100th Anniversary of the Gas Station

Joanna Schroeder

Makeshift gas station in 1900's. Image courtesy of John Jakle.

Makeshift gas station in 1900’s. Image courtesy of John Jakle.

December 1, 2013 is the 100th anniversary of the modern gas station. As Americans pull up to the pump this holiday season, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is encouraging consumers to fill up with ethanol-blended fuel.

“For 100 years drivers have been paying too much for transportation fuel. This can be seen today more than ever,” said Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of RFA. “The price of gasoline is the first thing people see as they drive into a gas station. With the excitement of seeing loved ones comes the reality of the cost of a tank of gasoline, but ethanol reduces the cost of gasoline by on average $1.00/gallon in 2012 and 2013. In addition to cost savings it offers consumers choice at the pump. Now that is truly something to be thankful for.”

According to RFA, a popular cost saving fuel choice is E85 (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline) for flex fuel vehicles. There are approximately 3,200 stations offering E85 today and over 15.5 million flex fuel vehicles on the road. According to E85Prices.com, E85 prices in Michigan today average $2.62, compared to the average gas price of $3.27. In Lake Odessa, Michigan E85 prices even reached as low as $2.19. Click here to located E85 stations.

RFA also notes consumers increasingly have the option of a new fuel blend, E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) for cars 2001 and newer. E15 is the most tested fuel in the history of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has already been driven over 45 million miles with no known instances of engine damage or misfueling. Approximately 75 percent of vehicles currently on the road are approved for E15 use.

E15 is currently available in 10 states including Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, and Illinois.

biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, RFA

Offshore Wind Needs EUR123 Billion to Meet Goals

Joanna Schroeder

EWEA offshore wind financial reportAccording to new research, the offshore wind energy sector needs up to EUR123 billion in investment between now and 2020 if it is to meet its target of 40 GW of installed capacity. Equity and debt provides are willing to invest; however, they are holding back due to regulatory instability.

What’s blocking the investment is the uncertainty caused by changing regulatory frameworks, not least in the two largest markets, the UK and Germany, the independent survey of the financial community shows.

“By undermining investment stability, governments are putting green growth, jobs and a world-leading European industry at risk,” said CEO of the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), Thomas Becker, at the report launch in Frankfurt at EWEA OFFSHORE 2013. “Stable national frameworks and a binding EU renewable energy target for 2030 will be a green light to investors and ensure the industry continues to flourish.”

The report, ‘Where’s the money coming from? Financing offshore wind farms‘ comes from EWEA with research from Ernst and Young.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Research, Wind

Duke Settles Wind Farms Bird Deaths Suit

Joanna Schroeder

Duke Energy Renewables has announced it has reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the deaths of golden eagles and other migratory birds at two of Duke Energy’s wind generation sites in Wyoming. The DOJ brought misdemeanor charges under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) for 14 golden eagle mortalities within the past three years at Duke Energy’s Top of the World Windpower Project and Campbell Hill Windpower Project near Casper, Wyoming.

Golden_EagleGolden eagles are not listed as threatened or endangered under U.S. law. However, they are protected under the MBTA.

Federal fines and restitution of $1 million will be levied against Duke Energy Renewables. These funds will be dispersed to the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Conservation Fund.

“Our goal is to provide the benefits of wind energy in the most environmentally responsible way possible,” said Greg Wolf, president of Duke Energy Renewables. “We deeply regret the impacts to golden eagles at two of our wind facilities. We have always self reported all incidents, and from the time we discovered the first fatality, we’ve been working closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service to take proactive steps to correct the problem.”

The company has engaged in several steps to reduce further bird deaths that they believe is a first in the industry. These included:

  • Installing and testing new radar technology to assist in the detection of airborne eagles on or near the site, which was developed from the same technology used in Afghanistan to monitor incoming missiles.
  • Instituting a curtailment program using field biologists, who radio for turbines to be temporarily shut down upon sighting an eagle in the vicinity.
  • Further curtailing turbines during periods of high eagle flight activity.
  • Instituting migratory bird training programs for wind technicians and developing a reporting system to track any findings related to avian populations on the sites.
  • Removing rock and debris piles that attract eagle prey.
  • Continuing to voluntarily report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) all eagle and migratory bird mortalities and meeting with the agency regularly to discuss adaptive management measures to reduce avian mortality.Read More
Alternative energy, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFVIASPACE Inc. has announced new laboratory test results on Giant King Grass as animal feed. The Giant King Grass was harvested at the VIASPACE nursery in California and the tests were conducted by Dairy One in Ithaca, New York, one of the world’s premier forage testing laboratories. Young Giant King Grass first harvested on November 11, 2013 at a height of 3 to 4 feet tall had a crude protein (CP) level of 19.5% of dry matter, with 34% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 55.5% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 67% total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net energy of lactation (NEL) of 0.64 Mcal/lb. These figures are comparable to alfalfa which is the top forage crop and commands the highest prices.
  • Pacific Green Technologies Inc. has announced that its subsidiary, Energy Park Sutton Bridge Limited (EPSB) has appointed Fichtner Consulting Engineers Limited as owner’s engineer in respect of EPSB’s proposed 49MWe biomass energy plant at Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, UK.Fichtner will initially provide EPSB with technical support for pre-construction development with services for the development of the main plant including technology review; permitting support; provision of operating and maintenance cost data for the financial model.
  • Companies and communities across the United States announced more than 80 clean energy and clean transportation projects in the third quarter of this year that together could create more than 15,000 jobs, according to a report by the nonpartisan business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). The report includes announcements from 30 states in industries ranging from solar power generation to recycling to clean-energy related manufacturing and biofuels. The top sectors were renewable power generation, with 6,700 jobs announced, and manufacturing, with 3,300 jobs announced.
  • Redshift Capital, LLC, a Chicago-based investment group, has announced the creation of new solar power conglomerate, TEVA Alternative Energy, LLC, then immediately acquires 100% of TEVA Energy, LLC and Superior Solar Systems, LLC.
Bioenergy Bytes

“We The People” Support of the RFS

Joanna Schroeder

We The People Support the RFSThis morning hundreds of people are expected at the RFS Rally (Renewable Fuel Standard) in support of keeping the renewable biofuel volumes for 2014 moving in the right direction: up. Patriot Renewable Fuels, located in Annawan, IL is hosting the event with Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) speaking about her support of the RFS.

Rep. Bustos along with Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) have written a letter for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gina McCarthy expressing concern over the proposed rule regarding the RFS. The proposed 2014 rule reduces the renewable volume obligations and she says the rule threatens the long-term viability of the policy.

Gene Griffith with Patriot Renewable Fuels signing the White House We the People petition in support of the RFS. The petition needs 100,000 by Dec. 26, 2013 for the 2014 Proposed renewable fuel volumes to be reviewed by President Obama.

Gene Griffith with Patriot Renewable Fuels signing the White House We the People petition in support of the RFS. The petition needs 100,000 by Dec. 26, 2013 for the 2014 Proposed renewable fuel volumes to be reviewed by President Obama.

Bustos notes the proposed rule doesn’t even maintain the status quo, but instead moves the country backwards. “This reduction could hurt rural economies, jeopardize American jobs, raises prices at the pump and deters investment in biofuels and biofuel infrastructure.”

In preparation for tomorrow’s RFS rally, Patriot Renewable Fuels has created a White House petition to reinstate higher renewable fuels volumes. Patriot’s Gene Griffith, along with all the employees of the biofuel facility, encourage the industry to join together to ensure the future of the biofuel industry and rural economies.

It is important to know that this White House petition needs 100,000 signatures by December 26, 2013 for President Obama to personally address America’s request to keep the RFS intact.

Griffith says the 100,000 signatures will help support America, support the biofuel industry, support Patriot and other biofuel producers and support the rural economies in which they operate. Please take the time right now to sign the petition.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, RFS

REG Expands in NJ as Biodiesel Mandate Debated

John Davis

reg-logoThe country’s leader in biodiesel production is expanding its presence in New Jersey, as lawmakers in that state look to enact a biodiesel heating oil mandate. This news release from Renewable Energy Group (REG) says it entered into an agreement with Dutch Hill Terminals, a leading heating oil terminal in New Jersey, to market biodiesel and biodiesel blended heating oil at its Clifton, New Jersey location.

“This terminal position will give us additional capacity to serve the existing markets in the Northeast and prepare for potential growth moving into 2014,” said Gary Haer, REG Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “As the region increases its consumption of biodiesel in transportation fuel and Bioheat® (heating oil blended with biodiesel) REG will continue to provide a reliable source of high quality, clean burning, advanced biofuel.”

REG Clifton is located at 568 Paulison and now has REG biodiesel blended heating oil available. The company will offer other high quality biodiesel blends for transportation fuel during seasonal periods from the Clifton terminal as well. REG has five other terminal locations in the Northeast, including Whippany and Bayonne, New Jersey and New York locations in New Hyde Park, Port Chester, Ontario and Brookhaven.

The New Jersey State Legislature is currently considering legislation which would require heating oil to contain a three percent biodiesel blend (B3), then increasing to five percent (B5). New York City has already implemented a city-wide requirement of B2 in heating oil and the New York State Legislature passed a bill which would phase in a B2 requirement state wide over two years beginning with the 2014-2015 heating oil season. As data presented by the City of New York shows, cleaner heating oil has had a profound impact on the air quality and health of the residents of the city.

REG officials see the addition of the facility as key to expand the company’s role in an area where the biodiesel market will continue to grow.

Biodiesel, Legislation, REG

Trinity Solar Completes NJ Military Base Solar Project

Joanna Schroeder

Trinity Solar has recently completed a 12.3 megawatt residential solar installation at United Communities LLC, the private manager of the military multifamily community at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, bringing renewable power to the privatized housing community on base occupied by over 2,100 military families. The system represents one of the largest TRINITY SOLAR RIBBON CUTTINGsolar-powered military communities in the country. Generating an estimated 13.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity every year, the system is projected to account for over 30 percent of the community’s annual energy usage.

