NBB Welcomes Progress on Farm Bill’s Energy Parts

John Davis

wash-watchBy a 15-5 vote, the Senate Agriculture Committee sent the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 and its commitment to renewable energy to the full Senate, which could take it up next week. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) welcomed the move, especially the part that funds the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program to the tune of $1 million a year through 2018, with another $1 million a year in discretionary funding for that same time.

During an interview with Chuck at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) Washington Watch, Anne Steckel vice president of federal affairs for the NBB said she is also hopeful Congress preserves the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

steckel“The RFS is really the backbone of the biodiesel industry,” she said. “It’s been incredibly successful for our industry, and it’s been very beneficial for consumers in general. We’re supporting over 50,000 jobs. We’re diversifying off foreign oil, and we’re helping better the environment.”

Steckel went to say that biodiesel enjoys a broad base of bipartisan support in Washington, and she is optimistic that support will continue and help that green fuel sector grow.

“The biodiesel industry is going to continue in its steady growth pattern, [producing] 1.3 billion gallons this year,” and the support of the RFS and biodiesel federal tax credit will help the industry and consumers as well.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Anne here: Anne Steckel, NBB

2013 NAFB Washington Watch Photo Album

Audio, Biodiesel, farm bill, Government, Legislation, NBB

To Buy or Not Buy a Hybrid Car

Joanna Schroeder

Screen Shot 2013-05-14 at 4.05.17 PM

I’m in the market for a new car and one of the areas I have been researching is hybrids. The question: to buy or not to buy a hybrid? I came across this infographic developed by Auto Pawn, that tells the tale of two cars: hybrid versus non-hybrid.

While many factors are considered, one that is not is if the driver is using an alternative fuel such as biodiesel, ethanol, compressed natural gas, propane, etc. Click here for a link to the full graphic.

While I still haven’t decided what new car I’m going to drive home soon, this information is definitely worth mulling over….

Electric Vehicles, Opinion

Senate Panel Approves Farm Bill with Energy Title

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 15-5 today to approve the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, which includes cuts to reduce the deficit by $23 billion dollars but still offers a commitment to renewable energy.

senate-committeeThe bill includes an energy title that helps to advance “bio-energy production, supporting advanced biomass energy production such as cellulosic ethanol and pellets from woody biomass for power.”

The bill also provides support for blender pumps and higher ethanol blends, which was welcomed by the ethanol industry. “The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) thanks Chairwoman Stabenow and members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for adopting a Farm Bill which provides $800 million in mandatory funding for critical Energy Title initiatives, particularly $241 million in mandatory funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP),” said ACE Executive Vice President Brian Jennings. “REAP provides vital cost-share assistance to help petroleum marketers make upgrades or install new equipment at retail stations, ensuring consumers have access to renewable and affordable fuels such as ethanol. Today’s action highlights strong bipartisan support for market access to E15 and midlevel blends, such as E30 or E85. We encourage the U.S. Senate to take action soon to enact the Farm Bill.”

The bill is expected to move to the Senate floor next week.

ACE, advanced biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill, Government

What Do Orca Whales and Solar Have in Common?

Joanna Schroeder

What do Orca whales and solar energy have in common? Nothing until now. Canadian Solar Solutions has donated solar modules to power the OrcaLab Whale Research Centre, on a remote island off the British Columbia coast near Alert Bay. OrcaLab has been recording the Johnson Strait whales for more than four decades. Founder, Dr. Paul Spong and his wife Helena Symonds have spearheaded global research that confirms orca “clans” have distinct, highly sophisticated dialects. This Orca Whalesscientific evidence in turn has led to bans against commercial orca hunting, and to the creation of nearby orca sanctuaries.

“The solar installation is performing beyond our expectations,” said Dr. Paul Spong a whale expert and advocate. “We are now running all of our power needs without a generator, and looking forward to a future here without oil. We are so grateful to Canadian Solar for everything they have done for us.”

According to Canadian Solar Solutions, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, the new donated solar system allows the off-grid OrcaLab to cut gas generator use and fuel costs dramatically, increase battery performance and life, expand the range of microphones and cameras, and improve amenities for summer volunteers. The system is designed to perform with minimal maintenance for several decades. In addition, the panels will power the main OrcaLab site, and a network of underwater microphones and cameras which will track migrating orca whale and other marine animals.

