Legislation Would Save $65B In Energy Costs

Joanna Schroeder

According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), proposed bipartisan energy efficiency legislation has the potential to save the nation billions while creating domestic jobs and reducing energy waste. The Energy Savings & Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013 (S. 1392) was introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and is pending floor consideration when the Senate returns from recess.

“Energy efficiency is an excellent, bipartisan and affordable way to immediately grow our economy and create the kind of jobs the 21st century economy demands,” said Senator Shaheen. “The bipartisan energy efficiency plan Senator Portman and I have introduced will help address our country’s energy needs in a way that boosts our economy and also saves taxpayers dollars.”

The ACEEE analysis looked at the impacts of several provisions in the bill as well as a group of related amendments under consideration. These provisions cut government and industrial energy waste and help homeowners finance energy efficiency improvements, among other energy-saving measures. ACEEE found that the proposals being considered could, in combination, save consumers and businesses over $65 billion on their energy bills by 2030.

ACEEE New Jobs EstimateThese savings also translate into a stronger economy says ACEEE. Consumers who save money on their energy bills can reinvest this money to buy goods and services where they live, stimulating their local economies. The energy efficiency measures proposed by the legislation would also help create new jobs. Altogether, these provisions would support an estimated 152,000 new jobs in 2025, increasing to 174,000 jobs by 2030.

In addition to providing economic benefits, the provisions would prevent unnecessary electric generation and natural gas consumption. Energy savings from these provisions would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 676 million metric tons by 2030.

“The Senate should act quickly to pass this important legislation,” said Steven Nadel, ACEEE executive director. “The provisions we analyzed have the power to save consumers money, stimulate the economy, and protect the environment.”

Energy, energy efficiency, Legislation

Rothes II Wind Farm in Scotland Powers Up

Joanna Schroeder

Fred. Olsen Renewables (FOR) has announced that the Rothes II Wind Farm in Scotland has commenced operation. The wind farm has an installed operational capacity of  41.4 MW, equivalent to generating enough electricity to power over 20,500 homes.

Rothe Wind Farm Photo Credit- Kevin MouldThe project is located adjacent to the existing Rothes Wind Farm, 20km south west of Elgin and consists of 18 x Siemens 2.3 MW turbines. The operational site takes FOR’s onshore operational portfolio to 430.5 MW, representing 7 percent of the UK’s total onshore installed wind capacity or 11 percent of Scotland’s onshore installed wind capacity. A further 60MW of wind energy is either under construction or due to shortly enter construction.

FOR’s overall strategy is to participate in projects from an early stage. The company is involved in site selection, planning and construction and aims to operate the projects over their lifetime. For this project, FOR has appointed Natural Power to provide operational services on the site including 24/7 control room services, NP/ControlCentre.

David Brunt, CEO at Fred. Olsen Renewables, said, “We are very pleased to confirm that Rothes II Wind Farm construction has now concluded successfully and the site has entered into operation. Rothes I and Rothes II provide a combined installed capacity of almost 100 MW which alone represent 2.5% of Scotland’s total onshore wind capacity, helping to meet the country’s ambitious renewable energy targets.”

These projects affirm the company’s position as the UK’s leading Independent Renewable Power Producer.

Electricity, International, Renewable Energy, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFShow Me Ethanol has become a member of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The ethanol plant is located in Carrollton, Missouri, with a 55 million gallons per year capacity, 38 employees, and more than 500 investors. The company produces ethanol along with high protein livestock feed and corn oil. They broke ground in March of 2007 and began production in May 2008.
  • Verenium Corporation has announced that Jeffrey Black, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investment Conference. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 10:50 a.m. ET on Tuesday September 10, 2013 at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York City.
  • Gevo, Inc. has announced that Greg Roda has joined the company as Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Roda will be responsible for all business development activities for the Company.
  • SolarCity is providing solar electricity directly to the town of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. SolarCity has provided the town with more than 10,000 solar panels, and the town pays SolarCity for the electricity the panels produce at a discount to its local utility rates. At 2.45 megawatts of generation capacity, East Bridgewater’s project is among the largest solar installations in Massachusetts. The solar panels are expected to produce more than 3 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year–enough power to supply about 350 homes. The town is expected to save as much as $2 million on energy costs over 25 years.
Bioenergy Bytes

GRFA: Leave RED Alone

Joanna Schroeder

The European Parliament will begin its fall session soon, and the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is calling on the members to vote against any changes to the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). GRFA says the proposed changes are based on unproven theories and will restrict the biofuel industry’s critical access to transportation fuel markets, negatively impacting the economy and environment.

Biomassa-Jatropha-plantThe GRFA and its largest members sent a joint letter to Parliamentarians outlining how the proposed changes to the Directive will severely hamper the tremendous economic and environmental potential that comes with developing the biofuels industry.