“Completing this project, installing over 10,000 solar modules on over 650 roof-tops and connecting them to compile 12.3 Megawatts of solar in just over eight months has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. Working with so many diverse entities to complete a common monumental goal has been a great experience,” said Bill Condit, VP of Operations for Trinity Solar.

The installation will also be able to help the Department of Defense (DOD) – the largest energy consumer in the country – meet major sustainability goals. The electric capacity of this new system will help the DOD reach its goals of deploying three gigawatts of renewable energy on military installations and obtaining 25 percent of its total power requirements from independent renewable sources by 2025.

Jeffrey T. Brown of the installation’s equity provider True Green Capital Management said, “We are proud to provide independently produced clean energy to U.S. military families through our Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst solar system. This is a strategic investment for our firm that reinforces the important role solar energy will play in our domestic energy mix in the coming years. We are grateful for the collaboration among stakeholders that made successful execution of this system possible, including our lender CIT, United Communities, the U.S. Air Force and Trinity Solar.”

The construction of the project employed over 120 engineering, electrical and maintenance workers, and helped add to New Jersey’s solar electric capacity, which currently ranks second in the U.S. According the Environmental Protection Agency. Senior lender CIT Bank and solar crowd funding platform, Mosaic, provided project debt for the installation, while the equity was provided by installation owner True Green Capital Management LLC.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar

Navy Looks to Vets for Alt Energy Future

John Davis

Navyboat1Veterans might be the next tool in the U.S. Navy’s quest to find alternative energy. This Office of Naval Research (ONR) news release says the service is highlighting the Energy Systems Technology Evaluation Program, or ESTEP, providing student veterans with internships in Navy organizations using advanced technologies.

“Finding reliable, alternative sources of energy is an essential component of naval strategy moving forward,” said Dr. Richard Carlin, director of the Sea Warfare and Weapons Department at ONR. “ESTEP uniquely places student veterans interested in engineering and technology into working internships, where they gain hands-on skills and experiences as they advance energy research for the Navy and Marine Corps.”

Examples of such work include evaluation of smart grid and solar energy use at Camp Pendleton; development of cyber-secured energy management systems; enhancing wind-resistant rooftop photovoltaic panels; and more.

The program kicked off last year, and is a partnership between ONR, San Diego State University (SDSU), SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center.

Check out the video titled “Warrior Power: ONR, Education and Energy” below that talks about how SDSU’s program was a natural fit for the ESTEP partnership, as its Troops to Engineers program is specifically designed to help student veterans find productive internships and future employment.

Government, Video

Ethanol-Fueled NASCAR Welcomed Back to St. Louis

John Davis

gateway1NASCAR racing, fueled by ethanol, is being welcomed back to the St. Louis area. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) says NASCAR returns to Gateway Motorsports Park with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on June 14, 2014.

National Corn Growers Association President Martin Barbre joined track owner Curtis Francois, NASCAR VP of Racing Operations Jim Cassidy, and American Ethanol spokesman and St. Louis native Kenny Wallace for the announcement.

“We have had great success utilizing the American Ethanol brand to educate the NASCAR Nation about the performance, economic and environmental benefits of corn-based ethanol over the last three years.” Barbre said. “This track sits in the heart of corn country so it will provide us another good opportunity to educate the public.”

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NASCAR, NCGA

Good & Quick Offering E15 to Iowans

Joanna Schroeder

Good_Quick Pump TopperGood & Quick located in Nevada, Iowa has begun selling E15 to 2001 and newer vehicles, making it the 11th registered E15 station in the state. In addition to E15, Good & Quick also offers E20, E30 and E85 for flex-fuel vehicle owners and biodiesel blends.

“Nevada-area residents will now be able to benefit from this low-cost, clean and green fuel option,” said Good & Quick Owner Charlie Good. “Offering E15 as a registered fuel gives me a niche in the market. Making E15 and other higher blends available means my station has more to offer than any other station in Story County. I chose to sell E15 because it gives my customers more fuel choices and it supports our local economy and nearby ethanol production.”

Good_Quick DispenserGood & Quick is located at 519 Lincoln Highway in Nevada. E15, a blend of gasoline and 15 percent ethanol, can be used by all 2001 and newer passenger vehicles, which account for about 85 percent of fuel use in the United States. In order to offer E15, a retailer must register with the EPA. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association assists retailers in the registration process to ensure they comply with all applicable federal and state E15 regulations.

“IRFA congratulates Good & Quick for making Iowa the nation’s leader in E15 retail stations,” said IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “With both corn and cellulosic ethanol production projects in Nevada, it’s only fitting that the town now has a registered E15 station. Good & Quick now offers a wide variety of ethanol blended fuels and biodiesel, giving Nevada-area motorists the cleanest, lowest-cost fuel choices available.”

biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Iowa RFA