Unlike Diamonds, Fossil Fuels Are Not Forever

Joanna Schroeder

what happens when fossil fuels run outPlymouth Rock Energy has released an interesting graphic with the theme, “unlike diamonds, fossil fuels are not forever”. The infographic describes the acceleration of fossil fuels consumption and its ultimate depletion as a viable energy resource. It further states the potentially catastrophic outcomes for contemporary society while, at the same time, offers optimism for charting a new energy conservation course.

What is interesting about Plymouth Rock Energy, is that the company was founded nearly 60 years ago to supply electricity from coal and natural gas. Yet the company’s infographic cites peak fossil fuel production sometime between 2010 and 2020. The company cites experts who suggest that the world will see soaring gas prices due to shortages, a decline in global development and environmental destruction if business continues without chaBuilding a Better Roadnge.

The graphic provides some “better way” solutions including energy conservation through the development of alternative fuel sources and the reduction of carbon dioxide pollution curbing what they term “man-made global warming”.

Plymouth Rock Energy says they believe that utilizing sustainable resources such as natural gas, hydropower, wind, and solar energy production can provide long term solutions. Adding to energy conservation efforts are the use of ethanol fuel blends, readily available natural gas deposits, electricity, and hydrogen fuel cells.

biofuels, Clean Energy, Electricity, Hydro, Natural Gas, Solar, Wind

Ethical Electric Receives Electrifying Investment

Joanna Schroeder

Ethical Electric, a renewable energy provider that connects consumers to 100% renewable energy, has announced $11 million in Series A funding. A group of investors was led by entrepreneur and impact investor Matthew Palevsky, who will be joining Ethical Electric’s board of directors.

Ethical Electric“Our business model offers the potential to shift a significant number of households to renewable energy sources and help transform the energy industry in the United States,” said Tom Matzzie, founder and CEO of Ethical Electric. “We are proud to be backed by investors who see the potential to give consumers a clean, renewable choice for their energy.”

Matzzie has experience building cause-based communities and was formerly a leader with MoveOn.org. In his past and current role, he has aggregated millions of Americans together for causes for more than a decade.

“The Ethical Electric team is applying their experience building large-scale progressive movements to disrupt incumbents in the energy sector,” said Palevsky. “The company has a compelling, scalable business plan and the right team to make it work.”

Brian Arbogast, a clean tech investor and current director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who led Ethical Electric’s earlier investment round and serves on its board of directors, added, “Tom has developed a very smart business plan and its success has the potential to drive adoption of renewable (solar and wind) energy faster than any other investment opportunity I have seen.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Solar, Wind

Google Glass – New Tech for Ag?

Jamie Johansen

New Holland ZimmPollOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How is your health insurance for 2014?”

We had a pretty low voter turn out for this ZimmPoll. It may be due to the holidays, but I’m thinking it might be due to confusion. Most people probably still haven’t figured out how their personal health insurance plans will change, if they will change and what it will cost them. I am one of the lucky ones and my insurance won’t be changing.

Our poll results:

  • Lower cost, better benefits – 23%
  • No change – 23%
  • Other-Higher costs, same benefits – 23%
  • Higher cost, better benefits – 15%
  • Higher cost, less benefits – 8%
  • Can’t figure it out yet – 8%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Would you wear Google Glass?”

Chuck has been flaunting his new toy around quite a bit lately. This toy being Google Glass. I asked when I would be receiving mine, but was quickly informed that because he is part of Google’s beta test, only one is allotted per company. That means I will have to wait along with the rest of the population. Chuck has deemed his the ZimmGlass and has been experimenting with ways he can use it out on the agriblogging highway. Does this new technology have a place in agriculture? Can you see yourself wearing this computer on your face while out in public? Tell us what you think!

