Former Congressman at Iowa RFA

Cindy Zimmerman

irfa13-boswellEight term Iowa congressman Leonard Boswell is continuing to support renewable fuels in his state despite losing his re-election bid in re-districting last year to Tom Latham.

Boswell attended the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit last month because it is something he says he cares deeply about. “I am so wound up in things like renewable fuels, it’s just one of my passions,” he said during an interview at the summit. “I will participate somehow.”

The former Democratic congressman, who is a farmer, was disappointed that Congress was unable to get a farm bill passed last year. “We need a farm bill, you can’t plan if you don’t know the rules,” said Boswell, who believes the House did have the votes to pass the bill that came out of the agriculture committee but they were never given the chance.

Listen to interview with Boswell here: Former Congressman Leonard Boswell


IRFA Renewable Fuels Summit Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill, Government, Iowa RFA

Ethanol Continues to be Job Creator

Cindy Zimmerman

nec12-urbanchukDespite facing major challenges in 2012, the ethanol industry still created more than 380,000 jobs and $43 Billion in Gross Domestic Product, according to the latest analysis conducted by Cardno-ENTRIX and commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

“The study reaffirms that this is an important industry for the overall economy but more importantly for rural America,” said study author John Urbanchuk at the National Ethanol Conference where the study was released. According to Urbanchuk, the production of the estimated 13.3 billion gallons of ethanol in 2012 directly employed 87,292 Americans. An additional 295,969 Americans found work in positions indirectly affiliated with or induced by ethanol production. “Research and development activities are part of that as well,” he said. “That’s a very vital aspect of this entire industry as we move forward.”

Even with the drought last year, domestic ethanol production of 13.3 billion gallons was the second highest annual production level in history, helping to displace 465 million barrels of imported oil worth $47.2 billion.

Listen to my interview with Urbanchuk here: NEC 13 John Urbanchuk interview


2013 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

2013 NEC Golf Tournament Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

N.C. Solar Center Receives DOE Grant

Joanna Schroeder

The North Carolina Solar Center at North Carolina State University has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the use of alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies with a $500,000 award for the Alternative Fuel Implementation Team (AFIT) for North Carolina Project. The AFIT project is a two-year collaboration of U.S. DOE designated Clean Cities coalitions in the Triangle, Charlotte and Asheville regions, Clean Cities coalitions in five nearby states, Advanced Energy and cows-and-windindustry leaders such as the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, Duke Energy, Holmes Oil Co, the NC Propane Gas Association, Public Service North Carolina, and Piedmont Natural Gas.

The AFIT project is focused on reducing barriers to more widespread deployment of biofuels such as biodiesel and E85, electric vehicles, natural gas and propane in public and private sector fleets. Fuel specific charettes will result in actions to accelerate the use of alternative transportation technology solutions to enhance North Carolina’s economy and environment. In year two, a Petroleum Displacement Plan (PDP) toolkit will be developed to assist fleet managers and vehicle owners in making decisions on which alternatives will best support their mission and goals. The PDP toolkit will include cost/benefit criteria and best application options and scenarios for specific alternative fuels based on national and North Carolina specific parameters.

As part of the AFIT project, a two-day North Carolina symposium, “Southeast Regional Alternative Fuels Conference,” will be held that includes sharing success stories and recognition awards.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to bring together all the key parties in the southeast to leverage our unique talents and common interests in providing transportation technology and policy solutions to energy and air quality concerns,” said Anne Tazewell, Transportation Program Manager at the N.C. Solar Center and the AFIT project lead. “We look forward to the results of a cleaner environment and more business opportunities for alternative fuels.”

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Electric Vehicles, Natural Gas, Propane

Worldwide Energy Installs Solar System in KC

Joanna Schroeder

It’s not often I write about new solar systems going online in the Midwest. This week, Krtek Real Estate and Worldwide Energy announced the completion of 119 kilowatt solar system consisting of 628 tenKSolar RAIS solar photovoltaic modules on My beautiful picturethe roof of the Manor Square parking garage. According to Worldwide Energy, the array utilizes solar reflector technology, which will boost the power production to an equivalent rating of 164 kilowatts, one of the highest production ratings in the state of Missouri. In addition, the solar company says the tenKsolar system is the only solar design without cell-to-cell dependency. The module uses conventional crystalline silicon cells, but is packaged in a module design for superior and optimal production.

