fuels,” “Higher blends of both ethanol and biodiesel have the potential to bring significant benefits to consumers, the environment and our rural economy and I’m excited to see the proposals that come forward.”

Applicants should be aware that there will be a significant research component for this pilot project. Data collected will be assessed and used to assist with determining optimal market effectiveness of mid-level renewable fuel blends. As a result, fuel sales data from the selected site will be required and in the event of the conversion of a current retail fueling site, data access to previous sales volume will be requested. Access to the site for consumer surveys will be required.

A copy of the application and additional information can be found at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the “Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program” link under “Hot Topics.”

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol

Biodiesel Board: EPA Got it Wrong

John Davis

steckel1The National Biodiesel Board’s (NBB) message to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pretty simple: You got it WRONG! During last week’s hearing on the EPA’s proposed reduction in the amount of biodiesel and ethanol that will be mixed into the country’s fuel supply, Vice President of Federal Affairs for NBB Anne Steckel told those at the hearing that the proposal could cost jobs and hurt an industry that thought it was on the right track.

“This is a very dramatic thing the EPA has done, and we’re trying to set the record straight,” Anne said in an interview with me, adding that more that two dozen biodiesel producers also made the trip to the Nation’s capital to make the case for the green fuel … a pretty strong one when you look at the facts. “Biodiesel is an advanced biofuel, so we’re lessening greenhouse gas emissions significantly, we’re helping out with the economy, we’re supporting more than 62,000 jobs across the country, we have diversified our feedstocks, and those feedstock prices are low. So for EPA to put this out is very shocking.”

Anne said it looks like EPA just cut-and-paste the data from 2011 and ignored the most recent updates the industry gave it. She stressed that this hearing isn’t the only opportunity to let the EPA know of its mistake. She’s encouraging all biodiesel advocates to contact officials and let them know the biomass-based diesel number should be at least 1.7 billion gallons. The NBB is even providing a template for a letter on its website to help make it easier to have more voices heard between now and the end of the comment period at the end of January.

“Every voice really counts.”

Listen to my interview with Anne here: Anne Steckel, Vice President of Federal Affairs for NBB

Audio, Biodiesel, EPA, Government, NBB, RFS

SunEdison Building NYC’s Biggest Solar Project

John Davis

sunedisonLogoOne the world’s largest solar energy providers is partnering with New York City to build the city’s largest solar project. SunEdison announced the innovative renewable energy project that will turn a landfill into a source of power.

“Freshkills was once the site of the largest landfill in the world. Soon it will be one of the City’s largest parks, and the site of the largest solar power installation ever developed within the five boroughs,” said [New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg]. “Over the last twelve years we’ve restored wetlands and vegetation and opened new parks and soccer fields at the edges of the site. Thanks to the agreement today with SunEdison, we will increase the amount of solar energy produced in New York City by 50 percent.”

The project, which is scheduled to break ground in the second half of 2015, will consist of two photovoltaic systems totaling up to 10 megawatts (MW) in size, and will utilize between 30,000 and 35,000 high efficiency solar panels installed across 47 acres leased to SunEdison at Freshkills Park. The project will increase the city’s renewable energy capacity by 50 percent and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants.

“Thank you to Mayor Bloomberg and his team for having the vision to use this 47-acre plot that was once a landfill to generate clean, renewable electricity and also provide businesses in New York with (energy) cost savings,” SunEdison General Manager Attila Toth said at a press conference with Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his staff. “The solar systems we intend to build at Freshkills Park will be tangible proof of the Mayor’s commitment to renewable energy, and will serve as a model of public private partnerships by providing economic benefit to both the city and businesses located within its five boroughs.”

Fresh Kills landfill has been closed for more than a decade and now will be part of the city’s plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

Solar