The Right to Blend

Joanna Schroeder

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed into law last week legislation that preserves an Iowa petroleum marketer’s right to blend with Iowa manufactured ethanol and biodiesel. This, according to Dawn Carlson, president of the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa, helps retailers sell competitively priced fuel and preserves Iowa jobs.
“We celebrate the signing of Iowa’s “Right to Blend Law”, Carlson. “This legislation allows petroleum marketers to continue to offer locally grown biofuels to Iowans.”

Biodiesel-Pump-Photo-Joanna-Schroeder-e1364839994362This legislation was requested by the petroleum marketers, who have supported ethanol and biodiesel blending for more than 30 years in Iowa. In a special ceremony honoring the new law, Governor Branstad praised the state’s petroleum marketers for their efforts to offer competitively priced fuel and preserve Iowa jobs. The Governor and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds were thanked for their support of the law.

According to fuel pricing data, this legislation helps Iowa businesses to buy fuel more competitively. Having the ability to blend gasoline and diesel with local ethanol or biodiesel enhances competitive forces that drive prices lower at the terminals.

Carlson says with passage of the Right to Blend law, local retailers have the freedom to fully accommodate the market demands for biofuels. Oil company contracts can not prevent Iowa marketers from blending with renewable fuel produced in Iowa or dictate which blends of biofuels local marketers can sell.

Additionally, there are several other provisions in the law, such as extending the lower excise tax rate on ethanol blended gasoline, exempting from fire marshal registration certain sized farm fuel tanks which will help expand farm storage when supplies are tight.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Legislation

Analysis: Biodiesel Could Solve Ethanol Blend Wall

John Davis

epa-logoA new analysis shows that biodiesel might be the solution for ethanol “blend wall” concern and its impact on the overall number of advanced biofuels being blended. There’s been a lot of talk about the issue of the ethanol “blend wall,” the point at which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates for that renewable fuel are greater than the amount of ethanol able to be blended into regular gasoline. Right now, the most widely accepted “safe” level of ethanol mix for most vehicles is 10 percent, with a debate raging around the ability to go all the way up to 15 percent without modifications of current vehicles or the vehicles being flex-fuel capable. In this analysis posted on Reuters, the author points out that even with the higher blend limit, there will still be a gap between the time all the infrastructure is in place and the higher blends could be the norm. In the meantime, he suggests that biodiesel could help meet the EPA numbers by being a substitute for some of the ethanol products and cites precedent for such a move.

EPA has already used its authority to cut the cellulosic ethanol mandate (because of under-supply) and increase biodiesel, while keeping the overall advanced biofuel target unchanged.

That has directly substituted biodiesel for ethanol.

This year EPA cut the cellulosic target to 14 million gallons from 1 billion gallons as required in the 2007 act, and increased biodiesel to 1.28 billion gallons, also from 1 billion.

The U.S. National Biodiesel Board estimates record output of more than 1.2 billion gallons this year, roughly half of which will be made from soyoil with the rest a mix of recycled cooking oil, animal fats and other products.

EPA talked up the ability of the U.S. biodiesel industry to take an increasing role, in its ruling last year setting the biodiesel target.

“We believe that it is appropriate that biomass-based diesel play an increasing role in supplying advanced biofuels to the market between 2012 and 2022,” it said. (“2013 Biomass-Based Diesel Renewable Fuel Volume; Final Rule”)

The article goes on to point out that the biodiesel industry is capable of ramping up production if more of the green fuel is needed. Current expanded targets for biodiesel production represent just 2.9 percent of the total diesel picture, and since all diesel vehicles can take at least a 5 percent blend (and many experts will point out that blend is much easily higher), there’s no danger of biodiesel hitting a similar blend wall in the near future.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, News

RFA Comments on Proposed Tier 3 Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week regarding the proposed rule on Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards.

Kelly Davis, RFA Director of Regulatory Affairs, says they support the timely implementation of the Tier 3 standards especially the proposal to establish E15 as the certification test fuel beginning in 2017. “We really hope that these don’t get held up,” she said. “The E15 certification fuel is something the industry has been waiting on a long time, including the automotive industry, to more reflect what’s really in the marketplace.”

However, there are a few areas of concern for ethanol producers. “We will accept the 10 part per million sulfur limit but we don’t want to have to be in what they call the refinery program that requires the amount of testing and expertise for the batch testing facility,” Davis explained, since denaturants are the sole source of sulfur in denatured fuel ethanol (DFE).

Davis says RFA also believes that existing standards and specifications for “flex fuels” are sufficient and EPA should not subject these fuels to the same type of standards applicable to gasoline, since they are concerned that may discourage FFV production due to potential difficulty in meeting NMOG+NOx standard bin levels. RFA also commented EPA should provide equal RVP treatment for E10 and E15 and that E16-E50 blends should be treated as alternative fuels.

Kelly explains the more technical details of RFA’s comments on the proposed rule in this interview: Interview with RFA's Kelly Davis

Audio, Car Makers, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

Del Monte in UAE to Use Biodiesel in Trucks

John Davis

UAEflagA food and vegetable supplier is using the used cooking oil from one of its customer restaurants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This story posted on Environment News Service says Del Monte is running some of its vehicles on the used cooking oil from McDonald’s in the Arabian Peninsula country.

A total of 20 vehicles from Del Monte’s logistics fleet are now running on biodiesel made from McDonald’s UAE’s used vegetable cooking oil. Del Monte’s entire fleet of vehicles is expected to run on biodiesel by the end of 2013.

Used vegetable oil is collected from McDonald’s outlets across the UAE and converted into 100 percent biodiesel by McDonald’s cleantech partner, Neutral Fuels, a Dubai-based biodiesel manufacturer.

“Since the biodiesel campaign was first launched in 2011, we have seen an increasing interest from companies around the region,” said [Rafic] Fakih [the managing director and partner of McDonald’s UAE operations].

Oussama Naddy, general manager at Del Monte Foods (UAE), said, “As McDonald’s UAE’s long time partner and supplier for the past six years, we saw this as a great opportunity to participate in what we believe is a groundbreaking initiative.”

“We were convinced to participate thanks to the numerous benefits associated with biodiesel,” said Naddy, “including the 80 percent reduction of carbon dioxide emission, and the ease with which the conversion from regular diesel to biodiesel can be made throughout our fleet without modifying the engines.”

I’ve been to the UAE, and I can personally tell you it is one of the cleanest countries I have been to, anywhere on the planet. So it comes as no real surprise to see this kind of initiative that turns what would be waste into a clean-burning fuel that doesn’t require any kind of modification to current engine systems.

Biodiesel, International

MGM Resorts Goes Solar

Joanna Schroeder

During a news conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada featuring U.S. Senator Harry Reid and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in advance for the National Clean Energy Summit 6.0 on August 13, 2013 at Mandalay Bay, MGM Resorts announced plans for a major solar energy system. The 6.2 megawatt installation, planned for the Mandalay Bay Resort Convention Center, will be MGM Resort’s first commercial solar project and will generate enough energy to power nearly 1,000 homes.

MGM_PIC_1At peak production, the rooftop array is expected to produce nearly 20 percent of the Mandalay Bay’s power demand. This in turn will also lower demand on the southern Nevada electricity grid at the hottest time of the day, decreasing the need to import energy from outside the local energy system thus reducing energy costs for the entire Las Vegas system.

“Integrating environmentally responsible practices throughout our operations has been a key pillar in MGM Resorts’ strategic sustainability plan,” said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Partnering with NRG Solar to install the solar rooftop at Mandalay Bay highlights a major milestone in our efforts to promote renewable energy and reduce our consumption of the planet’s limited resources.”

MGM Resorts chose the Mandalay Bay Resort Conference and Convention Center for its new solar array due to its large sun-oriented rooftop space, which spans roughly 20 acres. Once the project, custom designed and developed by NRG Solar, is completed, Mandalay Bay will buy the energy created by the array though a power purchase agreement (PPA).

“MGM’s desire to advance environmental stewardship in support of a cleaner future speaks to the quality of the organization,” added Tom Doyle, President and CEO of NRG Solar. “At the same time, it’s an intelligent business decision. The new 20,000 panel solar rooftop array at Mandalay Bay will effectively enable the resort to lock in a substantial component of its energy costs at a very competitive rate. Our expectation is that other corporations will follow thought-leaders like MGM Resorts to protect our planet.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Fuel Evolution Since 1776

Joanna Schroeder

Tomorrow is Independence Day, or Fourth of July, for the United States and this week the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s “Today in Energy” brief took a look at how U.S. energy consumption by fuel source has changed since 1776.

EIA History of EnergyThe brief notes that the country started off with renewable energy playing a dominant role in the U.S. energy picture as wood was the primary energy source during America’s first 100 years.

“A typical American family from the time our country was founded used wood (a renewable energy source) as its primary energy source until the mid- to late-1800s. Early industrial growth was powered by water mills. Coal became dominant in the late 19th century before being overtaken by petroleum products in the middle of the last century, a time when natural gas usage also rose quickly.”

The brief notes that while the overall energy history of the United States is one of significant change as new forms of energy were developed, the three major fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal, which together provided 87 percent of total U.S. primary energy over the past decade—have dominated the U.S. fuel mix for well over 100 years. However, recent increases in the domestic production of petroleum liquids and natural gas have prompted shifts between the uses of fossil fuels (largely from coal-fired to natural gas-fired power generation), but the predominance of these three energy sources is likely to continue into the future.

biomass, Renewable Energy

Freedom to Farm

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 listen to satellite radio?” The results would suggest that not everyone has hopped on the satellite radio bandwagon. However, we did see a quick spike in the “No, never will” answer which seems suspicious. What do you think about these results?

Our poll results: Forty-three percent said Yes, forty-one percent said No, Never Will, twelve percent said No, Plan To and four percent said Other. Have your listening habits changed? We didn’t ask about the options which include traditional broadcast radio as well as internet radio. We might need to ask this again with those choices to see what happens!

