BIOX, Shell Canada Ink Biodiesel Supply Agreement

John Davis

BIOXShellA biodiesel supply agreement between BIOX Corporation and Shell Canada is touted as being a big benefit for both Canadian companies. This BIOX news release says the company will pipe biodiesel from BIOX’s Hamilton refinery to the adjacent Shell distribution terminal and will provide a market for the refinery’s 67 million liters (approximately 17.6 million gallons) of biodiesel while helping Shell meet its Canadian requirement of renewable energy content.

“This agreement provides Shell Canada access to a secure, stable supply of renewable content for our diesel with the most efficient logistics possible,” said Esther Atere, Shell Canada Business Development Lead. “As well, it will assist Shell Canada in achieving the federal mandate of 2% renewable content in diesel fuel and heating distillate oil requirements.”

“This agreement is a great example of how the renewable fuels industry can work with the petroleum industry,” said Kevin Norton, Chief Executive Officer of BIOX. “Shell is investing in its distribution terminal to blend renewable content in diesel and we are investing alongside them to deliver biodiesel in the most efficient manner possible, through a pipe across the property line.”

The pipeline connecting the two facilities is expected to be completed late this year.

Biodiesel, International

Biodiesel Board’s Howell Picked as AOCS Fellow

John Davis

steve-howellIn an honor bestowed on just a few, the American Oil Chemists’ Society honors the National Biodiesel Board’s technical director Steve Howell with the prestigious AOCS Fellow Award. This NBB news release says Howell has been with the board for more than 20 years as it was just getting started, leading the biodiesel industry through completing Health Effects testing, establishing ASTM standards, and securing Original Equipment Manufacturer approval, to name just a few.

“Thanks to the many technical accomplishments of Steve Howell, the U.S. biodiesel industry is now a meaningful supplement to the nation’s diesel fuel supply,” said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. The industry is on track for its vision of 10×22 – making up 10 percent of the overall U.S. diesel fuel supply by 2015 with a range of blends. “I can personally attest to his hard work, integrity, and very special talents. He deserves this recognition.”

Formal conferral will happen at the Society’s Annual Meeting in Montreal in May. To be named a Fellow is one of the highest forms of recognition conferred by AOCS, explained Mike Haas, a USDA researcher and Past President of AOCS.

“It’s also rare for a person who is not directly involved in research at a university or a national lab, where they would generate a trail of publications by which evaluators can assess impact, to be named an AOCS Fellow,” Haas said. “In its history AOCS has named only about 85 people as Fellows, and their names constitute some of the very best in the fats and oils professions from around the globe. Steve Howell deserves to be among them.”

Congratulations, Steve!

Biodiesel, NBB

Biodiesel RIN Defrauder Gets 15+ Year Sentence

John Davis

epa-logoThe Environmental Protection Agency is showing it’s serious about holding up the integrity of the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) system for renewable energy credits. The Lubbock (TX) Avalanche-Journal reports Jeffrey David Gunselman, the founder of Lubbock-based Absolute Fuels, got more than 15 years in prison and has to pay nearly $55 million in restitution and a $175,000 fine for his part in selling the RINs without the biodiesel to back it up.

Gunselman, 30, was sentenced to serve concurrent terms of 188 months on each of the 51 wire fraud counts, 120 months on each of 20 money laundering charges and 24 months each on four counts of making false statements under the federal Clean Air Act…

Gunselman has been held without bail, primarily in the Lubbock County Detention Center, since July. The federal charges arose from Gunselman entering nonexistent biodiesel quantities for sale on an Environmental Protection Agency database and selling the renewable identification numbers, also known as RINs…

The numbers, essentially a batch number that represented about two-thirds of a gallon of biodiesel, are used by oil refiners and shippers to show they are complying with EPA requirements for combining renewable fuels with gas and diesel refined from petroleum.

Ivan Vikin, the head of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Texas, said: “Today’s judicial action demonstrates the consequences for exploiting the Renewable Fuels program in order to steal millions of dollars from customers and taxpayers.”

This follows February’s sentencing of a Maryland man who received 12 1/2 years prison and has been ordered to pay more than $42 million in restitution for selling fake credits to oil companies and commodities brokers.

Previously, the National Biodiesel Board formed a RIN Integrity Task Force that in the words of NBB Chairman Gary Haer, “…will not allow a few bad actors to risk the progress we have made for America’s Advanced Biofuel – biodiesel.”

Biodiesel, Government, RINS

Good Time to Invest in Biodiesel

John Davis

KotrbaIf you’re looking to put your money in renewable energy, this might be the time to look at investing in biodiesel. Ron Kotrba from Biodiesel Magazine outlines his 11 reasons, with good sources for each reason, why the green fuel might be paying back in greenbacks:

1. Jump in on a growing market: The U.S. biodiesel industry is poised for its most profitable, successful year yet in 2013 with expected record-breaking production volumes thanks in part to the increased federal biomass-based diesel requirement of 1.28 billion gallons (28 percent higher than 2012), the $1 per gallon tax credit and rebounding D4 RIN prices…

2. Sustainable 10-year growth plan: IHS Global Insight conducted a modeling report for the National Biodiesel Board to help guide EPA with its yearly biodiesel RVO under RFS2 and, in the modeling report, the group determined that there will be enough feedstock available to reach 3.3 billion gallons of U.S. biodiesel production by 2022.

3. The National Biodiesel Board unveiled a new industry target in February 2013, named 10×22, an aggressive but achievable goal that calls for biodiesel to make up 10 percent of the U.S. diesel fuel supply by 2022.

4. Engine makers support biodiesel, why not you? All major OEMs producing diesel vehicles for the U.S. market support at least B5 and lower blends and 79 percent of U.S. manufacturers now support B20 or higher biodiesel blends in at least some of their equipment.

5. No blend wall here: While the ethanol industry struggles with hitting its blend wall, biodiesel penetration in the 2012 U.S. diesel fuel supply was only 1.9 percent. Given that all major OEMs support B5, achieving a 5 percent biodiesel penetration rate would mean nearly 3 billion gallons of biodiesel production (almost three times greater than 2012 production volumes)…

He goes on to make other points about how the EPA sees biodiesel as reducing greenhouse gases from 50 to 80 percent, the quality of the green fuel just keeps getting better and how the biodiesel industry supports up to 83,000 jobs in this country, among the many other good reasons Ron finds to put your money on biodiesel this year.

Biodiesel, Opinion

Popke’s in Rock Rapids, IA Joins the E15 Club

Joanna Schroeder

Popke’s, Inc. in Rock Rapids, Iowa has joined the E15 “club” now joining four other stations in Iowa to sell the 15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline fuel blend.

Greg Popke Photo- Sioux City Journal Dave Dreeszen“My business believes in supporting Iowa’s farmers and growing our local economy,” said Popke’s, Inc. owner Greg Popke. “American-made E15 is the next step in securing our independence from foreign oil. The citizens of Rock Rapids have been asking for E15 and are excited to have ready access to this cleaner, less-expensive fuel.”

Popke’s, Inc. is located in Northwest Iowa at the corner of Highway 9 and Highway 75 in Rock Rapids. E15 can be used by all 2001 and newer passenger vehicles and all flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). Those vehicles account for 85 percent of fuel use in the United States. In order to offer E15 to the non-FFVs, a retailer must register with the EPA. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) works with retailers to ensure they comply with all federal and state E15 regulations.

“We hope more retailers will continue to incorporate E15 into their business models,” added IRFA Managing Director Lucy Norton. “Offering E15 is a win-win as it provides economic value to both retailers and consumers.”

Retailers interested in installing a blender pump to offer E15, E85, and other ethanol blends can apply for a grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The IRFA provides assistance in the application process. Click here for more information.

biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

New Wind Energy Solutions Sharie Derrickson Honored

Joanna Schroeder

Sharie Derrickson, Vice President of New Wind Energy Solutions in Nashville, TN, along with 13 other female military veterans, were recently honored by White House as part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future,” initiative. Fourteen female military veterans were selected that have provided exemplary leadership at the local, state or regional level.

“You are the leaders in our businesses and schools in our communities,” Mrs. Obama said. “You all are part of a long line of women who have broken barriers – defied 882296_10200953878758241_1589722989_oexpectations and served this country with unparalleled courage and determination. And the beautiful thing about our veterans – and this is especially true for our women veterans — is that long after you stop serving this country, you don’t stop serving it after you hang up your uniforms.”

Meeting the president and the first lady in the East Wing of the White House, Derrickson said, was an overwhelming experience. “They are rock stars, but so personable and warm. It is invigorating and re-energizing when you know that my passion of a sustainable world is shared all the way up the chain of command. They treated us like honored guests with the works – champagne, hor d’oeuvres, a military jazz band.”

New Wind President, Stuart Wiston, who attended the event, said he is proud to have Derrickson on his sustainability team. “Our company makes it a priority to hire veterans because they bring so much to the table. Getting Sharie was a stroke of luck. Her dedication to her job is unsurpassed and that is a trait I find in all my former military employees. She is a well-spoken advocate for what we do here and she deserved this recognition from the White House not only as a female veteran but as a spokesman for global sustainability. She works hard to help corporations save money and enhance their communities and not be a burden on them by using best practices. She cares about her clients. It’s not as much a business to her as it is a mission.”Read More

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Environment, Wind

Partnership for Sustainable Cellulosic Feedstock Harvesting

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA has announced a new collaboration with DuPont to promote sustainable harvesting of bio-based feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol.

DuPont_logoThe joint agreement between USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and DuPont aims to set voluntary standards for the sustainable harvesting of agricultural residues for renewable fuel, and supports rural job creation, additional income for farmers, bio-based energy development, and the safeguarding of natural resources and land productivity.

usda“USDA and DuPont share a common interest in the wise use and management of soil, water and energy resources,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Both organizations also share an interest in helping individual farmers adapt to new market opportunities in ways that are consistent with the wise use of these natural resources.”

“Working with farmers is critical to maximizing the land’s productivity and protecting natural resources,” said Jim C. Borel, executive vice president of DuPont. “With this new collaboration, we have a partner in the Natural Resources Conservation Service to ensure that the collection of corn stover for the production of cellulosic renewable fuel makes sense for an individual grower’s operation and the land they farm.”

Under the agreement, NRCS will provide conservation planning assistance for farmers who supply bio-based feedstocks to biorefineries as the industry begins to commercialize. Conservation plan, written for individual operations, will ensure sustainable harvest of corn crop residues while promoting natural resource conservation and land productivity. A conservation plan is a voluntary document, written in cooperation with farmers, which helps them protect natural resources while promoting a farm’s economic sustainability.

advanced biofuels, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Ethanol News, feedstocks, USDA

DF Cast: Countering RIN-sanity

John Davis

There’s been a lot of talk about the prices for Renewable Identification Numbers … better known as RINs … especially from Big Oil trying to blame RINs for the rise in gasoline prices.

But in this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, Ron Lamberty, Senior Vice President with the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President for ACE, explain what RINs are and what they do … as well as dispelling some of the myths that have created what they call RIN-sanity.

You can listen to the Domestic Fuel Cast here: Domestic Fuel Cast - Countering RIN-sanity

You can also subscribe to the DomesticFuel Cast here.

View the ACE Biofuels Beltway March 2013 Photo Album.

ACE, Audio, Domestic Fuel Cast, Ethanol, Government, News, RINS

Farmers Expect to Plant Most Corn and Soybeans Ever

Cindy Zimmerman

According to the USDA 2013 Prospective Plantings report, farmers intend to plant a little more corn and a little less soybeans this year, for a total of 174.4 million acres.

“This will be the highest total amount of acres for those two crops that we have on record,” said USDA chief economist Joe Glauber.

usda-logoCorn growers intend to plant 97.3 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2013, up slightly from last year and 6 percent higher than in 2011. If realized, this will represent the highest planted acreage in the United States since 1936 when an estimated 102 million acres were planted. “While farmers struggled with drought last year, they remain resilient and dedicated to producing an abundant corn crop in 2013,” National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Martin Barbre said. “This report shows that the innovative American farmer understands the increasing global demands of corn for food, feed, fuel and fiber and that they see the importance of meetings those needs.”

The majority of acres gained lie outside of the traditional Corn Belt, with only Minnesota, North Dakota and Ohio projecting increased acreage planted to corn within that area. Acres planted to corn outside of the Corn Belt made gains in Arkansas, Georgia, Texas and Mississippi. Final planting projections remained close to last year’s acreage as Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota all project planting at least 100,000 fewer acres than in 2012, with Illinois projecting acres planted to corn will drop by 600,000 acres from 2012. The actual number of planted acres will be released in USDA’s June 28 report.

Soybean acres are estimated at 77.1 million acres, down slightly from last year but the fourth highest on record.

corn, NCGA, USDA

Panasonic Eco Solutions Completes Solar Canopy

Joanna Schroeder

Hilton Foundation CarPortPanasonic Eco Solutions North America (Panasonic), has completed the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) parking lot canopy at the new Agoura Hills, California headquarters for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Panasonic served a supporting role in the project that was developed and financed by RSB Funds (RSBF). The 115 kilowatt PV project will generate enough energy to operate over 20 average California homes for an entire year.

“Panasonic is pleased to have partnered with RSBF to deliver a comprehensive solar solution, including development, construction and financing, that will generate tangible and intangible benefits for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for decades to come,” said Jamie Evans, Managing Director, Panasonic Eco Solutions North America.

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation designed its new headquarters campus to address current and future professional and social responsibilities, including a focus on becoming increasingly energy efficient, environmentally responsible and aesthetically appealing. The solar PV carport system supports the organization’s goal to exceed Platinum LEED standards and further demonstrates the Foundation’s long-term commitment to sustainability.

“The use of solar power was an essential part of our plan to achieve LEED Platinum status and eliminate the use of fossil fuels. The project we completed with Panasonic helped us achieve this goal while enabling us to continue to maximize the allocation of our assets for charitable purposes,” added Patrick J. Modugno, Vice President, Administration and CFO for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar