Free Ethanol Seminars Coming in Nebraska

Joanna Schroeder

NEB 2013 Ethanol Safety SeminarsThe next two Ethanol Safety Seminars will take place in Grand Island and Columbus, Nebraska on June 12, 2013 and June 13, 2013. The safety seminars are sponsored by the Nebraska Central Railroad and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The sessions are FREE to attend and open to the public.

Attendees will receive in-depth information on proper training techniques that first responders and hazmat personnel need to effectively respond to an ethanol-related emergency. Certificates of Completion will be awarded at the completion of each safety seminar.

There will be two sessions each day: 9:00am-2:00pm and 5:30pm-10:00pm. Lunch and dinner will be provided. To register, please visit www.rfa.traincaster.com.

biofuels, Education, Ethanol, RFA

EPA’s 411 on RINs & RVOs

Joanna Schroeder

A recent “Today in Energy” brief published by the U.S. Energy and Information Administration takes a look at how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) and Renewable Volume EPA rincycleObligations (RVO) as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). RVOs are the targets for each refiner or importer of petroleum-based gasoline or diesel fuel, while RINS allow for flexibility in how each of them may choose to comply.

The 2013 RFS target is 16.55 billion gallons of renewable fuels including targets for cellulosic biofuels, biodiesel, advanced biofuels in addition to an overall target. Volumes for the four RFS targets are assigned to obligated parties, refiners and importers, by way of RVO percentages that are calculated by dividing each RFS target by the total estimated supply of nonrenewable gasoline and diesel fuel in each year.  For 2013, the four proposed RVO targets are:

  • cellulosic biofuels – 0.008 percent;
  • ethanol equivalent for biomass-based diesel – 1.12 percent;
  • advanced biofuels – 1.6 percent; and
  • total renewable fuels – 9.63 percent.

Obligated parties must cover their RVOs by surrendering RINS within 60 days after the end of each calendar year.

RINS are used by the EPA as both a way to keep records and build flexibility into the RFS for meeting RFS volumes. Each gallon of fuel is assigned a unique 38 character code and is valid for the year in which it was generated; however, up to 20 percent of a year’s mandate can be met with RINs generated in the previous year.

In addition to monitoring compliance, RINs also add value to each gallon of biofuel to which they are attached. The value of RINs provides an economic incentive to use renewable fuels. If RIN prices increase, blenders are encouraged to blend more renewable fuels. However, when the biofuel is more costly than nonrenewable fuels but is still needed to meet RFS standards, the RIN value should increase to a point at which firms will increase biofuel blending.

And there you have it: EPA’s 411 on RINs and RVOs. Click here for more information.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, RINS

SEAD Searches for Most Energy Efficient EV

Joanna Schroeder

The Clean Energy Ministerial’s Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) initiative is in search of the most energy efficient electric motor in the world. The SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition will recognize the most energy efficient motors on the market as well as new technologies that have the potential to greatly reduce energy use in the future.

SEAD Global Efficiency MedalAccording to the International Energy Agency, electric motors account for over 40 percent of world electricity consumption. They are by far the largest consumers of end-use electricity and are responsible for more than 6,000 megatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually–equivalent to the yearly emissions of more than 1 billion cars.

“Electric motors are in everything from small appliances to large industrial equipment,” said Kavita Ravi, SEAD initiative lead. “The competition will allow manufacturers to distinguish themselves as producers of the most energy-efficient products and help consumers save energy and cut back on electric bills.”

By recognizing and promoting the world’s most energy-efficient electric motors, the SEAD competition will help buyers make informed purchasing decisions that can lower energy bills and spur greater innovation among manufacturers. SEAD Global Efficiency Medals will be awarded in four regions:  Australia, India, North America and Europe. Winners will be announced September 1, 2014.

Alternative energy, automotive, Electric Vehicles

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFSustainable Energy Strategies (SESI), an organization providing consulting services to the alternative fuel industry, has hired David J. Gelman as the new vice president. In his role Gelman will focus on expanding support services for federal clients.
  • Aquinergy, developers of 250kW to 20MW wind and solar projects, have appointed Natural Power in partnership with Rev1 Renewables as the provider of remote monitoring services and access control on two single turbine projects located in the towns of Kingston and Ipswich, Massachusetts.
  • Collaboratev LLC., announced that it has appointed Collaboratev Co-Founder and long-time EV industry veteran, Jason Wolf, as its first CEO. Most recently Wolf served as Vice President of North America for Better Place.
  • The 5th Palm Oil Summit will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia August 20-21, 2013. This year, sessions will be dedicated to addresses sustainability issues that have been raised by government agencies, environmental groups and others. Discussion topics will include best practices for POME treatment, fertilization and mechanization.
  • Capstone Turbine Corporation has received an order from CleanWorld partners for its Capstone 800 Microturbine and Capstone Clean Cycle 125 kW waste heat-to-electricity generator. The grid-connected system will be installed in a combined heat and power application for a organic-waste-to-renewable energy facility.
Bioenergy Bytes

Growth Energy Promotes Frohlich

Joanna Schroeder

Growth Energy has promoted Michael Frolich to Director of Communications. He joined the ethanol organization in May 2012 as the press secretary. In his new role, he will continue to serve as the primary spokesperson and media contact.

Michael Frolich Growth EnergySince its inception, Growth Energy has advocated for increasing the use of ethanol in the American fuel system by promoting ethanol’s benefits among the general public. “The appointment of Michael to Director of Communications will help strengthen and focus the strategic vision of our efforts to communicate the numerous benefits of renewable fuels to the economy, the environment and to consumers,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.

Prior to joining Growth Energy, Frohlich served as Director of Media Relations with the National Association of Manufacturers as well as Director of Federal Communications at the National Biodiesel Board. He is a native of Rochester, N.Y. and earned his bachelor’s degree from Gettysburg College.

Company Announcement, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Iowa Retailer Says Big Oil Disrupting E15 Sales

Cindy Zimmerman

An Iowa congressman and a fuel retailer in his state are claiming that the oil companies’ fuel distribution monopoly is forcing the discontinuation of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15) sales during the summer.

braleyRepresentative Bruce Braley (D-IA) joined Linn Coop Oil Company service manager Jim Becthold and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw for a press conference at Bechtold’s station Monday morning.

“I’ve said on multiple occasions that there is a war on renewables being funded by Big Oil,” said Braley. “Consumers who want a higher grade ethanol blend (E15) are being denied that choice” due to oil companies refusing to ship the blendstock for E15 that is necessary during the summer months.

Braley, who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), says that is exactly why Congress passed the RFS in the first place, “to make sure that we were providing a cleaner burning fuel that would help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and provide consumers greater choices at a lower cost.”

Bechtold, who faced the same situation last summer as he was preparing to offer E15, said he actually had to bag his E15 pumps over the weekend. “We’ll be able to sell it again on September 15, but through the summer months with the high gas prices, we can’t offer that fuel,” he said. “Really can’t see why we can’t do that. We can sell E10, E85, E30, but we can’t sell E15.”

The E15 blend was approved by the EPA for use in 2001 and newer vehicles, while E30 and E85 can only be used in flex fuel vehicles. Earlier this year a number of Iowa’s E15 retailers sent a letter to the oil refiners supplying Iowa asking them to provide the proper summertime gasoline blendstock for E15. The letter noted that such fuels are already transported by the pipeline servicing Iowa. Yet, as of the June 1st summertime deadline, no oil refiner allowed Iowa retailers access to the necessary fuel. That refusal forced Linn Coop Oil Company and Iowa’s other E15 retailers to stop selling E15 as a registered fuel to 2001 and newer vehicles.

“We’re not asking for something that doesn’t exist,” said Monte Shaw. “The gasoline blendstock we need to make E15 in the summer is available, it flows through the very pipeline system that services Iowa, but they will not let us take it out of the pipeline here.”

Listen to press conference here: Iowa RFA E15 press conference

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Oil, Retailers

Students Win Clean Air & Biodiesel Poster Contest

John Davis

Cleanairchoicelogo2The American Lung Association in Minnesota and the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council recognized three Minneapolis students for their entries in the Clean Air & Biodiesel Lesson & Poster Contest. This Biodiesel Magazine article says the contest, open to 5th and 6th graders, helped demonstrate how biodiesel helps to protect clean air and protects our health:

The winners are in Leif Vanhala’s 6th grade science class. Two students, Fardowsa Jama and Samantha Martinson tied for first place honors; Logan Couillard was awarded 2nd place for his poster. First place class prize is a $50 gift card. Second place class prize is a $25 gift card. All three classrooms that participated will receive a $50 gift card for classroom supplies.

“It is exciting to have students play a role in promoting the sustainable energy solution offered in biodiesel fuels,” Leif Vanhala said. “Students took pride in helping to expanding the public’s knowledge of the health and environmental benefits of using biofuels compared to traditional fuels.”

Officials with the American Lung Association in Minnesota applauded the students’ efforts of showing how cleaner-burning fuels like biodiesel make Minnesota air cleaner and healthier.

Biodiesel, Soybeans

Cold-Growing Algae Shows Biodiesel Promise

John Davis

yellow-greenalgaeA new strain of algae found growing in the snowy Rocky Mountains could provide a promising feedstock for biodiesel. This story in Science Daily says heterococcus sp. DN1, a new variety of yellow-green algae, grows at near freezing temperatures and accumulates large amounts of lipids, working best at high light at the low temps:

Algae that can grow in extreme conditions and accumulate lipids are of great interest to industry. The team found that as H. sp. DN1 produces the highest quantity of lipids when grown undisturbed with high light in low temperatures, it is a potential source of lipids for human nutrition when grown undisturbed, and it has an ideal lipid profile for biofuel production when stressed.

davidnelson“We have isolated and characterized a new cold-tolerant lipid-producing strain of algae from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, US,” said Dr. David Nelson [Department of Plant Biology at the University of Minnesota]. “This may have implications for the commercial production of algal lipids at northern latitudes where the culture of other algal species is limited or impossible.”

algae, Biodiesel

WWF Launches Renewable Energy Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman

WWF is calling on the world to Seize Your Power and invest in renewable energy.

wwfWWF, the international name for the 50-year-old environmental focused World Wildlife Fund, is issuing a global call to action urging governments and financial institutions worldwide to increase investment in renewable energy by at least $40 billion over the next 12 months.

“We are running out of time. We know that if we continue to rely on fossil fuels we will face a future of worsening air pollution and an increasingly inhospitable climate. It is now our collective responsibility to commit to the future we want. We call on political and financial decision-makers to seize their power to make the switch to clean and sustainable renewable energy and end the inertia of coal, oil and gas,” said Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International.

The WWF Seize Your Power campaign features an on-line pledge that enables supporters to call for increased investments in renewable energy and the phasing out of investments in coal, oil and gas.

The pledge, which can be found on www.panda.org/seizeyourpower, calls on financial institutions and governments worldwide to act immediately, by making stronger commitments to increased financing for renewable technologies and policies and to directly invest more money in sustainable energy powered by wind, water and sun.

From today, WWF will campaign to seek major public commitments from governments and international financial institutions to make new investments of $40 billion USD beyond business-as-usual in the renewable energy sector. The public campaign will feature in more than 20 countries, where WWF is targeting public finance, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. By establishing a business case for moving new money into renewable energy, the campaign will show the environmental, social and economic risks of the dependence on dirty energy such as coal, oil and gas.

“The energy markets’ driving forces include speculation, institutional inertia, lack of accurate information, perverse incentives but also huge economic and political interests. It’s time to reframe the debate and expose the real costs of fossil fuels and the real opportunity of the renewable energy sector. The call to action we’re launching today is an invitation to every decision maker to invest in the future we want – one that is powered by clean, renewable and sustainable energy,” said Samantha Smith, Leader of the Global Climate and Energy Initiative of WWF-International.

While US$40 billion is only the start of the additional amount of investment that is needed, WWF believes that these new investments are an essential turning point in shifting money from risky fossil fuels into clean and renewable energy.

Environment, Renewable Energy

Green Plains to Buy Nebraska Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Green Plains Renewable Energy has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the membership interests of Choice Ethanol Holdings, owners of the former NEDAK Ethanol ethanol plant in Atkinson, Neb. The purchase also includes an ethanol storage and loading facility located near the plant. The dry-mill ethanol plant will add approximately 50 million gallons of operating capacity to Green Plains’ current annual production capacity of 740 million gallons.

“The acquisition of the plant in Atkinson expands our ethanol production platform and aligns with our ongoing strategy of growing our business and enhancing long-term shareholder value,” said Todd Becker, Green Plains’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “The plant meets our disciplined acquisition criteria and we have a deep understanding of this technology, size and geographic area. We believe we can rapidly improve the overall performance of this plant.”

The ethanol plant utilizes Delta-T processing technology. The ethanol storage facility holds approximately 24,000 barrels of ethanol and is located on the BNSF rail line. Green Plains plans to staff and re-start the plant within the next four weeks. Once the transaction closes, the Company plans to begin installing corn oil extraction technology, which should be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013. Completion of this transaction is subject to standard and customary closing conditions.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Facilities