Energy Efficiency Programs and the Farm Bill

Joanna Schroeder

b_farmlaptopCongress is on vacation until September and while they are spending some time away from Washington, D.C. industries who need a farm bill passed are still working to not only a long-term bill passed, but one that keeps energy programs in tact and with funding. Yet the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) notes that many people don’t really understand what programs are in the bill nor what energy programs the United States Agriculture Department (USDA) oversees and funds to improve the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

This need spurred ACEEE to release a new white paper, Energy Efficiency Opportunities at USDA.” The white paper outlines the main programs at USDA that provide funding that can be used for energy efficiency. Some are more well-known as energy efficiency programs, like the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Others haven’t been used for energy efficiency in years. These programs, says ACEEE, make up a toolkit that the energy efficiency community should keep in mind when working in rural areas.

You can access the free white paper here.

energy efficiency, Renewable Energy

New Fuel Cell Technology Cuts Fuel Use

Joanna Schroeder

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) recently demonstrated some of its new technology for tactical generators designed to cut fuel use nearly in half compared to diesel system currently powering forward-operating bases.

According to a post on the Navy’s website, the Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell Tactical Electrical Power Unit’s goal is to reduce the need to transport fuel around the battlefield, especially SOFCin dangerous locations like Afghanistan. The solid-oxide fuel cell produces electricity through a chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The ONR says a key component to the new system is a small reformer inside the unit that converts high-sulfur military fuels-such as JP-8 jet fuel- into a hydrogen-rich gas capable of use in the fuel cell. Previous systems required heavy maintenance to operate with such fuels.

“This technology goes right to the heart of the Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Strategy,” said Dr. John Pazik, director of ONR’s Ship Systems and Engineering Research Division in the article. “Using less fuel ultimately means fewer convoys and more lives saved.”

The power unit decreased fuel consumption by up to 44 percent compared to a similar-sized 10 kilowatt generator now being used by the Army and Marine Corps during a June demonstration at the Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In addition to an easy-to-deploy modular and compact design, the new technology allows for near-silent operation. Instead of the roar of a diesel generator, the fuel cell unit’s cooling fan produces a sound similar to the quiet hum of a refrigerator or air conditioner.

“Many useful power and energy technologies have been developed in the last decade,” added Jack Taylor, associate director of ground and sea platforms in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. “We are now at the tipping point to start packaging and deploying these.”

Funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the development of the fuel cell generator was the result of collaboration within the DoD Energy and Power Community of Interest, which brings together the four military services on a variety of energy and power programs.

Alternative energy, Hydrogen, military

Free Fuel Happy Hour at Sturgis

Joanna Schroeder

During this year’s Sturgis event in Sturgis, South Dakota, bikers from across the country who were staying at the Buffalo Chip Campgrounds were treated to free ethanol-blended fuel compliments of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

The “Free Fuel Happy Hours” promotion enabled motorcyclists to fill their tank, free of charge, with 93 octane E10 (10 percent ethanol). This high octane fuel was not available in the area, and was brought in specifically for the event. The Free Fuel Happy Hours spanned three days – August 6-8, 2013 – from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

During the event, RFA discussed ethanol blended fuel with riders and also heard some great feedback. Michael Price from Long Beach, Washington, said that he has the 93 octane ethanol blend in his hometown and has been using it for years. He said his engine runs great and he never had any trouble with the blend.

Ethanol urfa-sturgis-13-14se in motorcycles is not limited to the U.S. – a biker from New Zealand stopped by to fill up his Harley and said ethanol worked well for him.

You can hear what several riders had to say about ethanol in this audio clip. Free Fuel Happy Hour at Sturgis
2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Motorcycle, RFA, Sturgis, Video

REAP Funding Announced

Joanna Schroeder

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced funding for 631 projects across the country – including 45 in North Carolina – that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and costs, use renewable energy Vilsack in Amestechnologies in their operations and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy projects. Grant and loan funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

With this announcement, USDA is committing to more than $21 million in energy projects nationwide. Despite budget uncertainties, USDA remains focused on strengthening the rural economy.

“As part of the Obama Administration’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy, USDA continues to work with America’s farmers, ranchers and rural businesses to help them save energy and improve their bottom line,” Vilsack said. “This program and others like it would not be available without a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill, and again I urge members of Congress to pass a bill when they return to Washington next month.”

REAP helps producers reduce energy costs and increase production efficiency. Projects range from installing geothermal systems to adding anaerobic digester systems to installing solar panels.

Under the terms of REAP, up to 25 percent of an eligible energy production or conservation project can be funded through a grant, and additional support can be provided in the form of a loan. Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped fund nearly 7,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide.

Agribusiness, biodigester, bioenergy, energy efficiency, Renewable Energy

In the Land of Oil, Biodiesel Making Inroads

John Davis

UAEflagYou would think that in a country awash in petroleum, biodiesel just wouldn’t stand a chance. But here’s another story of biodiesel making some inroads in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. The Post & Parcel reports that TNT Express is trying out biodiesel in its vehicle fleet.

The global integrator’s commercial vehicles in Dubai will use a kind of diesel that has 5% used cooking oil blended with the petroleum-based diesel.

The so-called B5 Biodiesel is supplied by local firm Lootah Biofuels, a subsidiary of Dubai-based SS Lootah Group.

TNT Express said using the alternative fuel would help reduce the amount of used cooking oil requiring disposal, and also cut carbon emissions compared to conventional diesel.

The company said its project with Lootah Biofuels would cut carbon emissions by about 32 tons each year.

This comes on the heels of last month’s story about how Del Monte in the UAE is using used cooking oil from McDonald’s made into biodiesel by Dubai-based Neutral Fuels.

Biodiesel, International

Biodiesel Buses Take American U. Students to Class

John Davis

AU shuttle1Students at a major Washington, D.C. university will be breathing a little easier on clean-burning biodiesel shuttle buses. The National Biodiesel Board says American University will run three new biodiesel-powered shuttle buses as students come back to campus this month.

“The new design is the perfect opportunity to showcase our shuttles in a way that also highlights our commitment to the education process and our branding for the university as well,” said Mark Feist, AU’s assistant director of grounds, vehicle maintenance and support services.

AU transitioned to biodiesel for its entire diesel fleet in December 2012, after obtaining an on-campus 1,000-gallon storage tank.

NBB went on to mention how the Nation’s nearly half a million school buses and the environment could benefit from the transportation running on biodiesel, not to mention the cleaner air more than 25 million students could be breathing every day. Many colleges, universities and school districts around the country are already using the green fuel to power their fleets. More information from NBB on biodiesel buses is available here.

Biodiesel

Government Lowers Cellulosic Biofuels Targets

John Davis

eiaIn the wake of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issuing its final rule for the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the government revised down targets for cellulosic biofuel use this year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports the new rule sets a 6 million gallon target for cellulosic biofuels use in 2013, less than half what was proposed just six months ago… and well below the 1 billion gallon target specified in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007:

By law, EPA can lower the required volumes of advanced biofuels and total renewable fuels by up to the amount that it reduces the required volume of cellulosic biofuels. EPA chose not to reduce the advanced biofuels and total renewable fuels targets for 2013, leaving the required volume of total renewable fuels in 2013 at the 16.55 billion gallons specified in EISA 2007. However, the final rule states that EPA anticipates the need to adjust those targets for the 2014 RFS program year, for which EISA 2007 specifies a total renewable fuels target of 18.15 billion gallons. EPA’s forthcoming notice of proposed rulemaking for the 2014 RFS program year will provide further information.

As discussed in previous TIE articles, a May 2013 letter from EIA cited in EPA’s final RFS rule, and recent testimony by EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski, production of cellulosic biofuels has grown at a much slower pace than envisioned in EISA 2007. The RFS consists of four nested volumetric targets for specific types of biofuels. By 2022, EISA 2007 specifies a 36 billion gallon target for total renewable fuels in transportation fuel, including 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels, of which 16 billion gallons are cellulosic biofuels.
EIArfs
The EIA goes on to say that some parts of the RFS have been hard to implement because of lower-than-anticipated gasoline consumption, as well as issues with the E10 blend wall and using higher blends in current vehicles and infrastructure.

biofuels, Cellulosic, Government

Growth Areas in Ag-Related Jobs

Talia Goes

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is the biggest growth area for ag jobs?”

Our poll results:

· Precision Technology 22%
· Management & Biotechnology 17%
· Agronomy 13%
· Biofuels, Engineering & Media 9%
· Advertising/PR 4%

If you are looking for a job in agriculture, or seeking to fill a position in your company or organization, check out AgCareers.com.

With the constant negative pushback from activists regarding the techniques and technologies being used to increase yields in both crops and livestock, our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question “How important are biotechnology and antibiotics for food production?”

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

In Center Ring: Biofuels Versus Big Oil

Joanna Schroeder

The National Conference of State Legislators kicked off in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday and today the group has invited Geoff Cooper with the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) along with Patrick Kelly of the American Petroleum Institute (API) to debate the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to Cooper, the invitation was extended because state legislators want to learn more about the program and how it affects its constituents throughout their states.

Biofuels v Big OilThe RFS, says Cooper, is one of the most successful, if not the most successful, energy policy the U.S. has ever legislated. Coupled with the rapid growth of the biofuels industry – biofuels have gone from around 2 percent of the fuel supply to 10 percent in a little over six years – the oil industry is now taking note of its lost market share and is now attempting to put their feet in the sand to keep from losing more.

While the biofuels industry continues to fight for the RFS while also educating consumers and legislators about biofuels and the success the policy is having, Cooper said the top priority of the industry right now is to expand the use of E15 and E85. E15 will get the industry over the so-called “blend wall” while higher blends such as E85 will enable all the fuel required by the RFS (36 billion gallons by 2022) to be blended with the fuel supply.

“I think a lot of people had written E85 off over the past several years, but we’re in an environment today where E85 prices are very competitive to E10 on a energy equivalent basis,” explained Cooper. “As a result, we are seeing renewed interest in E85, unlike anything we’ve seen in the last five to ten years. E85 sales are really jumping in markets where it is readily available and consumers understand it and there is some level of competition.”

Cooper is confident that the more legislators learn about now the RFS is working, the more supportive they will be in keeping the policy in place and moving forward.

Listen to my interview with Geoff Cooper here: Biofuels Versus Big Oil

Audio, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, RFA, RFS

Thailand Plans to Up Biodiesel Output, Mandate

John Davis

803531.aiThailand plans to crank out more biodiesel and increase the amount of the green fuel required to be in the mix. This article from Platts says the Southeast Asian country will increase biodiesel production targets from 5.9 million liters per day to 7.3 million liters per day by 2021. Right now, Thailand cranks out 2.8 million liters per day.

Plans to increase the country’s biodiesel production target — which has to be approved by parliament — comes as the energy ministry announced last week its target to roll out B10 biodiesel — a blend of 10% palm-oil based biodiesel and 90% diesel — nationwide by 2019.

Thailand currently has a B5 biodiesel mandate in place, where diesel sold at the pump is blended with 5% palm methyl ester. The government is aiming to roll out a B7 mandate in January next year.

“We’ve sent clear signals to car makers and oil traders in Thailand that we’ll proceed with higher biofuel content in the coming years,” Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said at an energy forum last Thursday, according to a report by the Bangkok Post August 9.

Thailand’s 13 biodiesel refineries are capable of producing 5.4 million liters per day but could double capacity if farmimg inefficiencies are reduced.

Biodiesel, International