“Kansas City has one of the highest solar potentials in the country, and we are excited for Krtek Real Estate to take advantage of that,” said Gaylen Davenport, COO of Worldwide Energy. “Solar is an efficient and smart way to offset the utility usage for the facility, and with the tenKsolar technology, it produces more than the average 119 kW system.”

In its first year, the system will produce more than 205,000 kilowatt-hours and around 5,020,287 kilowatt-hours over 25 years. In the Kansas City area, the average annual sunshine level is nearly five hours a day, above average compared to other parts of the United States.

“Kansas City is in a unique position to utilize solar,” added Davenport. “While our city may not be known for renewable energy, we can certainly lead the way for other businesses in the area.”

Miscellaneous

Dakota Spirit AgEnergy Receives EPA Certification

Joanna Schroeder

Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has received a renewable fuels certification (RFS2) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its proposed 65 million gallon per year biorefinery that will produce ethanol, distillers grains and fuel-grade corn oil at the Spiritwood Energy Park near Jamestown, North Dakota.

Dakota Spirit AgriEnergyUnder the EPA’s revised Renewable Fuel Standard, cornstarch-based ethanol production facilities built after 2007 are required to have lifecycle carbon intensities 20 percent lower than conventional motor fuels. EPA’s RFS2 approval this week affirms that Dakota Spirit AgEnergy meets the 20 percent threshold. The lower intensity is primarily due to the use of steam from Spiritwood Station to power the biorefinery. As a combined heat and power plant, and when fully utilized, Spiritwood Station will be about 66 percent energy efficient. Most conventional coal-based power plants are 30 to 35 percent efficient.

“We are pleased we could bring the EPA regulatory review of our unique RFS2 pathway to a successful and collaborative conclusion,” said Greg Ridderbusch, president of Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, and vice president of business development and strategy, Great River Energy who owns Dakota Spirit AgriEnergy.

To date, Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has completed business planning, engineering and now, RFS2 certification. Ongoing financing work is left to complete before groundbreaking in summer 2013. When operational, the biorefinery will utilize 23 million bushels of corn to produce 65 million gallons of ethanol per year, as well as corn oil and distiller’s grains.

corn, Ethanol, RFS

99.9% Electricity from Wind & Solar by 2030

Joanna Schroeder

IWEA logoAccording to recent research from the University of Delaware, 99.9 percent of electrical needs in a large power grid can be provided by wind, solar and new storage technologies by 2030 at costs comparable to today. Author Dr. Cory Budischak will present the findings in more detail during the general session on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 as part of the 6th Annual Iowa Wind Power Conference.

Other conference speakers include Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds. In addition, the Director of Wind and Water from the US Department of Energy has been invited to speak. The conference will focus on four general themes that reflect the national and world leadership position that Iowa has achieved. Those themes include technology development, small & community wind, operation & maintenance and education training & research. In addition, a Research Poster Display featuring dozens of new university research projects will be a key element of the event. Click here for more information about the conference.

Wind

Plant Breakthrough May Improve Biofuel Processing

Joanna Schroeder

Tan-Li---Mohnene-Debra-230x151There may be a connection between two different types of cell wall glycans (sugars) and specific wall protein known as arabinogalactan protein. The initial discovery was made by Li Tan, who then approached researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA to continue the research. According to Tan and Debra Mohnen, who both work at part of the BioEnergy Science Center, this connection is not known to exist and does not conform to the commonly held scientific definitions of plant cell wall structure. Yet what they found could redefine the understanding of basic plant biology, and it may lead to significant improvements in the growth and processing of biofuel crops.

“This is totally new,” said Tan, a research scientist in the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and lead author of a paper detailing the group’s findings published in the online journal The Plant Cell. “We had never seen linkages between these structures before, and we had to develop a variety of new tests to prove that what we saw was not simply a mistake or a contamination.”

The scientific community generally agrees that complex sugars like pectin and xylan, which allow for cell wall structure, extension and growth, exist in separate networks from cell wall proteins. However, the UGA researchers have identified a direct and indisputable link between these two domains.

“What this means is that plant scientists’ view of the plant cell wall is at least partially wrong,” said Mohnen, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and also a  member of UGA’s Complex Carbohydrate Research Center. “There have been hints over the last 30 or 40 years that this link might exist, but no one has been able to prove it until now.”Read More

Alternative energy, biofuels, Renewable Energy, Research

Sensenbrenner Introduces Bill to Cap Cellulosic Fuels

Joanna Schroeder

Congressman Jim SensenbrennerAs last week came to a close, U.S. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced a bill to place what the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) calls artificial caps on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual cellulosic biofuel projected production numbers. The proposed limits for any given year would be no more than five percent or one million gallons, whichever is greater, of total volume of cellulosic biofuels commercially available for the most recent calendar year.

In response, Bob Dinneen, RFA President and CEO said this is worse than irony. “Now that truly meaningful investment is being made in cellulosic ethanol companies that can be witnessed by the steel in the ground and actual production and introduction of millions of gallons of advanced ethanol into the marketplace, the Congressman wants this nation to turn its back on progress — turn back the clock to days of petroleum domination,” said Dinneen.

“Americans want fuel choice, they want cost savings, and they want American energy independence.  America is noted worldwide for its ingenuity and creativity.  Ethanol, especially the next generation that is now coming to fruition before our eyes, is the epitome of the American spirit.

Rather than encouraging that uniquely American entrepreneurial spirit, Congressman Sensenbrenner would limit the growth in advanced biofuels to no more than five percent per year.  Clearly, far faster growth will occur if the RFS is left to work as designed.  But in any case, I wonder if Congressman Sensenbrenner would agree to a five percent cap on the growth of non-conventional petroleum from fracking in the same spirit he is trying to cap advances in biofuels to five percent.  Why limit the speed of progress toward energy independence from any domestic resource?” concluded Dinneen.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Legislation, RFA

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDFLouis E. Capuano, Jr. has been elected by his peers on the Geothermal Resources Council Board of Directors to be the next President. He replaces Richard Campbell, who remains on the Board of Directors as Past President.
  • Registration is now open for the Ethanol 2013: Emerging Issues Forum taking place in Omaha, Nebraska on April 18-19, 2013.
  • Don’t miss the European Biomass to Power conference in Krakow, Poland April 10-11, 2013. The final agenda has been released and registration is open.
  • Since you’ll already be in Europe, head over to the European Algae Biomass Conference in Vienna, Austria being held April 24-15, 2013. The final agenda has been released and registration is now open.
  • VIASPACE has harvested a large number of seedlings from its Giant King Grass nursery in California and shipped them to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands where they have been planted in a 25 acre propagation nursery operated by Tibbar Energy. Tibbar plans to propagate the Giant King Grass to create a 1000+ acre plantation to fuel the 7 MW anaerobic digestion power plant that Tibbar is building on St. Croix.
  • The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) has declared March 4-8, 2013 Texas Energy Independence Week. As part of the week’s events, there will be forums and briefings at the Capitol.
Bioenergy Bytes

Register Now – 9th Ethanol Short Course

Joanna Schroeder

lallemand Biofuels logoYou can never have too much education even if you’ve been working in the ethanol industry for many years – especially since technologies and practices continue to improve. A great tool is the 9th Ethanol Short Course, an ongoing effort to develop, train educate both new and experienced biofuel professionals. The course is sponsored by Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits and provides participants with in-depth training, conducted by industry experts and incorporates the entire fuel ethanol process. This year’s Ethanol Short Course takes place March 19-21 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Anyone interested in pursuing a practical or more technical understanding of the fuel ethanol production process should attend. Attendees should include plant operators, plant managers, lab technicians, lab managers and maintenance staff.

Topics and discussions will include: grain handling and starch conversion; fermentation technology; water treatment; evaporation and drying; safety; yeasts, enzymes and antimicrobials; chlorine dioxide chemistry; cellulosic ethanol research; DDGs and centrifugation. Click here for the full agenda and click here to register.

Cellulosic, Education, Ethanol