AFAI Completes Jatropha-to-Biodiesel Research

John Davis

afaA Florida-based biodiesel company says it has completed its research into using jatropha as a feedstock at its Central American operation. In a news release published in the Sacramento Bee, Alternative Fuels Americas, Inc. (AFAI) says it successfully completed research trials and is moving to establish above ground oil fields as a staged entry into a market forecasted to exceed $500 billion by 2019.

AFAI operates a 25 acre pilot plantation with 40,000 mature Jatropha trees in Tempate, Costa Rica. During the past years AFAI has conducted trials to establish best-practice protocols for maximum crop yield and production profitability. AFAI has successfully concluded its trials and plans to transition its activities to commercial scale.

“We have a strong degree of certainty that we can successfully farm and harvest Jatropha for the purpose of profitably producing biodiesel. We have dedicated much time and substantial resources to reaching this goal, which was a necessary rite of passage,” comments AFAI CEO Craig Frank. “Now that we have reached our breakthrough we can continue towards profitably producing and selling biodiesel and initiate our plans to enter additional markets worldwide.”

AFAI considers itself a “seed to pump” vertically integrated energy company.

Biodiesel, International

REAP Deadline Extends, Creates More Biogas Opps

John Davis

usda-logoThe U.S. Department of Agriculture extends the deadline on a program that could see more farmers, especially those in the dairy industry, turning livestock waste into energy. The deadline to submit for funds under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and Dairy Industry Memorandum of Understanding has been extended to to May 31, 2013. During a teleconference moderated by Jerry Bingold from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, the USDA’s Energy Policy Advisor for Rural Development Todd Campbell said this is a top priority of his agency.

“Taking biomass feedtsock and creating renewable energy, helping to implement enhanced manure management techniques, it not only helps our dairy farmers across the country to continue to be the great stewards of the land, it makes also makes real dollars and cents in their farming operations,” Campbell said.

Kelley Oehler, USDA’s Branch Chief Energy Division said the budget battles that have resulted in continuing resolutions, instead of real federal budgets, actually helped more money go to REAP.

“We’re still working with budget to identify the specific amount, but what I can tell you is it is significantly more than the [$20.8 million original amount announced in the March 29, 2013 deadline],” Oehler said.

More money meant they needed more time to give out the grants for things such as grants for under $20,000 programs, feasibility study grants (up to $50,000), and grants and combination grants-loans for things like biodigesters (which could be up to $500,000 for those digesters) that dairy farmers can use to turn waste into energy. Guaranteed loan-only deadlines remain at July 15, 2013. (More information available here.) Another program, the 9005 Program (for advanced biofuels payments made from things, such as biodigesters) will have a notice go out shortly that will have an additional 30 days, usually sometime in October.

Meanwhile, Campbell and Oehler praised the recent renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations. The original MOU was signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009.

“Through the renewed commitment, the USDA, working with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, will continue the research, development and deployment of these technologies that are helping to make dairy farmers’ operations more sustainable,” Campbell said.

Listen to an edited version of the teleconference here: USDA Teleconference on REAP

Audio, biodigester, biogas, dairy, USDA

Is Ag Marketing Itself Well or Not?

Talia Goes

With all the farm bill activity in Congress this past week, our latest ZimmPoll asked “What’s your opinion of committee farm bill?” From the results, most think it’s better than nothing.

Our poll results: 18% said Better Than Nothing and Other, 14% said Hits Nutrition Too Hard and Bad For Everyone, nine percent said Senate Better Than House, Bad For Farmers, Will Help Conservation and Great For Everyone, and nobody said House Better Than Senate. Poll results are all over the charts this week with mixed reviews and disagreement with particular sections of the farm bill.

Untitled

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Is agriculture doing a bad job of marketing?” Marketing seems to be the key to a successful industry. The public often gets a bad taste for agriculture after “issues” hit the media. Do we cover our tracks and market the good along with the benefits to agriculture, not to mention the must haves of it? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

ZimmPoll

Absolute Energy Offers Drivers Relief at the Pump

Joanna Schroeder

As Memorial Day approaches marking the beginning of summer driving season, gas prices have spiked. Last week, gas prices went up .19 cents per gallon in Minnesota Gas PricesIowa with ending average prices at $3.70 per gallon. Spikes were even higher in Minnesota/St. Paul with prices averaging $4.21 across the state while the national average is around $3.60 per gallon.