“We are honored to be involved in the ground breaking OrcaLab foundation’s noble orca whale research,” said Shawn Qu, chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar. “We are proud to be able to help advance the team’s ambitious work through this latest exciting application of solar energy. As an industry leader, Canadian Solar strives to also lead in our philanthropic efforts with organizations around the world.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Environment, Solar

Methes Energies & BioFuel Aruba Ink Deal

Joanna Schroeder

109752_MethesEnergyMethes Energies Canada, a subsidiary of Methes Engeries International, has signed a Purchase and Cooperation Agreement with BioFuel Aruba of Oranjestad, Aruba to purchase one Denami 600 biodiesel processor. The agreement was signed during the “Europe Meets the Americas” business conference in Aruba earlier this month.

Mr. Abe Dyck a cofounder and shareholder of Methes Energies was in Aruba for the ceremonial signing of the agreement. “I believe the signing of this agreement accomplishes the objective Aruba has of becoming a Green Gateway for companies wanting to deploy their technologies in the region. I see this as the start of a great relationship. I have enjoyed working with Gregory and the staff at Arina (Aruba Investment Agency) and look forward to commissioning the first 600 later this year.”

Screen Shot 2013-05-14 at 12.28.06 PMBioFuel Aruba was the first and is the only biodiesel producer in the country. The company will work with Methes to expand its biodiesel capacity. In addition, BioFuel Aruba has entered into pilot agreements with the Aruba Airports Authority and the public transit company, Arubus BV, to implement a biodiesel blend into their fleets. The two companies will also be working with the Government of Aruba to develop a biofuels mandate to be incorporated into their national energy policy.

“We can’t wait for our first Denami 600 to be delivered. With two pilot projects soon to start with Arubus and the Airport, we are looking forward to a greater demand for biodiesel. Methes’ technology is a great fit and will allow us to add more Denami’s as the demand increases even more here in Aruba and in the surrounding islands,” said BioFuel Aruba President, Gregory Fung.

Alternative energy, Biodiesel, biofuels

New Farm Policy Possible Because of Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

As the Senate and House Agriculture Committees begin to mark up a new farm bill this week, big changes are expected in the next farm bill when it comes to farm programs and ethanol is helping to make that happen.

dinneen-wwAt the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting Washington Watch issues forum on Monday, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen said the dramatic changes in farm programs expected are actually being made possible by the increased use of biofuels that has taken place under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “It used to be that the price of corn was far less than the cost of production and it was government farm programs that would make up the difference,” said Dinneen. “And one of the things that Congress intended with the value-added ethanol industry was creating a value for farmers that would allow them to reduce farm program costs and it has done exactly that.”

Dinneen said the Senate farm bill proposal, which is being marked up this morning in committee, does include an energy title, the farm bill is not a real focus for them but they do hope that the farm bill will include funds for USDA to support blender pump installation and the development of advanced biofuels.

Interview with Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association
advanced biofuels, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill, RFA

Biodiesel Ups Bean Prices Without Raising Food Prices

John Davis

Soybiodiesel-bumper-sticker1Soybean growers are getting more for their beans because of biodiesel, but consumers aren’t being pinched by higher food prices at the grocery stores. According to the United Soybean Board, a new study done for soybean checkoffs in Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas show that biodiesel production has pushed U.S. soy oil prices higher than they were before the green fuel, increasing soy-oil revenues by $15 billion between 2006 and 2012 while pushing up the price of a bushel of soybeans by $0.74 a bushel:

It appears that biodiesel demand also helped offset the effects of a drop in food applications.

As biodiesel production edged upward, the amount of soy oil used in the food industry slid down. Soy oil use for biodiesel increased from 670,000 pounds in 2005 to 4.1 billion pounds for 2012. During that period, U.S. soy oil use in food applications declined by 3.6 billion pounds.

According to one USB farmer-leader, that was no accident.

“When trans-fat labeling decreased the use of soy oil for food applications, specifically cooking oils, it created a huge drag on the soy-oil price due to surplus,” said Lewis Bainbridge, United Soybean Board (USB) secretary and a soybean farmer from Ethan, S.D. “We generated a huge stockpile, and that’s when the demand for biodiesel started, which helped decrease the glut of soy oil.”

Meanwhile, all those soybeans processed for biodiesel production are also being turned into more soy meal, lowering the cost of feed poultry and livestock farmers. The study says biodiesel production lowers soy meal prices by as much as $25 per ton.

Biodiesel, Soybeans, USB

U of Wyoming Inks Deal to Get Into Algae Biz

John Davis

plantomics1The University of Wyoming has signed a deal that gets it into the algal biomass industry. The school agreed to give PlanktOMICS Algae Bioservices, run by a pair of university researchers, space and support to research how to develop patent-pending processes in exchange for a cut of the profits down the road:

PlanktOMICS principal partners Stephen Herbert, a UW professor of plant sciences, and Levi Lowder, a UW doctoral candidate in molecular and cellular life sciences, will focus on serving small companies that need to solve problems relative to their algae needs.

PlanktOMICS provides advanced phenotype analysis (testing biological traits) and screening services, custom algal vector design and construction, algal transformation and gene-expression analysis, according to its website.

“We’re here to solve problems for other companies that want to produce algae at large scales,” says Herbert, who serves as the company’s CEO. “We see our role as building up research capacity of these small companies that don’t have enough capacity for research.”

“Our services are tailored to companies that want to outsource their biological studies or biological research,” adds Lowder, who is PlanktOMICS’ chief technology officer. “We don’t really produce the end products. We do the biology. You have to know how to grow algae. That’s where we come in, to figure out how to farm algae on a large scale (for other companies).”

PlanktOMICS is working on technologies to control unwanted algae and other microbes in algae ponds, just like corn and soybean farmers control weeds, as well as technology to lower the cost of harvesting of algal biomass, among others. Last year, Lowder’s team won the university’s John P. Ellbogen $30K Entrepreneurship Competition, getting $12,500 and one year of free rent to further develop the company at the Wyoming Technology Business Center (WTBC), a business incubator at the school. Herbert and Lowder say they already have two clients lined up, one in the algal nutritional supplement business for more than 30 years. The developments could ultimately lead to algae-biodiesel projects.

algae, biomass, Research, University

DOE Student Clean Energy Winners Announced

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced six regional winners of its National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. The competition is for university teams across the country to create new businesses and commercialize promising energy technologies developed at U.S. universities and the National Laboratories. Regional US DOE logofinalists include: Northwestern University, North Carolina A&T University, Purdue University, Brigham Young University, University of Arkansas, and University of California-Berkeley. The teams will compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C., on June 11th and 12th, 2013.

“The National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition allows the best and brightest to use their entrepreneurial skills to tackle the energy challenges our Nation continues to face,” said Acting Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman. “These innovative business strategies can expand the use of clean energy technologies and compete on a global market.”

According to DOE, the national competition aims to promote entrepreneurship in clean energy technologies that will boost American competitiveness, bring cutting-edge clean energy solutions to the market, and strengthen economic prosperity. Six regional organizations have received a total of $2 million over three years to host the competitions, including $100,000 in annual prizes for each regional competition’s winning team. At the National Competition, regional finalists will compete for cash prizes, and unique technical, design, public relations, and legal assistance to help commercialize their technology.

Clean Energy

Florida Governor Urged to Veto Anti-Ethanol Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

In the wake of a bill passed by the Florida Legislation to repeal a law calling for the use of 10% ethanol blends in the state, automotive technician and talk show host Bobby Likis had an op-ed in the Pensacola News Journal over the weekend calling on the governor to veto the bill.

likis-studio“What could be more devastating than ditching 35 years of progress? If the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is repealed, we will haplessly relinquish the fast track to the future while fellow states and countries worldwide embrace strategic biofuels production and use,” wrote Likis.

Who among us foolishly says, “We don’t care about what ‘they’ are doing. We care about Florida?” Well, we’d better care. Because of “them,” more efficient, better-mpg engines, cleaner air, national security and lots of dollars — in Florida — are at stake.

So whose agenda is behind repealing the RFS anyway? Can’t be those who have the economics of the state at heart or interest in lower emissions, lower gas prices and optimized engine performance. All these are attributes of the renewable fuel, ethanol.

And yet, the Florida Legislature would put all of this in our rear view mirror.

Governor Scott, now is the time for one good man to come to the aid of his state—by vetoing HB4001/SB320.

Florida’s Renewable Fuel Standard Act, which requires that all gasoline sold in Florida contain 9-10 percent ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume has been in effect for five years. The legislature passed a bill to repeal the act last month but it has not yet been signed by the governor.

Ethanol, Ethanol News