ZimmPoll

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFThe Center for Rural Affairs has released a report, “From the Ground Up, Addressing Key Community Concerns in Clean Energy Transmission“. The report examines the clashes that can arise between communities and transmission line developers and the causes of those clashes, with a unique focus on proposing a set of solutions to those issues. The report found six major common issues that surround transmission development – agriculture, conservation, health, eminent domain, need for the project, and fairness.
  • Globeleq, a leading wind energy company based in Central America, has announced the financial close and notice to proceed on construction of two wind generation projects in Costa Rica and Honduras. Construction of the 50 MW Orosi project in Costa Rica and the 24 MW expansion of the existing 102 MW Cerro de Hula wind farm will be managed by Globeleq’s majority owned subsidiary, Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy (GME). Gamesa turbines have been chosen for both projects.
  • Goldpoly New Energy Holdings Limited, a leading solar power plant investor and operator in China, has announced that Goldpoly, along with its shareholder company Renewable Energy Trade Board Corporation, obtained the updated new business license on January 7, 2014 for the 180MW PV project acquired from Zhongli Talesun located in Gonghe, Qinghai Province, and that the acquisition has thereby been completed. As of January 7, 2014, Goldpoly has completed grid connection for 13 solar power plants with an aggregate grid connected capacity of 531.7MW.
  • China-based Unisun has announced that three photovoltaic (PV) power plants with a total installed capacity of 19.59MW, in which the company has invested and for which the company is acting as an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, were successfully connected to the grid and have received six green certificates. The Dej, Setra and Clue plants have installed capacities of 5.98MW, 6.4MW and 7.14MW respectively.
Bioenergy Bytes

Voith Hydro Completes Fish Friendly Facility

Joanna Schroeder

Voith Hydro has completed its PPL Generation expansion project of the Holtwood Hydroelectric facility on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. The company supplied the turbines, VOITH HYDRO KAPLAN TURBINEgenerators, and automation components for the project, which more than doubled the century-old plant’s electricity generating capacity. The $440 million expansion will provide power to approximately 100,000 households, and has been noted for its environmental enhancements, including improving both upstream and downstream fish passage.

“Holtwood is a terrific example of how hydropower development can not only provide jobs and clean energy, but improve the environment and surrounding habitats at locks and dams that have existed for decades,” said Voith Hydro President and CEO Kevin Frank. “We are proud to have provided the fish-friendly turbines, generators, and automation equipment for this historic expansion of an iconic hydroelectric facility.”

Victor Lopiano, senior vice president of Fossil & Hydro Generation for PPL, noted, “This project, one of the largest expansions of its kind in the U.S., represents a major investment in clean, reliable, renewable energy. This project highlights the potential to upgrade existing hydroelectric facilities and expand capacity without the need to build new dams.”

The new hydro powerhouse was built on the site of a previously retired coal-fired power plant. In addition to the increased capacity, PPL worked with local, state, and federal stakeholders to improve migratory fish passage, including numerous enhancements to the facility’s fish lift system. The state-of-the-art Kaplan turbines that Voith supplied for Holtwood will enhance downstream fish passage as well.

“From the electricity users who will benefit from an increase in clean energy, to the workers who built the powerhouse and the turbines, to the surrounding environment and habitats, the benefits of expanding facilities like Holtwood are immense,” Frank added. “Voith looks forward to its continued leadership in hydropower innovation.”

Clean Energy, Hydro

U.S. Ethanol Export Opportunities Abound

Joanna Schroeder

According to U.S. government data, U.S. ethanol exports surged to 82.4 million gallons (mg) in November, with large volumes finding their way into new or emerging markets such as China and India, as well as the Philippines, Tunisia, Panama, and Mexico.

Total exports were up 54 percent from October, reaching the highest monthly level since March 2012. Canada was once again the leading importer of U.S. product, receiving 28.5 mg in November. The Philippines followed with an annual high of 14.0 mg, while India (8.1 mg), U.S. Ethanol Exports 2013.11Brazil (4.3 mg), and Norway (4.3 mg) were other top destinations. For the first time since 2002, a sizable volume of fuel ethanol was exported to China (3.5 mg). Similarly, Panama imported meaningful volumes of U.S. fuel ethanol (2.0 mg) for the first time since 1992. Tunisia (2.3 mg) and Mexico (1.7 mg) are other relatively new markets that imported U.S. product in November.

Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFS), noted that the uptick of exports to China and India is a huge opportunity for the ethanol industry and an indicator that ethanol demand is continuing to expand and grow overseas.

Dinneen commented, “U.S. produced ethanol continues to be the lowest cost liquid transportation fuel on the planet. The fact that rapidly developing countries like China and India are turning to the U.S. for fuel supply is both a reflection of that economic reality and the effort of U.S. producers to look beyond our borders to build demand. The RFA will continue working hard on behalf of American ethanol producers to grow and strengthen our export relationships with these emerging countries even as we continue to expand ethanol usage domestically.”

He also pointed out that there is also a huge overseas market emerging.

RFA has worked with the U.S. government and U.S. ethanol producers to expand trade abroad. Most recently, Ed Hubbard, RFA’s general counsel, led a trade mission to Brazil through the Brazil-U.S. Business Council connecting U.S. ethanol companies with business opportunities in the northern regions of the country.

Additionally, Kelly Davis, RFA’s director of regulatory affairs, joined the U.S. Grains Council on a trade mission last May to South Korea and Japan. She visited Seoul and Tokyo, where she had the opportunity to discuss and promote the trade of ethanol and its co-products, specifically distillers dried grains (DDGS), overseas.

biofuels, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, RFA

Biodiesel Advocate Slams EPA at Ethanol’s Expense

John Davis

reyesA former Texas congressman is saying the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) got it wrong in its latest proposal on cutting back on the amount of biodiesel to be blended into the Nation’s fuel supply. But in this opinion piece from The Hill, former Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Silvestre Reyes, seems to toss fellow green fuel ethanol under the bus to make biodiesel’s point:

[T}he recent proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce the amount of ethanol in our fuel supply is the right decision.

Ethanol is a mature industry that has grown so quickly there are concerns about damage to engines when it is used in higher blends. Also, because U.S. ethanol continues to rely almost entirely on corn for production, it has limited environmental benefits and creates impacts on livestock producers that are of grave concern in Texas.

Where the EPA got it wrong, however, was in the decision to propose reducing the amount of biodiesel and other advanced biofuels in our nation’s fuel supply next year. By most estimates, the EPA is proposing to cut the amount of biodiesel production next year by at least 25 percent.

Unlike ethanol made from corn, biodiesel is an EPA-certified advanced biofuel that’s made from a wide variety of renewable fats and oils. This means that it burns cleaner than diesel made from petroleum, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent.

Reyes goes on to say that biodiesel producers “are perplexed” by the proposal, and he encourages the Obama Administration to get back to its original backing of biodiesel as an advanced biofuel.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Iowa Sets Biodiesel Production Record

John Davis

ia-rfaBiodiesel production in Iowa hit a record in 2013, but advocates for the green fuel warn the industry could be in peril this year due to government action and inaction. This news release from the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) says that the state’s biodiesel production hit 2013 million gallons in 2013, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. But the group also warns that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to cut the amount of biodiesel required to be blended into the Nation’s fuel supply and Congress allowing the federal biodiesel blenders tax credit to expire are putting a dark cloud on the news going forward.

“Iowa continues to lead in the production of biodiesel,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “However, many plants across the nation, including some in Iowa, are shut down today as the market waits to see what happens with the RFS. That means good paying jobs are at risk. The EPA needs to uphold Congressional intent and maintain a robust RFS for biodiesel of at least 1.7 billion gallons for 2014.”

Soybean oil remained the leading biodiesel feedstock in Iowa, accounting for 68 percent of production. However, the use of lower carbon intensity feedstocks doubled over the previous year. Animal fats accounted for 27 percent of biodiesel feedstocks, while used cooking oil, inedible corn oil and canola oil accounted for the remaining five percent.

