Buffalo Chip Founder Loves Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman

Rod Woodruff Buffalo ChipThe founder and President of The Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground is Rod Woodruff. Here’s Rod after being presented with a special surprise during a dinner here at the Chip during the 2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Apparently his staff and friends had his motorcycle completely re-designed with a very cool look.

I visited with him just before the presentation and found out that the Chip had a record opening weekend. He says it just keeps growing. I know I’ve seen a lot more riders here than when I attended the event two years ago. When it comes to the sponsorship relationship with the Renewable Fuels Association he is very happy. Especially happy that RFA is supplying free 93 octane E10 for riders in the Chip.

You can listen to my interview with Woody here: Interview with Rod Woodruff

2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Motorcycle, RFA, Sturgis

Free Fuel at Sturgis Buffalo Chip

Chuck Zimmerman

Ride Safe Fuel RightRide Safe. Fuel Right.

Today and tomorrow motorcycle riders at the Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground can fill up for free. The Renewable Fuels Association is once again making a blend of 93 octane E10 gas available at the CrossRoads area of The Chip from 1 to 4pm. While riders get filled up they can talk with RFA staffers to learn what blends of ethanol can be used in their motorcycles and other engines.

I’m looking forward to talking with some of these riders and will be sharing their stories right here on Domestic Fuel.

2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Photo Album

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Motorcycle, Renewable Energy, RFA, Sturgis

USB Farmers Reminded of Role in Helping Biodiesel

John Davis

Soybiodiesel-bumper-sticker1Farmers with the United Soybean Board (USB) recently got a history lesson of how one of their products helped the biodiesel industry … an industry that is paying dividends back to those farmers in the form of better prices for their beans. AgriNews tells how during the USB’s See for Yourself program, those farmers heard from Steve Rober, Schaeffer Oil national sales manager, how their checkoff dollars helped the fledgling biodiesel industry take off:

Among other products, Schaeffer produces a diesel fuel additive designed to make engines run more efficiently. An ad in a trade publication touting the product — SoyShield — caught the eye of someone at the National Biodiesel Board.

Rober told the group that the biodiesel board was working on receiving federal tax incentives for biodiesel, which was much more expensive than petroleum diesel. The board wanted to go after the trucking market, but officials at Schaeffer recommended instead that the product be marketed to farmers.

“We took a product that was 50 percent petroleum, and we substituted biodiesel into that product and made the first biodiesel-based fuel additive in the country,” Rober said.

“The National Biodiesel Board used checkoff dollars to fund research and development of this. They did the research and got all the data to make claims that were verified by science.”

The article goes on to say that once that market was found, Congress started providing subsidies for biodiesel, making the green fuel affordable and giving the fledgling fuel the boost it needed. And that is paying off boosting a bunch of bottom lines for soybean farmers.

Biodiesel, Soybeans, USB

International Trade Key Topic at Ethanol Conference

Joanna Schroeder

International trade will be a key topic at the upcoming American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Conference in Des Moines, IA August 27-28th. Executive Vice President for the ACE, Brian Jennings, said that Doug Newman, who is an International Trade Analyst with the International Trade Commission (ITC), will be a good fit for the conference. “Doug brings ACElogotimely perspective on key issues such as EU anti-dumping duties and the important role export markets play for profitable returns on ethanol and distillers grains.”

Newman has covered a variety of industries and trade issues in his 34 years at the ITC. His current portfolio includes biofuels, sugar, confectionary and cocoa products. Doug was also responsible for calculating the CBI ethanol dehydration quote until its expiration at the end of 2011 and has worked to improve the accuracy of ethanol trade data. Doug has a BS in Economics and a MA in International Transactions, both from George Mason University.

“While our primary focus has been on developing the U.S. market for E15, E85, and mid-level ethanol blends, it’s also critically important to pursue ways to increase the size of the global market for ethanol and co-products. Doug’s presentation will shine light on the global opportunities and challenges for ethanol producers,” said Jennings.

He added, “Combined with other sessions such as Opportunities for Ethanol Producers to Reduce Carbon Intensity, RFS Pathways to Innovation, Co-Product Power: Diversification and the Financial Health of Today’s Ethanol Plant, and Taking Advantage of RINs in the Marketplace, we’re offering a diverse conference for ethanol producers, one that will arm them with information they need to be succeed today and well into the future.”

To view the conference agenda and to register, click here.

ACE, conferences, Ethanol

Emerging Markets in Geothermal Energy

Joanna Schroeder

During the Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting and GEA Geothermal Expo in Las Vegas from September 29-October 2, 2013 the international geothermal community will discuss emerging market opportunities and successes. One of the largest geothermal events in the world, last year’s event brought together more than 2,300 people from 39 countries and six continents to discuss the future of geothermal energy.

Geothermal EnergyMany recent reports show that geothermal energy is poised for tremendous global energy growth. Installed geothermal capacity is on track to surpass 12,000 MW globally by the end of the year in 25 countries, and over 60 countries are reported to have projects in development. Countries including Chile, Philippines, Japan, and Kenya have demonstrated impressive progress. Developers in these countries continue to secure financing, PPAs, exploration permits and leases or enter the construction phase of development.

Several sessions will focus specifically on international markets including:

  • Monday, September 30th (12:00 pm-1:30 pm): International Luncheon: A ticketed lunch focusing on geothermal development in Kenya.
  • Monday, September 30th (1:30 pm -4:45 pm): International Session: A series of speakers summarizing geothermal developments in international regions. Open to participants in the GEA Expo or GRC Annual Meeting.
  • Tuesday, October 1st (First Program: 10:00 am; Second Program: 2:00 pm): International Visitors Presentations: Informal presentations by international participants on business developments and opportunities around the world. Open to participants in the GEA Expo or GRC Annual Meeting.

“We are developing a program that reaches out to meet the needs of the international geothermal community. If you are in the geothermal business in Africa, Europe, the Pacific Region, or elsewhere, this is where you can do business, make connections, and meet companies with the latest technology,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell. “We expect participants will find the program content rich, timely and appealing.”

Alternative energy, conferences, Geothermal

Conference Gives Homebrew Biodieselers a Home

John Davis

CollectiveBiodieselConf1Of course, most people who follow renewable fuels are familiar with the National Biodiesel Board‘s annual conference and expo. It’s a great venue for some of the bigger commercial ventures, but for those who might be brewing up a few gallons in their garages, there’s a place just for them. This article in the Aspen Business Journal talks the Collective Biodiesel Conference, returning to Colorado this year and attracting some of the nation’s leading experts, researchers and innovators in the biodiesel industry.

[T]he conference … was first held in 2006 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden grew from a very humble beginning.

“There was no real conference for ‘home-brewers’ [of the fuel],” said Graydon Blair, one of the conference founders. “It was just a bunch of people on the internet talking about biodiesel.”

Blair, an expert in small-scale biodiesel brewing and president of Utah Biodiesel Supply, has been involved in the industry since 2003. He said the original conference grew from an idea he and three other biodiesel enthusiasts shared because the only other annual conference catered to larger commercial businesses.

“We wanted to share ideas on a small scale,” he said. “We wanted people to come to a central place and share ideas about biodiesel and what it does, and let others who are doing it share their stories.”

That tradition of sharing ideas continues Aug. 15-18 at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge. More information is available here.

Biodiesel, conferences

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFPOET Founder and Executive Chairman, Jeff Broin, was honored by Top Producer Magazine readers as the top brave thinker in agriculture over the last 30 years.
  • According to EIA data, ethanol production averaged 832,000 barrels per day (b/d) — or 34.94 million gallons daily for the week ending July 26, 2013. That is down 21,000 b/d from the week before and the lowest in 16 weeks. The four-week average for ethanol production stood at 861,000 b/d for an annualized rate of 13.12 billion gallons. Stocks of ethanol stood at 16.5 million barrels. That is a 4.7% decrease from last week. Imports of ethanol were 13,000 b/d, down significantly from last week. Year-to-date imports stood at 175.7 million gallons according to EIA weekly data. EPA expects 666 million gallons of imports will be needed to meet the 2013 advanced biofuel standard.
  • Kathryn Christensen, a Professor of Practice at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, will discuss trends in media reporting at the Nebraska Ethanol Board meeting on August 7th. The meeting is open to the public.
  • ICM has been issued Canadian Patent No. for its Advanced Oil Separation (AOSTM) System. ICM’s AOS technology employs both mechanical and chemical separation and delivers significant economic value to an ethanol plant by dramatically increasing a volume of non-food grade oil recovered from the plant’s process streams. AOSTM uses a centrifuge as a mechanical dewatering device to deliver a targeted emulsion concentrate stream for further processing by adding a polar solvent, ethanol, as an emulsion breaking-agent.
Bioenergy Bytes

