Greenbriar Capital Corp. has announced that it has commenced formal construction at its 80-MW Blue Mountain Utah wind energy site. Blue Mountain is a fully contracted 80 MW wind energy project holding a 20-year energy sales agreement with PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of Mid-American Energy Holdings Company, itself 89% owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Construction has been awarded to RMT, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin, a subsidiary of IEA Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, LLC of Chicago.- Canadian Solar Inc. has announced it is the supplier of 8.7 MW of its MaxPower CS6X Solar Modules to EOSOL Mexico. The ground mounted solar project is located in Durango, Mexico and represents Mexico’s second largest Photovoltaic project to date. The formal ribbon cutting celebration is scheduled for an unannounced date in first quarter of 2014.
- Aspinwall Coop in Manning, Iowa is now selling E15 to 2001 and newer vehicles, making it the 13th registered E15 station in Iowa. The retail station is located in Western Iowa at 516 West Street in Manning.
- Consumers Energy has been recognized for protecting endangered species and other wildlife at its 11 hydro generating facilities on the Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon rivers, both in Michigan. The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) awarded the maximum three-year Wildlife at Work recertification to the company for its wildlife enhancement projects.
Biodiesel Tested as Parking Heater Fuel
If you’re a biodiesel supporter caught in winter’s icy grip (oh, let’s say some Arctic destination such as Chicago), there’s some good news. Biodiesel Magazine reports the German biodiesel quality association, AGQM, and a maker of parking heater systems (devices that warm your vehicle’s engine before you try to start it) have tested biodiesel in the heaters for long-term oxidation stability.
“The results serve as basis for the continuing development of parking heaters fit for the operation with biodiesel,” AGQM stated. “Fuels intended for the operation of parting heaters must be of high quality which must then also be guaranteed for the post-summer time when frost sets in again.”
The biodiesel was stored under ideal, as well as real, storage conditions for nine months, blended with four conventional oxidation stabilizers in two concentrations each.
According to AGQM, sampling was carried out on a monthly basis and critical parameters such as oxidation stability, acid and peroxide numbers, and water content were determined. The results of the analyses show that additives significantly improve the fuel’s properties while the influence of the storage conditions is rather small.
AGQM plans to do more testing of biodiesel over the issue of deposits formed during evaporation.
Biodiesel Co. to Make Small, Medium Processors
A Canadian biodiesel maker that also makes an array of products and services for biodiesel fuel producers is buying the assets of another company so it can make small and medium sized refineries. Methes Energies International Ltd. announced it intends to buy the assets of OTC Energy Technologies Inc., which includes OTC’s technologies and knowhow in the conversion of several types of biomass into a chemical quality syngas which can be converted into renewable alcohols such as ethanol and methanol, renewable hydrocarbons such as jet fuel and gasoline.
The goal of the Company is to make small and medium size processors available to clients where large scale facilities are not feasible because of the typical high set-up costs associated with such projects, as well as the availability of biomass required to operate a facility. Methes believes that this acquisition will be a perfect match and will enhance its current technology portfolio. The focus of the Company will remain the same — to provide small and medium size solutions to clients involved in the alternative and renewable energy sector.
John Loewen, Vice President of Operations at Methes Energies said, “We are first and foremost a technology company, and we are proud to be adding to our portfolio this way… What we’ve seen at their small scale facility is truly amazing, and our goal is to quickly package and deploy turn-key solutions similar to our biodiesel processors.”
Paul Goodrow, President of OTC Energy Technologies Inc. continued, “What attracted us to Methes was their proven ability to turn innovative process designs into working, efficient production plants. We believe that the OTC technology has the potential to be a low cost producer of renewable and alternative fuels. And we believe that smaller, modular plants and low costs are not mutually exclusive… We look forward to working with Methes to rollout what we think will be a game changing business model.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
USDA Increases Corn Use for Ethanol
Despite the Environmental Protection Agency proposal to lower corn ethanol volume obligations for 2014 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), USDA’s December supply/demand report is predicting a 50 million bushel increase in corn use for ethanol next year. Ending stocks are now expected to total 1.792 billion bushels, down 5 percent from last month’s estimate.
The new report also calls for increases in exports, food and seed use but ending stocks will still be more than double a year earlier with this year’s record crop of just under 14 billion bushels. Prices are expected to average $4.40 a bushel in the current year, down significantly from $6.89 last marketing year.
GEA Names Winners of GEA Honors 2013
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has announced the winners for the GEA Honors, which recognize companies and individuals that have made significant contributions during the past year to advancing technology, spurring economic 
development and protecting the environment. The winners were selected in categories including Technological Advancement, Economic Development and Environmental Stewardship. Now in its third year, GEA also provides special recognition of companies and individuals who have made notable advances and achievements for geothermal energy.
“Even in a challenging environment, our GEA Honors winners represent the best in a growing industry. These geothermal leaders are trailblazers and should be praised for the headway they’re achieving for the entire sector,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell.
Technological Advancement – Awarded for developing a new, innovative or pioneering technology to further geothermal development: U.S. Geothermal’s 22 MW Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Power Plant:
Economic Development – Awarded for making a substantial contribution to the development of local, regional or national markets through the development of geothermal systems: GeothermEx.
Environmental Stewardship – Awarded for fostering outstanding environmental stewardship through the use of geothermal systems. This award is presented in conjunction with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) to Dale Merrick, Canby Geothermal.