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is the greatest threat to our freedom to farm?” With Independence Day almost here the theme is going to be freedom. What about freedom to farm? Let us know what you think. And thank you!

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Avantha Group Awarded Wind Energy Contract

Joanna Schroeder

The Avantha Group Company CG has been awarded a contract for the design, engineering, supply, installation, upgrading and building the overall electrical system and commissioning of a WINDSUB (wind farm substation) at the 75 MW Seine Rive Gauche Seine-credit-sxc-photo-renews.bizNord wind farm located in France. The wind farm is sited in the Aube department on the left bank of the river.

The project scope includes all electrical, mechanical and civil engineering works, supply of two 45 MVA step-up power transformers, medium voltage and high voltage Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS), Substation Automation System (SAS), buildings and ancillaries. The substation will help to integrate wind energy and boost power supplies to meet the growing residential demand besides reinforcing the transmission grid and improving reliability, efficiency and power quality. The total 150GWh of installed capacity will produce electricity for over 55,000 households with an estimated reduction in emissions of 130.000 tons of CO2 per year.

“This is yet another proud moment for us. We thank Nordex and H2air for awarding CG the contract,” said Avantha Group Company CG’s CEO & Managing Director, Laurent Demortier. “This win demonstrates CG’s local project management strengths, and on and offshore track record besides our cost-efficient approach in offering turnkey “design and build” grid infrastructure solutions. The contract is recognition of our offerings and expertise in the renewable energy sector and our commitment to support France’s renewal goal and the growing regional electricity needs.”

The project is scheduled for completion by mid 2014. Substations include equipment that protects and controls the flow of electric power, transforms voltage levels and facilitates the safe and efficient transmission and distribution of electricity in the grid.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFPOET has hired Rob Walther as Director of Federal Affairs, tasked with opening a POET office in Washington, D.C. Walther will represent POET and highlight the value of domestic, renewable biofuel in talks with members of Congress, their staffs and federal agencies regulating renewable fuels.
  • Law firm Morrison & Foerster has hired Robert Fleishman, an energy lawyer with a background in FERC enforcement, regulation, corporate affairs and public policy. He will work out of the firm’s Washington office as senior of counsel.
  • Honeywell has announced that Chief Executive Magazine named Chairman and CEO Dave Cote “2013 CEO of the Year,” an honor that recognizes an outstanding corporate leader nominated and selected by peers. The award will be featured on the cover of the July issue.
  • The Solar Technology Acceleration Center (SolarTAC) is offering incubator and showcase memberships to allow start-ups to initialize products on a smaller scale. Packages are based on the product’s entrry into the U.S. marketplace.
  • Atonometrics, Inc., a company providing test and measurement solutions to the solar photovoltaic industry, has delivered a Continuous Solar Simulator to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The system includes an integrated I-V measurement system and will be used for Light Soak tests of full-size PV modules.
Bioenergy Bytes

MiEV Evolution II Races to Place

Joanna Schroeder

The 91st running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) took place recently and the new MiEV Evolution II race car took second and third in class in the electric vehicle (EV) division. The EV was developed by Mitsubishi Motors North American and was driven by two-time Daka Rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka and six-time PPIHC motorcycle champion Greg Tracy.

The race, held on June 30th, commenced in the morning under a calm, clear blue sky; however these ideal weather conditions took a turn for the worse and a downpour of rain hit the track just before the pair of MiEV Evolution II race cars began their runs at the time trial event.

MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF AMERICA, INC. 2013 PIKES PEAK INT. HILL CLIMBBoth Tracy and Masuoka raced in extremely difficult wet conditions, along with limited visibility in the higher sections of the race course, resulting in Masuoka recording a time of 10 minutes, 21.866 seconds, with Tracy following closely behind at 10 minutes, 23.649 seconds. Despite the challenging conditions, the pair broke last year’s second place time in the EV Division of 10 minutes, 30.850, achieved in 2012 by Masuoka piloting the Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution on a dry road in optimal conditions.

Finishing in second-place in the Electric Division for a second year in a row, team captain and driver Masuoka commented on the race, “Just before the start, since the road became completely wet, we had to swap the tires from slicks to grooved. Even with the grooved tires, the pavement was really wet and the car was sliding around quite a bit. It really was treacherous conditions to drive in, but both cars were able to make it to the top safely. Since we were aiming for the win, the result is quite disappointing. While due to this rain, it is easy to blame the result on our luck, we must also realize our weakness and continue to make improvements for the future.”

A completely all-new design from the ground up, the MiEV Evolution II features a unique quad-motor (two front/two rear) drivetrain, next-generation lithium-ion batteries by Lithium Energy Japan (LEJ), an optimized all-electric version of Mitsubishi’s exceptionally capable Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) all-wheel drive system and wind tunnel-derived, aerodynamically-enhanced carbon-fiber bodywork.

Alternative energy, automotive, Electric Vehicles