Kansas Farmer Recognized for Biodiesel Board Work

John Davis

kraus1A Kansas farmer has been recognized by the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) for his work for the biodiesel industry. The Kansas Soybean Commission announced that their primary representative on the NBB for the past 12 years, Harold Kraus from Hays, picked up NBB’s Friend of Biodiesel award during a membership meeting in Washington, D.C.:

“Harold has been a tremendous advocate for the biodiesel industry who will definitely be missed,” NBB CEO Joe Jobe said. “The industry has grown out of infancy to a billion-gallon industry due in large part to the efforts of champions like Mr. Kraus.”

“Any time your peers pat you on the back you have to feel better,” Kraus said. “When I came on board, there were 55 members. Now, we’re in the hundreds. We’ve got a good number of people, and they’re doing their job.”

“From the start, the soybean checkoff has played a major role in developing the U.S. biodiesel industry, and soybean farmers like Harold have invested a lot of time, energy and resources into bringing American-made, high-performing biodiesel to the marketplace,” said Dennis Hupe, KSC director of field services. “The award never can express fully the thanks that Harold deserves for his dedication to the development of the biodiesel industry.”

Kraus is retiring from his position on the board.

Biodiesel, NBB, Soybeans

Open Fuel Standard Introduced in House

Cindy Zimmerman

engel-rfs-hearingCongressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) this week introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act (H.R. 2493) in the House, legislation which would require 30 percent of new automobiles in 2016, 50 percent in 2017, and 50 percent in each subsequent year, to operate on non-petroleum fuels in addition to or instead of petroleum-based fuels.

“This could include ethanol, methanol, natural gas, electricity, biodiesel, hydrogen or a new technology,” said Rep. Engel, who has sponsored the bill in previous sessions of Congress, during yesterday’s hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard, saying that he believes the legislation would complement the RFS. “It would empower consumers to make a choice about which fuel is best for them.”

Engel says he got the idea for the legislation during a visit to Brazil many years ago when he noticed the variety of fuel choices consumers had. “If it works in Brazil, it can work here if we wish it to work,” he said. Rep. Eliot Engel

“This is all about choice,” said Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen in support of the bill. “Consumers want a choice other than petroleum. A recent poll showed that 76 percent of Americans wanted manufacturers to produce vehicles that run on fuels other than oil. The goal here is to offer consumers the most cost effective and clean energy choice possible.”

The bill also features original co-sponsors Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY-03), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA-13), Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Collin Peterson (D-MN-07) and Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam).

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

    • BioEnergyBytesDFPurified Renewable Energy has contracted R1 Group to sell a Katzen Technology corn-based, dry mill, fuel-grade ethanol production facility with a nameplate capacity of 18 million gallons per year, in Buffalo Lake, MN. The facility will be sold at a §363 bankruptcy auction on August 8, 2013. Qualified bids, including a $125,000 deposit, are due July 31, 2013.
    • ShoEi Foods has selected Cenergy Power to engineer and construct a 864 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system. The solar power system will be used to offset local energy demand at their walnut processing facility in Marysville, CA.
    • In an effort to accelerate the development of renewable energy resources, Hawaiian Electric Company has requested permission to negotiate with five proposed projects that could quickly provide low-cost electricity for Oahu. If approved the solar and wind projects will have 20-year power purchase agreements directly with Hawaiian Electric.
    • MTS Systems Corporation is collaborating with GE Power Conversion to supply a simulation system to RWTH Aachen University in Aachen, German, for its Center for Wind Power Drives. The equipment will be used to study and design wind turbines.
    • Dominion Virginia Power is accepting online applications for its Solar Purchase Program that will help eligible customers offset the cost of adding solar power to their homes and properties.
Bioenergy Bytes

Biofuel Industry Responds to RFS Hearing

Joanna Schroeder

Have you heard the recent saying, “You need to check yourself before you wreck yourself”? It seems to apply to the recent hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) held by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power. The hearings are part of the RFS evaluation program that also includes a series of white papers. Left to their own device, the committee is going to “wreck” the RFS.

The hearing included no representation from the biofuels industry but they responded in full force after its conclusion.

Growth_Energy_logo-1“Today’s testimony by USDA Chief Economist Joseph Glauber, validates what we in the biofuels industry have been saying since the RFS was enacted – that the production of biofuels does not have any substantive correlation with the rising cost of food prices,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.

“If the committee is truly interested in the culprits behind rising food prices they should look no further than oil companies. Today’s testimony comes on the heels of a recent study by the World Bank, which outlined how crude oil prices are responsible for 50 percent of the increase in food prices since 2004,” Buis continued. “Additionally, large food corporations, like oil companies are recording near record profits, while trying to use the RFS as a scapegoat as they increase prices at their own discretion at the pump and grocery store at the expense of the American consumer.”

Brooke Coleman, executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Coalition noted that several times during the hearing, members of the committee said “times have changed” since the passage of the RFS in 2007, and that the U.S. no longer has a foreign oil dependence problem.Read More

advanced biofuels, AEC, biofuels, Ethanol, Growth Energy, RFS

Free Webinar on New RFS2 NPRM

Joanna Schroeder

The EPA has released a new Notice of Proposed Rule Making: RFS Pathways II and Technical Amendments to the RFS2 Standards. EcoEngineers is offering a FREE webinar on July 10, 2013 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm central standard time (CST).

EcoEngineers LogoSome of the proposed changes include:

  • New penalties for failure to meet certain RFS reporting deadlines.
  • Additional requirements for foreign renewable fuel producers and importers who generate RINs.
  • New pathway for “advanced butanol.”
  • New pathways for cellulosic diesel/naphtha and renewable electricity from landfill biogas.
  • Landfill biogas CNG/LNG to qualify for cellulosic RINs and clarification of what constitutes cellulosic feedstock and amendment to who qualifies as RIN generator for biogas.
  • Expansion of qualified feedstock for anaerobic digestors.
  • Expansion of RVP standards for gasoline.

During the free webinar you’ll find out what the EPA’s proposed RFS2 amendments mean for the renewable fuel industry and RIN markets. An interactive Q&A period will follow the presentations. Click here to register.

biofuels, Education, RINS

REG Restarts Texas Biodiesel Plant

John Davis

REG New Boston1Biodiesel-producing giant Renewable Energy Group (REG) restarted an idled biodiesel plant in Texas. According to Biodiesel Magazine, the Iowa-based green energy producer re-opened the former North Texas Bio Energy, a commercial scale biodiesel production facility near New Boston, Texas, acquired by REG in October 2012:

[N]ow named REG New Boston, [the plant] employs 25 people and can produce 15 MMgy of biodiesel from recycled fats, oils and greases. The company scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony for June 28.

REG says the facility was idle for about four years and underwent some repairs and minor upgrades before the new start-up. The company also points out that besides the 25 workers at the plant, there will be indirect jobs, including truck drivers for the hundreds of inbound and outbound trucks that will channel through the plant each month.

Biodiesel, REG

Groups React to FAO Biofuels Study

Joanna Schroeder

Emotions are mixed regarding the findings in a recent report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that was released in Rome during a meeting with ambassadors. The report found that biofuel from crops has a significant and direct impact on food prices and food availability. In response, ActionAid said the report shows how Europe’s biofuel targets are driving up food prices and increasing hunger among the world’s poorest people.

Screen Shot 2013-06-27 at 8.35.14 AMThe report comes several weeks before a final decision is made by the Environment Committee, part of the European Commission, on how much fuel will be allowed to be made from feedstocks used to produce food.

“It is a wake-up call to the EU to get its house in order on food and fuel. This means some hard work ahead for MEPs and Member States who are working on redefining EU biofuels policy,” said Anders Dahlbeck, ActionAid’s biofuels policy advisor. “However as we speak, the biofuels industry is lobbying hard against new proposals before the Parliament and Council to limit the use of food crops for biofuels. MEPs and member states must not bow to industry pressure – they must end the use of food for fuel.”

The global biofuels industry has in fact taken issue with the report and the Global Renewable Fuels Association (GRFA) says that there are several methodological and factual errors in the report including the omission of key co-products in calculating the net benefits of biofuels; the overly prescriptive policy recommendations; and the inclusion of unproven land use methodologies. It should be noted that the EU biofuels policy that is under review specifically does not take in to account indirect land use in its calculations.Read More

Agribusiness, biofuels, corn, food and fuel, Indirect Land Use

Biofuels & Iowa Pork – A Swinetiffic Relationship

Joanna Schroeder

Today is Iowa Swine Day (June 27) and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) is taking a time to show how renewable fuels production is boosting the profitability of raising hogs in Iowa.

DDGs“On Iowa Swine Day, it’s important to remember that a strong renewable fuels industry means a strong hog industry here in Iowa,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “IRFA members have developed solid relationships with Iowa’s pork producers and the numbers show it. Whether it’s purchasing choice white grease for biodiesel production or supplying affordable distillers grains for feed, Iowa renewable fuels and Iowa pork production have a symbiotic relationship.”

IFRA says that ethanol production helps Iowa pork producers by providing an affordable, high protein feed called distillers grains (DDGS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ProExporter Network recently noted that Iowa hogs are the number one in-state consumer of DDGS, utilizing approximately 1.2 million tons of each year.  This represents 61 percent of in-state DDGS consumption.

In addition, biodiesel production not only lowers the cost of soybean meal, it also increases the value of animal fats benefiting Iowa’s pork producers. A recent study by Cardno ENTRIX found that an Iowa hog producer realizes a $4 per head boost in profitability because of Iowa’s biodiesel industry. Therefore, an Iowa farmer raising both crops and hogs would see nearly a 20 percent increase in net income because of Iowa biodiesel production.

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, biofuels, Iowa RFA

Propel Moves Biodiesel, Ethanol Forward

John Davis

Propel biodiesel pumpPropel Fuels is not just selling biodiesel and ethanol, alternatives to non-renewable petroleum, but it is doing it in an alternative fashion. This article from Convenience Store News says the California-based purveyor of the green fuels is doing something a bit different at most of its locations in California and Washington State.

At 36 of the locations, Propel partners with existing gas station retailers to operate its renewable fuel pumps at their stores. These pumps, which Propel calls a “Clean Fuel Point,” reside under a single canopy and are branded with the Propel name.

Propel pays rent to the station owners in return for the fuel sales from its pumps. Since Propel offers pay-at-the-pump technology, once a consumer turns on its pump to buy E85 or biodiesel, Propel — not the convenience store operator — accepts the payment and processes the transaction. All other fuel transactions at these 36 stores are handled by the c-store operator.

“The thinking in America is changing. The vehicles we have are changing as well. Those two things together helped with the idea to form a different type of fuel company that’s focused on bringing renewable fuels to the marketplace,” Chris LaPlante, director of marketing for Propel, told CSNews Online.

The two other Propel locations, in Fresno and Fullerton, Calif., are owned by Propel and have been dubbed “Clean Mobility Centers.” While the locations also sell petroleum-based gasoline, they also let customers buy a carbon offset of $1 a tankful right there at the pump.

So far, Propel’s blueprint seems to be one for success or at least growth. This year, they’ve added nine sites to their retail network, with more on the way soon. The article says Propel is even considering getting into the compressed natural gas and electric vehicle charging station markets.

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, News

EPA: Biodiesel, Ethanol Numbers Up

John Davis

The latest numbers from the EPA say biodiesel and ethanol production is up. For May, biodiesel production hit 135 million gallons, putting it on target to hit more than a billion gallons this year and to exceed annual volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Weekly ethanol production averaged 885,000 barrels per day or 37.17 million gallons daily, up 12,000 barrels per day from the week before and tied for highest weekly average of the year to date. The ethanol industry is projected to hit 13.52 billion gallons of production this year. The news was welcomed by the green fuels’ respective industries.

From the National Biodiesel Board:

nbb-logoBiodiesel, an EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel that has surpassed RFS targets for two consecutive years, is reported under the Biomass-based Diesel category under the RFS.

The numbers show a total of nearly 140 million gallons of Biomass-based Diesel for May, but that total also includes production of renewable diesel. The biodiesel portion of the total was 135 million gallons – putting year-to-date biodiesel production through the end of May at nearly 504 million gallons.

And the Renewable Fuels Association:

RFA-logo-13Stocks of ethanol stood at 16.3 million barrels. That is a 1.0% decrease from last week. Imports of ethanol were 38,000 b/d, down from last week. Gasoline demand for the week averaged 373.5 million gallons daily. Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production was 9.95%

The RFA also points out how it is supporting corn farmers, using 13.419 million bushels of corn to produce ethanol and 98,769 metric tons of livestock feed, 88,053 metric tons of which were distillers grains.

NBB says its industry is supporting some 50,000 jobs across the country.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, NBB, RFA