Special Recognition – The Special Recognition Award is presented to individuals or companies for their outstanding achievement in the geothermal industry. GEA wishes to recognize the following individuals and organizations for their outstanding work and support for geothermal energy during the past year:
- Katherine Young and her team at NREL for their work on the Geothermal Regulatory Roadmapping effort;
- Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center in Reno Nevada;
- Authors Magnus Gehringer and Victor Loksha of the World Bank for the ESMAP Geothermal Handbook; and
- Cornell Team Erin Riley Camp, Sean Hillson and Jeff Tester for their help on GEA’s analysis efforts, particularly the Geothermal Externalities Paper.
GEA also recognized companies that have worked to bring new geothermal power on-line in the United States this year:
- Ormat for the expected completion of the new Don A. Campbell (formerly named Wild Rose) geothermal power plant.
- ENEL Green Power North America and Ormat for completing construction of the new Cove Fort power plant in Utah.
- Surprise Valley Electric Cooperative for their 3MW power plant in Oregon, which is expected to be on-line in early 2014.
- Gradient Resources’ Patua Geothermal Project:
Biofuel Industry: Need to Extend Current Tax Policies
A letter has been submitted to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees and signed by more than 60 advanced biofuel companies and four trade associations encouraging Congress to extend tax provisions set to expire at the end of December 2013.
The Advanced Ethanol Council, Advanced Biofuel Association, Algae Biomass Organization and Biotechnology Industry Organization delivered the letter to Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on behalf of 63 member companies, whose logos are included on the letter.
“The advanced biofuels industry is at a critical stage of development. The industry has made great strides in reducing the cost of production and developing first-of-kind technologies and bio-refining operations to deploy the most innovative fuel in the world. In a difficult financial market, we are now operating commercial plants all across the country and continue to make progress on dozens of additional projects in the final stages of development. As was the case with the conventional biofuels industry, these groundbreaking production processes can be replicated rather quickly once the technology is proven at commercial scale,” the organizations and companies wrote.
The industry says these credits are vital to the ongoing development of the domestic advanced biofuels industry and therefore further urged the members of Congress to extend current tax provisions for multiple years, to ensure stability in the marketplace.
The letter continued, “Accelerated depreciation allowances, technology specific deductions and production-related tax credits are currently offered to incumbent fossil energy industries on a permanent basis. As such, similar tax provisions made available to the advanced and cellulosic biofuels industry level the playing field with fossil fuels and are critical to our efforts to compete for project capital given that these types of incentives are available to our primary competitors.”
BioEnergy Bytes
- SCS Global Services has announced the successful certification of two companies utilizing biofuel-based technologies designed to advance the aviation industry beyond its dependency on conventional fossil fuels. The certifications, based on standards set by the Roundtable of Sustainable Biomaterials were issued to Beijing Shougang LanzaTech New Energy Science & Technology Co., Ltd, which earned sustainability certification for the conversion of waste steel mill gases to sustainable biofuels at the joint venture’s facility in China and PGF Biofuels, which received certification for the production of carinata, an oilseed crop ideally suited for use as a cleaner, lower-carbon fuel.
- China WindPower Group Limited (CWP) has announced that 70MW solar power projects wholly-owned by CWP have successfully obtained an additional RMB490 million of 15-year long term project loans from China Development Bank (CDB). To date, CDB has provided a total of RMB 1.23 billion of long term project financing to 5 CWP’s wholly owned solar power projects, a total of 150MW. The continuous support from CDB has provided a solid capital foundation for accelerating the solar power generation business to be the core business of the Group.
- PSEG has announced it is partnering with the NFL Environmental Program to provide the green power for Super Bowl XLVIII, the first Super Bowl held in the New York-New Jersey metro region. For every megawatt hour of electricity used to power the event, PSEG will purchase and retire one renewable energy credit (REC). REC purchases will include New Jersey solar renewable energy credits equal to a four week output of PSE&G’s Kearny Solar Farm. The remaining RECs have been purchased from Community Energy Inc., a certified Green-e Supplier, sourced from the Jersey – Atlantic City Wind Farm, New Jersey’s largest commercial grade wind farm.
- The metro Atlanta region is poised to become a global industry leader in clean technology in several key industry sectors, according to a new clean tech industry report released by the Metro Atlanta Chamber. The report reveals that metro Atlanta is home to 541 clean tech company facilities representing 30,605 jobs focused on clean technology. The report also shows Atlanta has clean tech strengths in top industry categories for employment and job creation, including energy efficiency; recycling and solid waste; smart grid; services, and products/materials. Those sectors represent areas for strategic growth in the future, along with solar and water technologies.
ACE to Host RFS Comment Webinar
The American Coalition for Ethanol has announced the grassroots ethanol organization will be hosting a webinar at 11:00 am CST on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 on how to make comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the proposed RFS rule for 2014.
“The individual and personal stories of grassroots ethanol supporters from all walks of life are critically important if we are to make strong and convincing arguments that the Administration is wrong to let Big Oil wreck the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Brian Jennings, executive vice president of ACE who recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to offer testimony during the recent EPA Hearing. “During the webinar ACE will provide tips for submitting persuasive comments to EPA, the rationale for engaging Congress in the comment period, and ways to build grassroots support in your communities in support of the RFS.”
In addition to Jennings, other webinar participants will include ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty and ACE’s Washington D.C. advisor, Jonathon Lehman. For information on how to register for the webinar, contact Shannon Gustafson with ACE by emailing her.
Greenleaf Hits 1 Million Gallons of Biodiesel
Connecticut-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.
Whole Energy Opens Biodiesel By-Product Refinery
A 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.