In response Absolute Energy, an ethanol plant located on the Iowa-Minnesota border, is offering Minnesota drivers some relief at the pump in the form of ethanol. Absolute Energy is offering E85, (85 percent ethanol / 15 percent gasoline), in bulk to gas marketers impacted by the recent shut-down of three oil refineries for mostly seasonal reasons. According to E85Prices.com this week, the published average statewide E85 price is averaging $3.08 and has been reported to be as low as $2.39 per gallon in Eagan, Minn.

Rick Schwarck, CEO of Absolute Energy, said, “With gas prices spiking and ethanol plentiful in the Midwest, this will be the summer of the flex-fuel vehicle. Drivers of FFVs should be able to take advantage of serious savings at the pump by using E85. Not only will they be saving money, they will be choosing a fuel alternative that creates jobs and opportunities throughout Minnesota, Iowa and other states. E85 will drive us toward a cleaner, brighter summer sky thanks to lower greenhouse gas emissions while also strengthening our national security and economy.”

biofuels, E85, Ethanol

Ag Processing Shuts Its Doors

Joanna Schroeder

Screen Shot 2013-05-22 at 8.54.31 AMAg Processing Inc a cooperative (AGP) announced it has permanently shut down operations of its corn processing plant at Hastings, Nebraska. The plant had been on an extended shutdown since February 1, 2013 amid challenging economic conditions. At that time, the company said it would continue to evaluate the future of the plant. This week the decision to permanently close the corn processing operations was made public.

The cooperative also operates a soybean processing plant, a vegetable oil refinery and an AminoPlus production facility at its industrial complex in Hastings. Company officials reiterated that those operations will not be impacted by the closing of the ethanol plant operations.

AGP is the largest farmer‐owned soybean processor in the world, is owned by 178 local and regional cooperatives representing over 250,000 farmers from 15 states throughout the United States. Corporate headquarters are located Omaha,Nebraska.

biofuels, Ethanol

JinkoSolar Partners with GRID Alternatives

Joanna Schroeder

Grid Alternatives ProjectJinkoSolar has entered in to a partnership with GRID Alternatives, a U.S. nonprofit solar installer, to donate 150kW of its solar modules towards the installation and training of volunteers of solar electric systems exclusively for low-income homeowners. The company says its donation will provide savings of over $2 million for low-income families over the systems’ lifetimes, and support more than 700 hours of hands-on installation training.

“JinkoSolar is delighted to have the opportunity to provide installation and training experience in clean solar energy to US low-income communities,” said Mr.Nigel Cockroft, General Manager of JinkoSolar USA. “Having participated in numerous other charitable projects across the globe, we applaud GRID Alternatives for their contribution to sustainable energy development.”

GRID Alternatives’ mission is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. Since 2004, GRID Alternatives has installed more than 8.5 MW of clean, renewable power for over 3000 families and has provided over 11,000 volunteers and job trainees with solar installation experience.

“The donation of equipment from our manufacturing partners provides benefits to families who save on energy; Workers who need jobs; and an industry that needs skilled labor,” added Ms. Erica Mackie, GRID Alternatives co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re thrilled to have JinkoSolar as a partner.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar

Canada to Fund Algae-to-Biodiesel Project

John Davis

NRCalgae1A joint project between the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and industry partners could result in technology to grow algae to be made into several items, including biodiesel, in the heart of the Canadian petroleum industry: oil sands facilities.

The Algal Carbon Conversion Pilot Project, a partnership among the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canadian Natural Resources Limited (Canadian Natural) and Pond Biofuels, will result in the construction of a unique, $19 million facility in Alberta.

“This discovery has tremendous potential to benefit our environment and our economy, and further establish Canada as a leader in managing CO2 emissions,” said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). “What the results of this project could mean for the future of the oil sands and Canadian businesses makes this a significant day for Canada.”

In the coming months, a demonstration-scale algal biorefinery will be established at Canadian Natural’s Primrose South oil sands site, near Bonnyville, Alberta. This facility will recycle industrial emissions from their oil sands facility by using carbon dioxide to grow algal biomass, which will undergo further processing into products, such as biofuels, livestock feed and fertilizer.

Officials say the project will lessen the oil industry’s carbon footprint, while marking this unique partnership between fossil fuels and renewable industries.

algae, Biodiesel, International

Investors Interested in Fossil Fuel-Free Portfolios

Joanna Schroeder

According to a recent survey conducted by SRI, 65 percent of retail investors and 53 percent of institutional investors are currently expressing interest in fossil fuel-free portfolios in reaction to climate change. More than 2,000 SRI industry professionals took the First Affirmative Financial Network’s Fossil Fuels Divestment Survey in anticipation of the 24th annual SRI Conference taking place October 28-30 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Other key survey findings include:

  • 77 percent see growing risks for investors associated with fossil fuel company holdings in their investment portfolios.
  • 30 percent of those surveyed either already do – or are getting ready to – offer fossil-fuel free portfolios to investors.
  • 63 percent believe that investors will in the next 10 years start divesting in meaningful numbers from fossil-fuel companies due to climate change implications of such energy sources.

SRI Conference Logo“The survey findings strongly suggest that fossil fuel free investing is one of the SRI industry’s next big issues. Ours is an incredibly dynamic field, and as we develop the agenda for the 24th annual SRI Conference in October, we are working hard to present speakers and sessions focused on the most timely, important, and pressing topics,” said First Affirmative President Steve Schueth, producer of The SRI Conference. “Fossil fuel free investing is already becoming a nationwide movement, and it’s likely to gain momentum as the impacts of climate destabilization are felt far and wide.”

Sixty-seven percent of respondents believe that 2013 is the right time for investors to assess and perhaps alter their approach to investing in traditional energy companies, while 40 percent of those surveyed worry about increased diversification risk in fossil fuel free portfolios, in their role as a fiduciary to clients. In addition, 24 percent of those surveyed said they would be able to adequately replace the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel companies in portfolios they managed/advised with holdings that exhibit similar risk/return characteristics.

Carbon, Clean Energy, Climate Change

RFA Honored for Emergency Readiness Training

Cindy Zimmerman

rfa-moore-awardThe Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was honored today with the “2012 TRANSCAER® National Achievement Award,” at the Association of American Railroads/Bureau of Explosives HazMat Seminar in Addison, Texas.

RFA received the award for its commitment to the goals of TRANSCAER® and for its role in educating communities on how to handle chemical transportation emergencies. TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a voluntary outreach initiative that works to keep communities safe and prepares them for possible hazardous transportation emergencies.

“I have worked with TRANSCAER® for many years and am honored to receive this award on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association,” said RFA Vice President for Technical Services Kristy Moore who accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “I have been involved in planning safety seminars and know that the value of a coordinated response can be the difference between a fire and full out disaster.”

The RFA partners with railroad companies and local industry associates to hold safety seminars on how to handle ethanol related emergencies. The seminars examine everything from how to handle tank farm and bulk storage fire incidents to the transportation and transfer of ethanol blended fuels. The RFA began safety seminars in 2010 and continues to host sessions throughout the United States. To date, the RFA has hosted 69 safety seminars in 20 different states, including Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Tennessee. Ten more seminars are planned this year and the RFA intends to continue this important program next year. The free seminars are open to everyone, including first responders, emergency planners and the general public.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, safety, transportation

EPA Proposes RFS Amendments

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) amendments and clarifications, which include new pathway determinations for advanced biofuels such as isobutanol and ethanol from crop residues.

epaThe EPA proposal also includes “various changes to the E15 misfueling mitigation regulations (E15 MMR) which are minor technical corrections and amendments to sections dealing with labeling, E15 surveys, product transfer documents, and prohibited acts” as well as changes to the survey requirements associated with the ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) program.

EPA is proposing to allow renewable diesel, renewable naphtha, and renewable electricity (used in electric vehicles) produced from landfill biogas to generate cellulosic or advanced biofuel RINs. Renewable compressed natural gas (CNG)/liquified natural gas (LNG) produced from landfill biogas are also proposed to generate cellulosic RINs. EPA is also proposing to allow butanol that meets the 50% GHG emission reduction threshold to qualify as advanced biofuel. The rulemaking also proposes a clarification regarding the definition of crop residue to include corn kernel fiber and proposes an approach to determining the volume of cellulosic renewable identification numbers (RINs) produced from various cellulosic feedstocks. Further, this proposal discusses and seeks comment on the potential to allow for commingling of compliant products at the retail facility level as long as the environmental perfor­mance of the commingled fuels would not be detrimental. The action also addresses “nameplate capacity” issues for certain production facilities that do not claim ex­emption from the 20% GHG reduction threshold. Several other amendments to the RFS program are included.

“This proposed rulemaking package is essentially a collection of ‘housekeeping amendments’ that will address several odds and ends that needed to be addressed in the regulatory text,” commented Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen. “We are pleased that among these proposed amendments is a provision clarifying that ethanol produced from the cellulosic portions of the corn kernel can qualify as cellulosic biofuel under the RFS2.”

“Companies continue to make investments, put steel in the ground, create jobs and develop technologies that reduce dependence on foreign oil and contribute to a cleaner environment,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Industrial & Environmental Section. “They are preparing to make additional investments with assurance that U.S. policy is committed to energy security and production of biofuels.”

The proposal has been submitted to the Federal Register for public comment.

advanced biofuels, BIO, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFA, RFS