A new 1.4-megawatt utility-owned fuel cell is now in full operation at Cal State San Bernardino. The commissioning of a Direct Fuel Cell DFC1500 power plant, a joint project with Southern California Edison, was recently completed. Now integrated into the campus’s central plant, the fuel cell is generating electricity to the utility grid with waste heat to the campus at no cost to the university.- Sasol and General Electric’s GE Power & Water have together developed new water technology that will clean waste water, while also providing biogas as a by-product for power generation. This new technology, known as Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Technology (AnMBR), will be further developed at a new demonstration plant at Sasol’s R&D Campus at its Sasol One Site in Sasolburg, South Africa.
- Abengoa has been selected by AES Gener, one of the leading energy companies in Chile, to develop a new reverse osmosis desalination plant for AES Gener’s Angamos power plant. The company will manage the engineering, construction and subsequent operation of the project which will have a total budget of US $26 million and will provide 19,200 m3/day of water for reliable energy generation for Angamos and third party clients.
- Ecotech Institute, the first and only school in the U.S. solely focused on renewable energy and sustainability, announced the appointment of David Needham as its new president. Needham will be responsible for implementing the vision and strategic direction of the school; ensuring student, graduate and employer satisfaction; and making sure all staff at Ecotech Institute meet the high expectations of Ecotech Institute students and its parent company, Education Corporation of America.
Renewable Energy Education Coming from NFU
Separating fact from fiction is the goal of a new curriculum from National Farmers Union (NFU) focusing on renewable energy. The curriculum will be made available free to organizations, schools, institutions and businesses that build cultural awareness and acceptance of renewable fuels.
“Renewable energy is fast becoming a way of life for millions of Americans,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Technological advances are delivering sustainable, reliable, and increasingly affordable sources of renewable energy. At the same time, Americans are curious about the economic and environmental costs of relying on fossil fuels.”
Lessons are available for use with students in high school grades 9-12, as well as separate lessons for both college and adult students. Each module contains three unique areas of focus, for a total of nine different lesson plans. The sessions are tailored to appeal to the specific audiences and use a variety of educational activities to engage students in the learning process. The lessons come with separate guides and resource sheets to assist teachers in understanding and implementing the curriculum.
The curriculum is available here or by contacting NFU Director of Education Maria Miller at mmiller@nfudc.org.
Biodiesel Part of New Jersey Environmental Award
New Jersey’s southernmost county has won an environmental award, thanks to its biodiesel efforts. Biodiesel Magazine says Cape May County picked up the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection certificate for its “voluntary and proactive measures to go beyond compliance in an effort to improve the environment and ensure a sustainable future.”
Use of biodiesel blends in county vehicles was one of the highlighted practices earning the county its environmental stewardship recognition.
“The County Public Works Department does not use herbicides or pesticides along the roadways and bridges,” said County Engineer Dale Foster. “We purchase products made from recycled materials such as garbage cans, paper products, etc.; new or remodeled buildings are designed incorporating sustainable construction methods; we utilize biodiesel fuel for vehicles, maintain compliance with environmental regulations such as those required by our storm water management permits; incorporate good housekeeping practices at the county fueling facilities; we purchase alternate energy powered vehicles; our litter abatement through the Clean Communities Program and use of ‘green’ or biodegradable cleaning products for housecleaning and parts cleaning.”
Cape May has 23 16-passenger fair-free vehicles running on a B5 blend that transport the disabled and elderly around the community.
More Argentine Biodiesel Headed for U.S.
The amount of Argentine biodiesel headed to the U.S. will double from year-ago levels. But the increase isn’t putting a damper on the domestic production of the green fuel. Bloomberg Businessweek reports 450,000 metric tons of Argentine biodiesel will arrive in the American market through December, more than double the year-earlier 221,000 tons.
“The U.S.A. has become the leading export destination for Argentine biodiesel,” Hamburg-based Oil World said. “A large part of the U.S. biodiesel imports is destined for re-export to African and Asian countries.”
U.S. biodiesel output rose to a record 128.3 million gallons in August, according to the most recent monthly data from the Department of Energy. Inventories of soybean oil used to make the biofuel fell to an eight-year low of 773,000 tons at the end of the 2012-13 season on Sept. 30, and supplies may slide further to 741,000 tons by the close of 2013-14, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.
Argentina’s annual biodiesel exports still will decline in 2013 to 1.224 million tons from 1.558 million tons a year earlier, Oil World said. Shipments to the European Union tumbled as the 28-country bloc made plans to institute anti-dumping tariffs on both Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel, the researcher said last month.
Argentina is looking at raising its domestic use mandate to a 10 percent blend to help make up for the EU blocking its biodiesel.
DF Cast: Is EPA Overstepping RFS Authority?
A leaked document from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard is causing some real consternation among advocates for ethanol. While it’s just a draft and has not even been officially released, there is already plenty of debate over the possible proposal, including whether the EPA is overstepping its authority granted under the RFS.
In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we speak with law and policy professor at the University of Illinois Jonathan Coppess, who says if the leaked numbers are true, EPA COULD be overstepping its bounds, as he outlines in a recent analysis. In addition, Coppess says ethanol advocates could actually get some help in a potential lawsuit over these RFS cuts, ironically enough, from a decision this fall that came in favor of the American Petroleum Institute. And Coppess also says there could be implications for other government policies, including the current farm bill under debate.
It’s a fascinating conversation, and you can hear more of it in the latest Domestic Fuel Cast: Domestic Fuel Cast - Jonathan Coppess, University of Illinois
Angst Over AP Article Grows
Today was the official release of the Associated Press (AP) article, “The secret, dirty cost of Obama’s green power push,” and the ethanol industry is outraged at the way corn ethanol was portrayed and by how Iowa farmer and retired Methodist pastor Leroy Perkins says his quotes were misrepresented. With the ethanol industry’s outrage gaining momentum, the AP responded by saying “he was certainly aware” of the story’s focus and that “those who were in the interview with him remember it entirely differently.”
Photo: Joanna Schroeder
“Maybe calling a Methodist pastor a liar is standard defense protocol for DC-based AP reporters, but in southern Iowa that’s an accusation we take very seriously,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “AP should own up to its poor reporting instead of doubling down on their misrepresentations. Just like the AP hit piece on ethanol, once again the AP doesn’t have its facts straight. IRFA contacted the others involved in the AP interviews in Wayne County and they stand behind Leroy. I doubt there is anyone not on AP’s payroll that remembers things their way.”
Also clearly upset by the article is the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) whose members are corn farmers, many who grow and sell their corn crop to local ethanol plants.
“Today’s controversial story on corn ethanol and land use appears to simply be based on a complete misunderstanding of modern agriculture generally and the Conservation Reserve Program specifically, but unfortunately, the problem is much deeper,” said NCGA President Martin Barbre.
“It is discouraging that the Associated Press appears to be following a political agenda which clearly targets our only renewable alternative to imported petroleum. Even the headline is a colorful but inaccurate indictment. – ‘The secret, dirty cost of Obama’s green power push.’ Secret? There are no secrets in how land is used, as their own reporting shows. Acres are tracked, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture guarantees a high level of transparency. No, these watch words ‘secret’ and ‘dirty’ show clearly that the reporters were sensationalizing the issue to a high degree, which is conduct unbecoming a true journalist,” he continued.
“The fact is, farmers are doing a better job every day of meeting the duel challenges of productivity and sustainability. Land use per bushel is down 30 percent and soil loss is down 67 percent since 1980. Thanks to renewable corn ethanol, we’re using 465 million fewer barrels of oil each year. Thanks to corn ethanol, rural economies are improving. And, yes, the air is getting cleaner. We have no regrets about these outcomes,” added Barbre.
Many in the industry point out that “AP’s standards say they ‘abhor inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortions’ yet they say the article contains each of these things. In addition, the biofuels industry is calling foul for not having even one corn ethanol producer interviewed for the article, and there are nearly 40 operational ethanol plants in Iowa.Read More
Wisconsin Biomass-Fueled Power Plant Goes Online
We Energies has brought its biomass-fueled power plant located on the site of Domtar Corporation’s Rothschild, Wisconsin, paper mill into commercial operation Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 after testing and commissioning activities were successfully completed. Wood, waste wood and sawdust are being used to produce up to 50 megawatts (MW) of 
electricity; steam provided by the plant is also supporting Domtar’s sustainable papermaking operations. In addition, Domtar’s use of the steam produced by the plant will help improve the paper mill’s energy efficiency and reduce overall emissions at the site by more than 30 percent.
“The addition of the biomass plant enables us to produce renewable energy on demand,” said Gale Klappa, We Energies chairman, president and chief executive officer. “That benefit is simply not available with solar or wind generation.”
The company’s renewable energy portfolio includes the state’s two largest wind developments – the 145-MW Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center in Fond du Lac County and the 162-MW Glacier Hills Wind Park in Columbia County. Together, these three projects are capable of delivering nearly 360 MW of renewable energy, enough to supply approximately 120,000 homes.
“These renewable energy projects, fueled by Wisconsin resources, were developed largely through the talents of Wisconsin companies and Wisconsin labor,” added Klappa.
More than 400 workers contributed to the construction of the biomass plant, which also will support approximately 150 permanent jobs in the region, including independent wood suppliers and haulers from northern and central Wisconsin who will secure waste wood for the project.
NASCAR Drives 5 Million Miles on E15
NASCAR has announced that during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Phoenix it surpassed more than five million competition miles across its three national series on Sunoco Green E15, a biofuel blended with 15 percent ethanol, made from American grown corn. The five-million-miles have been accumulated across practice, qualifying and racing laps dating back to 2011 when the biofuel was introduced.
“Fuel is fundamental to our sport and our teams demand performance without compromise,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “With more 
than five million miles of hard competitive driving across our three national series, Sunoco’s Green E15 renewable fuel stands up to rigorous racing conditions while significantly reducing our impact on the environment.”
In 2011 NASCAR entered into a partnership with Sunoco and the American Ethanol industry, launching its long-term biofuels program to reduce emissions of the fuel used across its three national series. The transition to the biofuel has reduced on-track carbon emissions and teams report an increase in horsepower.
“The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) joined the American Ethanol partnership with Growth Energy and NASCAR because we knew ethanol would perform and shine in a very public way. General awareness of ethanol and its benefits is extremely high with the tens of millions of fans who watch racing every week,” said Martin Barbre, NCGA president and Carmi, Ill. farmer. “Ethanol support has always been strong in corn production states, but now the knowledge of ethanol’s economic, environmental and energy security advantages are growing coast to coast.”
Since transitioning to the biofuel blended with 15 percent ethanol, American Ethanol says NASCAR has helped validate the fuel’s qualities and the positive environmental impact of ethanol in front of an audience of millions of NASCAR fans, helping shift attitudes and behaviors around the use of ethanol.
“This five million mile mark is yet another testament to Sunoco Green E15’s value as a fuel and a real validator of our product,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “You couldn’t ask for a tougher testing ground and Sunoco Green E15 stands up to the challenge each weekend and that’s good news for everyone who supports renewable fuels.”
BioEnergy Bytes
- NewWorld Capital Group, LLC has announced a strategic investment in Astrum Solar, a residential solar installer. NewWorld will also assume a seat on Astrum’s Board of Directors. NewWorld’s co-investors in the transaction were CCM US, LLC and Constellation.
- Mario Garnero, founder and Chairman of Brasilinvest, Brazil´s foremost merchant bank, and one of the key people on the launching of ethanol mass production project in Brazil, was invited by the Prime-Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu to be a speaker at the Bloomberg Fuel Choices taking place in Tel Aviv from November 12-13, 2013. Israel is on the forefront of research in biofuel and clean energy researches since it has established the world’s most ambitious target: to change its transportation system by replacing 60% of its oil consumption with new technologies by 2025.
- Alternative Fuels Americas, an advanced biofuels company, confirmed the extension of offtake agreements for the sale of over 3.7 million gallons of biodiesel, accounting for more than $14 million in potential revenues. The company has signed 4 offtake agreements for (1) two million gallons, (2) one million gallons, (3) 571,000 gallons and (4) 190,000 gallons, respectively. All buyers are based in Costa Rica.
- The Corbett Administration today awarded more than $3 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants to 33 companies, counties and organizations making the switch to compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or propane for medium to light-weight fleet vehicles. Abruzzo also announced that the second round of Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants opened on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 providing an estimated $11 million to help pay for the incremental purchase and conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds. The Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants are financed by impact fees paid by natural gas operators.
Xcel Continues to Attack Rooftop Solar
Xcel energy has been fighting the loss of market share through its efforts to curb rooftop solar in areas in Colorado. The Alliance for Solar Choice is striking out against the utility for disregarding consumer choice in what they call “an attempt to protect its monopoly status and inflated profit margins.” This would occur if Xcel were able to eliminate the fair credit customers with rooftop solar receive for delivering their excess solar energy to the grid.
Last week’s election results show that Xcel faces an uphill battle in trying to stifle rooftop solar and consumer demands for choice and independence on energy matters. On two separate votes related to Boulder’s effort to create its own utility, pro-municipalization positions outpolled pro-Xcel positions 2:1. Meanwhile Lafayette, Boulder, and Fort Collins all passed restrictions on hydraulic fracking.
“These results demonstrate a clear public desire for more choice, local control and more renewable energy,” said Meghan Nutting, Colorado resident and representative of The Alliance for Solar Choice. “Coloradans know last century’s fossil fuel status quo and a centralized monopoly doesn’t work for a 21st Century Colorado.”
According to The Alliance for Solar Choice in 2011 and 2013, Xcel spent more than $2 million telling the citizens of Boulder that the utility knows better than the community; yet they say, consumers are not buying it. Xcel is currently asking the Public Utilities Commission for permission to pay rates below market value to rooftop solar customers who feed electricity back into the grid. Xcel’s proposal would undermine a policy called net metering and prevent consumers from receiving fair credit for the rooftop solar power they produce. Net metering is in place in 43 states.
“We all should have the choice to produce our own power from the sun without being penalized,” said Nutting. “But Xcel wants to increase their monopoly over our power sources and eliminate this freedom.”
Xcel’s attempts to end net metering and rooftop solar align with a national playbook outlined by the utility’s own trade association Edison Election Institute (EEI) said The Alliance for Solar Choice. EEI’s January 2013 report “Disruptive Challenges” warns that increased consumer adoption of distributed solar will lead to “declining utility revenues, increasing costs, and lower profitability potential, particularly over the long-term,” and proposes efforts to eliminate or counter net metering. Utility monopolies across the country have responded with political force. Just this month, EEI disclosed that it spent more than half a million dollars over a ten-day period on anti-rooftop solar advertising in Arizona.