“How does it make sense for the EPA to gut the advanced biofuels portion of the RFS when the impact will likely be a reduction in the use of lower carbon intensity feedstocks like animal fats and used cooking oil? That runs counter to the intent of the law,” added Shaw.

Iowa’s 12 biodiesel plants are able to produce up to 315 million gallons annually a year. The past year’s numbers make up about 13.5 percent of all biodiesel produced nationwide.

Biodiesel, Iowa RFA

Book Review: How Are You Mother Earth?

Joanna Schroeder

Calling people of all ages. I’ve finally found a truly entertaining and educational book about climate change and the environment. “How are you Mother Earth?” written by Gordon Hunter, a scientist, takes the reader on the journey with Katie, her boyfriend Mike and her father when they take Mother Earth to the doctor for a check-up.

Well, it turns out that Mother Earth can’t fit in the door and she doesn’t have the same structure as us humans so they work with Nurse Re Corder and a host of other scientists and How Are You Mother Earth?doctors to develop a check-up just for Mother Earth. While the team hunts down the experts, Mother Earth takes a rest on the lawn outside of the doctors office.

During her physical, they test her age and weight, pressure, respiration and air quailty, dermatology and temperature. Along the way not only are you learning about science in a fun way, but you are also learning about humans’ relationship with Mother Earth.

The health report: Mother Earth is very sick.

The cure? “…a cure would be turning away from fossil fuels and turning to alternate sources of energy such as solar and wind.”

The prescription. Each and every one of us.

How Are You Mother Earth? Is cleverly written, the science is easily understood and the illustrations nicely done. This is definitely a book to read to better understand climate change and the health of Mother Earth.

Listen to my interview with Gordon Hunter here: How Are You Mother Earth?

Win a free copy of How Are You Mother Earth? Send me an email or a tweet with the title “How Are You Mother Earth?” and you contact info. The winner will be announced in next week’s DomesticFuel newsletter.

Audio, book reviews, Environment

Ethanol Brings People Home

Joanna Schroeder

Patriot Renewable Fuels‘ General Manager Rick Vondra came home seven years ago when he began working with the biorefinery. He grew up about 80 miles north of Annawan, Illinois on the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Since high school he has been working in the agriculture industry and has traveled around the world in his various roles with ag companies.

But now because of the ethanol boon, he is home.

Rick VondraVondra is one of the key Patriot team members who recognized the need for the ethanol plant to become more diversified. When they first began operations five years ago, they produced ethanol and dried distillers grains (DDGs). Then they added corn oil production. And now they are constructing a biodiesel facility using JatroDiesel’s flexible feedstock technology that will also produce high quality glycerin as well. In just over five years, Patriot has gone from an ethanol plant to a true renewable biorefinery.

He noted that with each additional product, Patriot is adding more value to the kernel of corn, more value to their local communities, more value to their investors, and more value to Americans.

Vondra is really excited about the addition of their biodiesel facility. They currently employ 50 people and will be adding nine more good paying jobs when the facility begins operations this fall. And he believes they have a great market for biodiesel not only because the biorefinery is located on highway I-80 but also because Illinois has a very good program to promote biodiesel. He is confident this addition will create additional benefits for the community.

“I don’t see how you develop the cellulosic industry if the ethanol market is going to be capped at 13 billion gallons,” said Vondra when asked about the 2014 proposed renewable fuel volumes by the Environmental Protection Agency for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “This been a lot of talk from the government and even the media that we have to get cellulosic. This year there are going to be three or four decent sized plants coming online. So just as we’re getting to the point where we’re starting to make some real progress with industrial sized plants, they are proposing cutting back ethanol into the marketplace.”

“It’s very baffling to me.”

Listen to my interview with Rick Vondra here: Ethanol Brings People Home

Check out the Patriot Renewable Fuels photo album.

Audio, Biodiesel, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Patriot Renewable Fuels, RFS