Cellulosic’s First Community Advisory Panel to Meet

John Davis

The Nation’s first Community Advisory Panel (CAP) on cellulosic biofuels will meet early next week in Iowa. Officials from DuPont’s cellulosic ethanol facility in Nevada, Iowa will talk with more than 30 Central Iowa residents including business leaders, farmers, conservationists and educators Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Nevada’s SCORE Pavilion from 6:30-8:30 pm.

dupontcornstoverDesigned to provide an ongoing dialogue between DuPont and the surrounding community, the CAP will meet up to four times each year Dr. Mark Edelman, CAP Facilitator, has more than 32 years of experience as a professor of economics and extension specialist in agricultural policy analysis, community entrepreneurship, and economic development. Edelman also teaches an economic development course and serves as Community Vitality Center Director at Iowa State University. During this inaugural meeting, CAP members will discuss the panel’s goals and objectives, and a process for ongoing engagement with the new facility’s management team.

DuPont’s commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facility is expected to produce 30 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year after it comes online in the second half of 2014. The $200 million facility will be among the first and largest commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in the world. Corn stover is expected to be the main feedstock.

biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, News

Butamax Starts Biobutanol Retrofit on Ethanol Plant

John Davis

butamaxDelaware-based Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC has begun work with Highwater Ethanol LLC, to retrofit Highwater’s ethanol plant in Lamberton, Minnesota for the production of biobutanol. This Butamax news release says its cutting edge technology package will include the installation of novel corn oil separation technology, an important part of the full retrofit to biobutanol production.

Butamax CEO Paul Beckwith said “This is an important milestone for Butamax and its partners. We formulated a strategy to provide the most advanced technology to improve current biofuel production, offer better co-product profiles, and pave the way for near-term, large-scale isobutanol production. Today, our vision is becoming reality.”

Highwater Ethanol CEO, Brian Kletscher stated, “We investigated other options for corn oil recovery, but we had the advantage of seeing the Butamax system first-hand and we were impressed with what we saw. Not only was the production class leading, but the expertise Butamax assembled is unparalleled, including experts from BP, DuPont and Fagen. We are very excited to execute this stage and move to negotiations for biobutanol production.”

Commercial production is expected to start this winter.

biobutanol, Ethanol, Ethanol News

House Hears Debate on Wind Production Credit

John Davis

USCapitolSome pretty ill winds are blowing around Washington, D.C. these days, and some of those are directed at the wind energy industry. As I told you yesterday about what would come, Republicans launched their attack in the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on Energy Policy, arguing, according to this blog post from The Hill, that the production tax credit for wind farms is not worth the money being invested. They point to an analysis that shows a one-year extension of the tax credit would cost about $6.1 billion over 10 years. But Democrats on the committee argue it’s a bigger bargain than what we’re getting from the oil companies’ subsidies and tax credits.

“Big oil still gets subsidies even though just the biggest five oil companies … made a combined $118 billion in profits in 2012,” Rep. Jackie Speier (Calif.), the top Democrat on the subcommittee, said. “Oil and gas have received over $4.8 billion each year in government subsidies over 90 years.”

She added, “If you want to get rid of the PTC, then let’s get rid of all the subsidies for all the various forms of energy. We need to give as much support to clean renewable energy sources as we have provided and continue to provide for the fossil fuel industry.”

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) said that “the detractors of the wind industry are asking the government to pick winners and losers by removing federal subsidies for only one particular sector of the energy capacity, which is wind energy, but leaving all the other subsidies intact.”

The credit was extended at the beginning of this year as part of the deal to avoid sending the country over the fiscal cliff. But wind energy backers say now is the time to extend the credit for years to give the industry better stability and encourage more private investment and growth.

Government, Legislation, Wind

RFA, Growth Energy Call Out Big Oil’s Lies

John Davis

rfagrowthWhile a new poll from Big Oil tries to paint biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in a bad light, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy are trying to shine a little truth on the subject.

The poll from the American Petroleum Institute (API), aka “Big Oil,” tries to make it look like Americans don’t support the RFS and don’t want to use E15. But RFA points to another poll that shows 73 percent of Americans support the RFS, and three out of four Americans want a renewable fuels choice at their gas station… all coming while many are already using E15 where available.

fps13-dinneen“If Big Oil push polled any harder, they would have broken respondents’ arms to get the biased answers they sought. This poll is yet another insincere stunt concocted by API to attack the RFS and higher level ethanol blends. If you want to see scary numbers, just look at the outrageous profits oil companies are posting thanks to their monopoly on the fuel market. It is bad enough that Americans are held hostage to environmentally damaging, expensive oil,” stated Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.

Dinneen goes on to point out that ethanol is helping lower gas prices by $1 per gallon on average this year and last year. He adds that instead of scaring people, Big Oil should invest in the infrastructure to expand choice at the pump.

buis1Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis chimed in his agreement:

“The oil industry’s cycle of mistruth continues, how much longer can they attempt to deceive the public before the facts catch up to them? Higher blends like E15 are a choice – voluntary for the consumer and the retailer. And they are safe for all vehicles 2001 and newer. E15 has been the most tested fuel in our nation’s history. All the biofuels industry is asking for is the opportunity to compete in a fair and open marketplace.

Buis also countered API’s claims that biofuels are raising food prices, pointing out that, according to numbers from the World Bank, petroleum prices are the biggest driver in food prices. He invited consumers to get more of the facts at www.yourenodummy.com.

Biodiesel, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA

Florida Tow Truck Driver Looks to Hook Up Biodiesel

John Davis

westwaytowIn a sign of the growing trend for more entrepreneurs to go more green and save some green, I ran across this article about a tow truck driver in Florida who wants to run his fleet on biodiesel. This story from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel tells the tale of Westway Towing owner Craig Goldstein, who also has a side business, Oil Recovery Interests, collecting used cooking oil to sell to biodiesel refiners. Now, he wants to be the source of his own fuel.

No longer content with being the middleman, he wants to start a biodiesel plant at his location. He would use the biodiesel to fuel his fleet of 40 tow trucks and market it to others, he said.

“It’s environmentally friendly,” he said, adding that the federal government provides $2.50 in tax credits and renewable energy certificates for every gallon produced. “It’s the wave of the future.”

Turning used french-fry oil into truck fuel sounds like something out of Back to the Future, says employee Deron Key, recalling when Christopher Lloyd’s character, Doc Brown, returns from the future and is able to use banana peels and other garbage to fuel his time-traveling DeLorean.

“That’s what I see. That’s awesome,” said Key, who found out about the operation after being hired to paint some of the tanks.

Goldstein, who already has the biodiesel brewing equipment, just needs approval from city commissioners, who have already indicated support. If he gets it up and running, he could brew up to 2,500 gallons of biodiesel a week.

Biodiesel

The Bull Riding Thrill

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is your favorite rodeo event?” It looks like the majority of you are most entertained by the bull riding. Maybe it has just that extra thrill to see a cowboy ride such a huge animal!

Our poll results:
• Bull Riding 48%
• Barrel Racing 19%
• Bareback Riding 10%
• Tie-Down Roping 10%
• Team Roping 5%
• Steer Wrestling 5%
• Other 5%
“Wild Horse Race”
• Saddle Bronc 0%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is there a difference between animal welfare and animal rights?” Which term is the best to use do you think? Or do they mean the same thing? Let us know!

ZimmPoll

New Facility to Turn Ethanol Byproduct into Bio-Resin

John Davis

bio-res1A Nebraska-based company has expanded its operation to turn an ethanol byproduct into a bio-based resin additive. Composites World reports Laurel BioComposite LLC held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which will crank out 7 million pounds annually of its trademarked Bio-Res PE.

Tim Bearnes, CEO of Laurel BioComposite, was on hand to welcome special guests Gov. Dave Heineman, Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development and Mayor Mark Patefield. “We held the event to celebrate some important milestones,” says Bearnes. “It also gave us the chance to thank a lot of people that supported our project from its inception and believe in our future.”

Laurel BioComposite’s mission Bearnes explains is to produce Bio-Res PE products from a renewable resource. “Our product replaces a portion of traditional plastic resins and creates a positive environmental impact by reducing the industry’s reliance on crude oil,” he says. “It remains our goal to cost-effectively manufacture a quality bio-based product. We don’t make the plastic. We make the plastic greener.”

The new production line converts feedstock into a powder for thermoset applications or master batch pellets for use in thermoplastics applications such as injection molding.

A second phase currently underway will expand the company’s annual output to 48 million pounds. The products made from Bio-Res include shipping materials, lawn and garden, agricultural and automotive products.

biochemicals, biomaterials, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News

New GM Trucks to Offer CNG, Biodiesel Options

John Davis

2015silverado1General Motors is offering some pretty clean options in a couple of its 2015 pickup trucks. This story from NGTNews says the latest Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickup trucks will have compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system options, as well as being able to run on B20 biodiesel.

“Because HD customers tailor their trucks to their specific needs, the 2015 Silverado and Sierra will offer a choice of three fuels – gasoline, diesel [including up to 20 percent biodiesel] or compressed natural gas,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer for trucks, during the vehicles’ unveiling at the State Fair of Texas last week.

The standard engine in both the Silverado HD and Sierra HD is GM’s 6.0-liter Vortec V-8. Customers can select a bi-fuel version of this engine that uses either CNG or gasoline.

“And you can now get CNG capability in all three cab configurations – regular, double and crew cab – and on both 2500 and 3500 models,” Luke said.

The American-made trucks running on the American-made fuels will be able to do the heavy lifting truck customers demand, featuring a payload of nearly 7,400 lbs. and a conventional trailering rating of 19,600 pounds. The Duramax diesel engine, capable of running on B20, comes in the beefy 6.6-liter, 397 hp/765 lb.-ft. size.

Biodiesel, Car Makers, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

NE Corn Board: Calculate Cost Per Mile with E85

John Davis

E85 Price in Des Moines Iowa 9-4-2013Prices at the pump for E85 ethanol are substantially lower than regular gasoline or even other mixes of ethanol. But with the lower price, sometimes you sacrifice mileage. But as this story from Nebraska TV says, the key word is sometimes.

As gas prices rise, the cost of E85 has become even more attractive to [flex fuel vehicle] owners despite the lower MPG rates.

“When you are filling up your flex fuel vehicle, look at the price of E10, E30, E85 and other ethanol blends to save money. Even with the reduced mileage of E85, it may still be economical for flex fuel vehicles to use E85 and other ethanol blends,” said Don Hutchens, executive director for the Nebraska Corn Board.

He recommends that drivers calculate your cost per mile rather than just looking at as reduced miles per gallon as the cost can often offset the lower MPG rates.

The article goes on to point out that one out of every 10 Nebraskan drivers have a flex fuel vehicle.

corn, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Production Down Slightly, Consumption Up

John Davis

eiaNumbers from the government show ethanol production is down slightly during the first six months of the year, but consumption of the green fuel was up during the same period. Ethanol Producer Magazine reports U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) figures show production at 6.419 billion gallons of ethanol, slightly off from the 6.893 billion gallons for the same period a year earlier. The upside is consumers seem to be using more ethanol.

During the first half of the year, the U.S. consumed 6.482 billion gallons of ethanol, up from 6.407 billion gallons during the first six months of last year.

Net imports for June were -170,000 barrels, compared to -535,000 barrels in May. During the first half of 2013, net imports measured -2.801 million barrels, compared to -8.375 million barrels for the same period of 2012.

The most recent ethanol production numbers from Sept. 20 show an average of 832,000 barrels per day.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government