RSC Hearing One-Sided

Joanna Schroeder

Dont Mess with RFSThe Republican Study Committee’s Energy Task Force held an informational hearing discussing the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) on July 17, 2013. Speakers included representatives from the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Turkey Federation, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The event happened to occur two days after the American Petroleum Institute (API) launched an aggressive TV and print campaign to reduce the use of ethanol, the roll-out of E15 and end the RFS.

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen said of the hearing, “The Republican Study Committee event is nothing more than a one-sided pep rally for Big Oil and Big Food.”

Dinneen continued, “The RSC should be embarrassed by the lack of balance. Not a single representative from the ethanol industry nor a single national security, energy, environment, or auto expert who supports the Renewable Fuel Standard is participating in this event. The RSC is doing a disservice to the Republican Senators and Representatives who strongly support the RFS. Why is the RSC not giving these Republicans a voice?”

“The fact is the RFS was first enacted by a Republican House, Senate, and President. Does the RSC really believe Republicans who support the RFS, past and present, do not have the best interests of this great nation in mind when they move to make the U.S. more energy independent, more nationally and economically secure?” Dinneen concluded.

biofuels, E15, Ethanol, RFA, RFS

The Real Reason Government’s Plug EV’s

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new study by researchers at the Indiana University Bloomington School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the University of Kansas, contrary to common belief, many country’s promote the manufacture and sale of electric vehicles (EVs) for reasons of economic development, notably job creation, not because of their environmental benefits. 4798The study looked at policies related to EVs in California, China, the European Union (EU), France, Germany and the United States, political jurisdictions with significant automotive industries and markets for EVs.

“Billions of dollars are being invested despite doubts that some express about the viability of electricity as a propulsion system,” said John D. Graham, SPEA dean and co-author of the study. “The objective of many of these national and sub-national governments is to establish a significant position — or even dominance — in the global marketplace for these emerging, innovative new technologies.”

Examining each jurisdiction’s use of risk-management policies (e.g., those designed to reduce environmental and security risks due to oil dependence) or industrial policies (e.g., designed to boost fortunes of a specific technology or sector and increase market competitiveness) indicated the entire lifecycle of making and using EVs is viewed by policy makers mainly as an economic development opportunity. Specific findings include:

  • China: No carbon price has been established in China, where electricity is generated by high-carbon sources and fuel prices are relatively low; thus, its EV policies are geared toward establishing a competitive position in an emerging global EV industry.
  • Germany: The least committed to EVs of the jurisdictions studied, Germany is nonetheless engaging in an industrial policy of hedging to protect the market share and viability of its premium car industry should electric propulsion gain a foothold in the worldwide premium car market.
  • The European Union: The only entity studied that acts as a supranational regulatory state, the EU is also the only one where pure risk management related to EVs occurs. The EU appears to have a technology-neutral approach and has made some investments in research and development support for industry innovation.
  • California and France: California is the largest market for motor vehicles in North America. In addition, its considerable pollution problems, created largely from the automobiles in the 1960s and ’70s and particularly acute relative to other U.S. locations, make it an ideal market for EVs. Thus, it is motivated to promote EVs by a substantial blend of industrial policy and risk management — the same approach taken by France. Both California and France have made significant advancements in risk management policies, having the strongest voices among their peers for mitigating the effects of economic and industrial development that lead to urban air pollution, congestion and climate change.Read More
Alternative Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, Environment, Research

Biodiesel Board Welcomes RI Bioheat Mandate

John Davis

BioheatlogoFolks in Rhode Island will be staying warm in future winters with some help from Bioheat, a blend of biodiesel and heating oil. The governor of that state signed legislation to mandate a 2 percent blend requirement starting in July of 2014 with plans to expand that to 5 percent in 2017. The news was welcomed by the National Biodiesel Board and the state’s heating oil trade association:

“I commend the Oil Heat Institute of Rhode Island for not sitting back and waiting for change to come to them,” said Paul Nazzaro, who spearheads the Bioheat education program for the National Biodiesel Board. “They recognized Bioheat as the future of their industry that can reverse the contraction of their market, and they took control of their own destiny.”

Julie Gill, executive director and CEO of the Oil Heat Institute of Rhode Island, said getting the legislation passed took persistence and commitment.

“We’re proud that the Bioheat requirement has passed, because it will benefit not only our industry, but heating oil consumers in our state,” Gill said. “Oil heat systems run more effectively with a biodiesel blend, and Bioheat will help heating oil be more environmentally competitive. We will continue to work towards making our product the cleanest fuel available.”

Other states in that region have passed similar measures, but Rhode Island will be the first to implement a statewide Bioheat mandate.

Biodiesel, NBB

AAA Sets Record Straight on E15

Joanna Schroeder

This week the American Petroleum Institute (API) kicked off an new anti-ethanol and anti-biofuels TV and print campaign and in a commercial being aired in South Dakota, criticized the increased use of ethanol and E15 as a motor fuel. The 30-second commercials mention Triple A (AAA) and the organization has come out publicly and said the ads misrepresent their position on E15 and is calling for API to have the ads taken down.

“This commercial is the latest in a series of communications on social media and elsewhere which portray AAA as being “anti-ethanol.” This is not the case,” according to AAA’s statement. “AAA South Dakota remains a strong supporter of image002-2the development and use of alternative fuels such as ethanol. The auto club believes ethanol fuels provide motorists with a choice at the pump that promotes U.S. energy independence, supports American and South Dakotan jobs and can save the consumer money.”

The Senior Vice President for the American Coalition for Ethanol, Ron Lamberty, today is thanking Triple A and locally based ethanol supporters for speaking out against the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) new anti E15 campaign.

“We are pleased with the reactions to these inaccurate ads. I think what this shows is the amount of support here in the heartland of the nation for ethanol and higher ethanol blends like E15,” said Lamberty.

“We salute and thank our members and supporters of ethanol who called, emailed and texted their local AAA office to complain about the ads. To have an office state their support for ethanol within hours of the ad airing in this market indicates how much people want their choice at the pump and should indicate why Big Oil is running such a dishonest campaign. Let’s face it, people know the truth and they are starting to see through Big Oil’s lies on E15 and the Renewable Fuel Standard,” Lamberty concluded.

ACE, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, RFS

Iowa Grants Help Expand Biodiesel

Joanna Schroeder

Since 2006, 158 new biodiesel retail pumps and 48 terminal locations have opened around the state. The growth has been helped along by state grants managed through the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board. Iowa has several progressive biodiesel policies IowaBiodieselBoardLogoon the books, including this investment in the infrastructure needed for statewide distribution of cleaner burning biofuels.

“Iowa produces the most biodiesel of any state, yet surveys show 47 percent of diesel vehicle owners here do not know where to find it,” said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB). “This additional infrastructure helps biodiesel continue to become fully integrated into Iowa’s fuel supply.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program assists retail operators of motor fuel dispensing sites or fueling stations in the conversion of their equipment to allow for the expanded use of renewable fuels in Iowa. The 27 biodiesel projects in Fiscal Year 2013, which just ended, received funding totaling about $1.2 million.

Some examples of funded projects include Sapp Bros. Travel Center in Council Bluffs, STAR Energy (a division of Growmark) in Fort Dodge, and a Kum-and-Go in Ankeny, the hometown of IBB and the Iowa Soybean Association. Diamond Oil Co. used a $100,000 grant to open a heated terminal facility in Des Moines, which helps streamline the distribution process by offering pre-blended biodiesel to smaller distributors year-round.

“This program is good for Iowa because it empowers more consumers to use their own state’s products rather than importing our energy,” said Harold J. Hommes, program administrator with the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship. “We don’t have refineries or fossil fuels here, so money leaves the state to pay for those energy products. But if we produce those in a renewable manner here, we’re helping Iowa farmers and fuel producers, and then those dollars are multiplied throughout Iowa.”

The grants require matching funds. Petroleum distributors must commit to providing biodiesel blends for a set number years (usually five). Agricultural cooperatives are also eligible for the grants. This increases on-farm availability, a priority of IBB.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel

Double-Cropped Feedstocks Tested for Biodiesel

John Davis

AnokaRamseyCCA college in the Minneapolis, Minn., suburbs is testing whether double-cropped camelina could be a good alternative for biodiesel feedstocks. Minnesota Farm Guide reports Anoka-Ramsey Community College’s Cambridge Campus has a 24-acre double-crop plot of camelina and soybeans to see if the non-food camelina will produce enough oil in the double-crop environment.

“This is a true energy crop that isn’t used for food,” [Melanie Waite-Altringer, a biology faculty member who’s leading the project,] said. “In this project, we are ‘intercropping’ camelina with soybeans to see if the two crops can be grown together with high yields of each.” Planted in early May, the camelina should be ready for harvest in late July or early August. A harvest party is planned for July 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The soybeans, planted in early June, are expected to be harvested in September or October.

“We’re pleased that Anoka-Ramsey can play a key role in this project, which may well spur new economic development in the region,” said Deidra Peaslee, vice president of Anoka-Ramsey Community College, “Besides enriching student learning, we are expanding opportunities for area farmers, businesses, and the workers needed in this emerging industry.”

“With the camelina not being widely known as a good source for biodiesel production, we are trying to showcase that it can be a sustainable resource of highly needed renewable energy,” Waite-Altringer said. “Our students are conducting research adjacent to the demonstration plot to see what ratio of camelina to soybeans will generate the optimal profit for farmers.”

The college has been working with Ever Cat Fuels LLC., an Isanti biofuel processor, U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, and local farmers to study the characteristics of various energy crops.

Biodiesel, feedstocks, Soybeans

Sapphire, Linde Partner to Turn Algae into Crude Oil

John Davis

SapphireLindeSan Diego-based Green Crude – oil made from algae – producer Sapphire Energy, Inc. and German gasses and engineering company The Linde Group have partnered to commercialize a new industrial scale technology to turn algae biomass into crude oil. The five-year deal is to go through the development of Sapphire Energy’s first commercial scale, algae-to-energy production facility.

“Sapphire Energy is very pleased to build upon its already successful strategic partnership with Linde to build a commercial oil upgrading process designed to increase yield and lower the cost of crude oil production,” said Cynthia ‘CJ’ Warner, CEO and chairman of Sapphire Energy. “Large energy projects like we are building require very significant partnerships to fund the development of new technologies and make available engineering resources needed to bring these projects on line at commercial scale. We think Linde is a perfect partner to help Sapphire achieve this goal.”

“We have been working with Sapphire Energy for two years to develop a cost-efficient CO2 delivery system for commercial algae production. We have become confident with the company’s expertise and its capability to produce a low carbon and economic energy source from algae. After the positive experience gained, we decided to intensify our cooperation with Sapphire,” said Professor Dr. Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. “Based upon our profound engineering expertise, we will contribute to further develop and scale up Sapphire’s algae-to-crude-oil technology.”

Linde and Sapphire Energy energy have been working on a low cost, CO2 management system for open pond, algae-to-fuel production, since May 2011.

algae

Corn Growers Talking RFS in DC

Cindy Zimmerman

ncga-dcMembers of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) from across the country are in Washington this week to discuss policy issues and visit with lawmakers about a number of topics, including the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“The question our members are asking the legislators is ‘Do you support the RFS in its form, yes or no?’ and we want an answer,” said NCGA President Pam Johnson of Iowa.

Johnson says a gas station in her little community of Floyd, Iowa boasts the lowest price of fuel in the United States right now. “And it’s E85 and the price is $2.24 a gallon,” and she would like to see consumers nationwide have the opportunity to buy cheaper gas blended with renewable fuel. “Giving them the option at the pump to choose, not letting the oil industry choose whether they get to use that fuel or not,” said Johnson. That is the reason she believes keeping the RFS in place is so important to the country. Interview with NCGA President Pam Johnson

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, NCGA, RFS

Interest in Online Ag TV Programming

Talia Goes

Before we get to our new ZimmPoll let’s look at the results of our latest one which asked the question, “ Do you watch or want to watch live or recorded ag news television programs online?” The results indicate that there is an interest in online agricultural television programming.

Our poll results: Thirty-nine percent said Yes, I Currently Do, thirty-six percent said Yes, Need To Find Them, and twenty-five percent said No, Don’t Have Time or Interest. Online activities have become the way of the present and future. With technology making jobs more time efficient it allows for extra minutes to be spent catching up on the latest.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What use would you have for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?” That would be UAV for short – better known as drones, but the industry doesn’t like to use that word because it has a negative connotation. Nevertheless, we’re talking about small, remote-controlled aircraft that can be used to get a bird’s eye view of the land, capturing either still photos or video or both, or even live streaming. Is that something you could use on your operation? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Biodiesel Research Looks at Jatropha Genes

John Davis

jatrophaJatropha plants with their high oil content are seen as potentially a good alternative to some food crops as a feedstock for biodiesel. But the shrub’s nature makes it just as intensive to raise as a food crop, as well as having issues with drought resistance. Researchers at Penn State University believe they have found the gene that will help them discover a way to allow the plant to be grown with less maintenance in more desert-like conditions.

“It is thought that Jatropha’s future lies in further improvement of Jatropha for large-scale production on marginal, non-food croplands through breeding and/or biotechnology,” said John E. Carlson, professor of molecular genetics at Penn State. “The more that is known about the genetic basis of Jatropha’s key attributes such as drought tolerance, the more readily Jatropha improvement will progress.”

Researchers looked at a little known gene — JcPIP1 — because a similar gene in the model plant Arabidopsis is known to play a role in drought response. They also examined JcPIP2, a potential drought response gene in Jatropha identified in 2007 by researchers at Sichuan University. They reported their findings today (July 15) in the Journal of Plant Physiology.

The JcPIP genes code for membrane channels called aquaporins, which are responsible for transporting and balancing water throughout the plant, though exactly how each gene affects aquaporin behavior under environmental stress remains unclear. However, researchers have found that JcPIP1 and JcPIP2 are expressed at different times during a stressful situation, which hints at what roles they play in response and recovery.

The researchers found that JcPIP2 was mostly active in the early stages of stress while JcPIP1 expression was greater during recovery. The timing indicates that JcPIP1 might be crucial in helping Jatropha recover from damage while JcPIP2 could play a role in prevention.

Biodiesel, Research