The RED in its current form is ground-breaking legislation that is being used to shape future biofuels policies in the European Union and around the world. It helps establish crucial investor confidence, says GRFA, that plays a major role in the development of the European biofuels industry. In addition, the Directive includes requirements that guarantee that only biofuels produced in a sustainable manner are part of the European Union energy mix and will help bring advanced biofuels to full commercialization.

The GRFA supports the sustainable development of biofuels and encourages the development of science-based research that advances the industry and continuously improves the GHG footprint of our fuels. In its letter, the GRFA criticizes proposals to impose criteria such as Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) on biofuels and warned Members about voting in favor of changes based on unproven theories and flawed scientific work.

“Although the RED is a European mandate, it is a model for programs around the world and will have a significant impact on the future of the global biofuels industry,” said Baker. “The proposed amendments before Parliamentarians are extremely short sighted and would only serve to increase Europe’s reliance on crude oil and increase GHG emissions,”

“Hurting a growing biofuels industry that employs millions and contributes billions is reckless when the economy is struggling to recover,” concluded Baker.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, International

IRFA: Big Oil’s Ethanol Lies Don’t Pass Sniff Test

John Davis

Iowa-RFA-shawSURPRISE! Big Oil is spreading lies about ethanol, trying to compare the fuel to Canadian tar sands! I know you could just die from a lack of surprise on that one. But no surprise, the folks at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are not taking it lying down.

“The truth must be that, for whatever weird reason, [oil companies] raise more money attacking corn ethanol than they do attacking the Canadian tar sands,” fired back IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw during the recent groundbreaking of the Quad County Corn Processors biorefinery in Galva, Iowa, ticking off how the tar sands use more water, produce more carbon and greenhouse gases, and take more energy to mine and ship the tar sands than corn ethanol. “To compare that to corn ethanol is just ridiculous. It does not pass the sniff test.”

Monte added that the Quad County Adding Cellulosic Ethanol (ACE) project, where a cellulosic processor has been bolted on to an existing ethanol plant, makes Big Oil nervous. Projects like this one are bringing out desperation in the oil companies, pointing out how more cellulosic plants are scheduled to come online in the coming months… and that means that much more share of petroleum’s monopoly on your gas tank will be going away.

“Big Oil has lost 10 percent of its market in gasoline to ethanol. They do not want to lose another 5 percent,” pointing out the billions of dollars on the line. Monte went on to say don’t underestimate just what oil companies will do to preserve their stranglehold on your wallet. “They’re wrong, but they’re not stupid.”

Monte went on to make sure that people know the truth when they hear the oil companies’ lies.

“We just have to work through all those falsehoods put out by Big Oil.”

You can hear Joanna’s interview with Monte here: Monte Shaw, Executive Director IRFA

Visit the Quad County Corn Processors “ACE” Groundbreaking photo album here.

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

U. Tenn. Develops Biodiesel Contamination Detector

John Davis

zilingxue1Researchers at the University of Tennessee have developed a biodiesel contamination detector. A news release from the school says the device, which can detect trace amounts of contamination, is the work of chemistry professor Ziling (Ben) Xue and doctoral student Jonathan Fong.

“The ability to detect biodiesel at various concentrations in diesel is an important goal in several industries,” said Xue. “There is particular concern over biodiesel contamination in jet fuel, because at higher levels it can impact the thermal stability and freezing point of jet fuel leading to deposits in the fuel system or gelling of the fuel. These issues can result in jet engine operability problems and possible engine flameout.”

Xue and Fong tested several dyes and found that the dye Nile blue chloride, dissolved in alcohol, can be made into a thin film with high sensitivity toward biodiesel contamination in jet fuel. They tested small strips of the sensor and found it could successfully detect amounts of biodiesel contaminant in diesel as low as 0.5 parts per million—ten times below the allowable limit of 5 ppm in the US—in less than thirty minutes.

The researchers point out the need for a quick and easy, direct way to detect biodiesel contamination because of the increasing safety needs in the vehicles biodiesel goes into. The new sensor can be used in a field-ready, portable reader.

Biodiesel, Research

Biodiesel Hits Big in Big Apple

John Davis

nbb-logoBiodiesel becomes the new King of Queens… and all the other buroughs of New York City… as a mandate is signed into law that requires all city vehicles to soon use a biodiesel blend. This National Biodiesel Board news release welcomes the news for the largest municipal fleet in the country.

A broad bill to reduce the emissions of pollutants from City vehicles includes several measures focused on biodiesel. Mayor Mike Bloomberg signed the bill [Wednesday] to mandate all city diesel vehicles use fuel blended with biodiesel. The new law requires a fuel blend of 5 percent biodiesel (B5) by 2014, and of 20 percent (B20) by 2016, during the warm weather months. The bill also calls for the City to conduct a pilot program to study the feasibility of using B20 year round.

“We have an obligation to leave our city – and our planet as a whole – better than how we found it,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn when the bill passed. “To this end, the Council has passed ground-breaking legislation to reduce our carbon footprint. Today, we continue in our efforts to make New York City cleaner and greener than ever before.”