Concord Pacific To Purchase 5 Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

Concord Pacific Energy has entered into an agreement with Canadian Solar Solutions to acquire five utility-scale solar power plants totaling 49 MW and valued at more than U.S. $277 million. Under the agreement, the five utility-scale solar power plants, located in Chesterville, Pefferlaw, Springwater, Sudbury and Wyebridge, Ontario, Canada, are canadian_solar_solutions solar projectexpected to start construction during 2013 and 2014 with commercial operation expected in 2014. Canadian Solar will provide turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) services to complete the projects and will provide operations and maintenance services after completion. BowMont Capital and Advisory acted as financial advisor to Concord on the transaction.

“Concord Green Energy is always looking at a variety of investment opportunities in green energy production to fulfill our mission of creating sustainable communities,” said Cliff McCracken, Senior Vice-President Concord Pacific. “Critical to our success in this area is finding and working with strong EPC partners who deliver high-quality projects that we can feel good about aligning with our brand. Canadian Solar has a reputation as a leading provider of solar energy solutions, making its projects attractive investments for our firm.”

The five utility-scale solar power plants will power approximately 8,713 homes. In addition, the installations will include approximately 236,000 Canadian Solar CS6X high-performance modules. The CS6X modules have been formally tested and awarded international certifications. The solar farms are expected to in total create more than 500 new jobs during the development and construction phases of all five solar projects.

“Concord shares our vision of creating renewable clean energy to power our communities,” added Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. “This agreement is a further example of Canadian Solar’s successful transition from a premier PV module manufacturer to a PV total solution provider and the agreement with Concord is expected to contribute to our success. Through a careful and focused approach, we have built an attractive pipeline of sought-after solar power projects in Canada and the U.S., and are pursuing growth opportunities in other key markets. We look forward to successful cooperation with Concord.”

Electricity, Energy, Solar

Illinois Biodiesel Terminal Re-Opens After Repairs

John Davis

ghc_tanker1Biodiesel deliveries started up again after repairs on a meter at the Buckeye Terminal’s Hartford, Ill., terminal. Biodiesel Magazine says the news was certainly welcomed by Gulf Hydrocarbon, the terminal’s biodiesel supplier.

“We applaud the Buckeye Pipeline terminal employees for obtaining the part so quickly and managing the repairs and proving of the meter,” [Jess Hewitt, president of Gulf Hydrocarbon] said. “Buckeye predicted the meter would be back in service by close of business on July 31 and they delivered us a proven meter fully functioning for high-speed deliveries.”

The terminal blends up to nearly 30,000 gallons of biodiesel a day.

Miscellaneous

Man Gets Five Years in Prison for Biodiesel Fraud

John Davis

Texas flagA Texas man gets five years for his part in defrauding investors to sink money into a biodiesel plant that never existed. The Houston Press reports that Kenneth Paul Lawrence was convicted on two charges for his role in raising money for a purported biodiesel plant and sentenced to five years for money laundering.

According to the [Texas State] Securities Board, “Lawrence was the proposed operator of the biodiesel plant, and received money from Greenway Energy Partners LLC, the managing partner of the energy project. Greenway raised more than $800,000 through the fraudulent sale of investments, and Lawrence received $265,000 of that total.”

The board also pointed out that “in 2003, the Texas Securities Commissioner entered an agreed cease and desist order that fined Lawrence for selling unregistered oil and gas securities, and ordered him to stop selling the securities. Lawrence has never been registered in Texas to sell securities.”

Lawrence also received a probated ten-year sentence for engaging in organized criminal activity.

Biodiesel