New York City Councilman James F. Gennaro, honored by the National Biodiesel Board with the 2011 Clean Energy Leadership Award, sponsored the bill. “I am proud to have been an early supporter of the expanded use of biodiesel fuels that have created an entirely new green industry based right here in New York City employing hundreds of people,” said Gennaro. “Together with the crucial backing of New York City Council Speaker Quinn, we’ve proven that environmentally sound policies that have a net positive effect on the health of millions of New Yorkers are great job-creators.”

The city fleet has nearly 8,000 diesel vehicles, almost all of them already using biodiesel blends in important roles, such as Central Park management, snow removal and garbage collection. When the blends go up to B20, it’s expected to add up to 2 million gallons of biodiesel use annually.

Biodiesel

Illinois Governor Supports More Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

fps13-govDuring a stop at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois last week, Governor Pat Quinn was asked about his support of ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard.

“I drive a car that believes in renewable fuels and I think it’s important for the governor to get the word out that we have to not be dependent on foreign potentates for our oil,” Quinn told reporters. “We have lots of opportunity in our own backyard to grow our own fuel.”

The governor would like to see more E15 fueling cars on the road. “We’d like to move it up to E15, that will help our Illinois farmers and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Quinn.

Listen to Governor Quinn’s support of ethanol: Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

Audio, Ethanol, Government, RFS

RFA: Facts Erode Big Oil’s Narrative

Joanna Schroeder

Congress is preparing to return to work and there are two issues top of mind: The FAARM Bill and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). During the break the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) took a look at some of the Big Oil’s summer arguments against ethanol and created a narrative around why these are not valid.

E85 Price in Des Moines Iowa 9-4-2013“While Congress has been away, much has happened to set the record straight on ethanol,” explained Bob Dinneen, RFA’s President and CEO. “Rising gas prices have made the value proposition of ethanol compelling for consumers. Indeed, drivers turned out in large numbers over the summer to purchase record volumes of low cost, renewable E85. Academics and government officials spoke out on successfully scaling the blend wall.”

Dinneen also noted that the growing potential for a bin-busting harvest has undermined the food vs. fuel canard, and USDA’s data has proven food inflation is not being driven by ethanol and the RFS. “Slowly, but surely, Big Oil’s heavy handed scare tactics are eroding under the weight of honest data and consumer demand,” he said.

“By the way, in case you missed it, Summer 2013’s “Best Beach Read” award goes to the API/AFPM for their 2014 RFS waiver request,” continued Dinneen. “It has everything, except legal standing, that a fun breezy summer novel should have — futuristic fiction, scary twists and turns, and even a romance with monopolies. In return, RFA penned a compelling and critical review of the API/AFPM tome, laying bare the lack of legal and technical support for a waiver,” concluded Dinneen.

To read in full RFA’s review of the American Petroleum Institute (API)/American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) 2014 partial-waiver request click here.

RFA has released a brief “Big Oil’s Fiction vs. Fact” Below are a few of these issues that Big Oil has raised and the ethanol industry has defended.Read More

advanced biofuels, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, RFA, RFS, RINS

Offering Biodiesel Options to Ethanol Plants

John Davis

Ethanol producers are always looking to find ways to get more value out of their operations. Well, one company is offering ways for those plants turn more profits by adding on biodiesel. At the recent American Coalition for Ethanol’s (ACE) “Unite and Ignite” conference in Des Moines, Iowa, Joanna caught up with Bernie Hoffman with WB Services, a renewable energy company offering a wide variety of plant optimization packages.

WB Services1“We have a number of things that pay back in roughly a year or less,” he said, adding that the capital costs are not high, so payback comes quick.

WB Services has two big technologies that help add value to corn ethanol plants. One is a refining technology that produces renewable diesel that is a match for the ASTM 975 standard for petroleum diesel. The other is a process developed working with Novozymes to produce a biodiesel using an enzyme, as opposed to a traditional transesterification process usually used in biodiesel production. Both of these technologies take advantage of the corn oil produced by an ethanol plant and is intended for either stand-alone operation or, more likely, as a bolt-on with an existing ethanol plant.

“We’ve done both, but our focus has been the ethanol industry so we’ve designed around the bolt-on concept,” Bernie said, adding that the ease of integration really makes their technology the most attractive. Plus, he said since the process is feedstock agnostic, there’s a great variety of plants this works with. “Restaurant waste oil makes a very nice fuel; brown grease, which is typically a low-grade by-product of animal processing; yellow grease, which is an abundant feed stock in the market,” and more.

Bernie said from concept to running operation, it takes about 18 months for a renewable diesel operation but only about six months for a biodiesel refinery, with most of that six months waiting for EPA approvals.

If you’d like to know more, just check out the WB Services website.

Listen to Joanna’s interview with Bernie here: Bernie Hoffman, WB Services

Visit the ACE 26th Annual Ethanol Conference photo album.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol