Renewable Energy Installed Capacity Grows by Leaps and Bounds

Joanna Schroeder

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects has released its latest “Energy Infrastructure Update,” and finds that renewable energy sources including biomass, geothermal, solar, water, and wind, accounted by 49.10 percent of all new domestic electrical generating capacity installed during 2012. The total was 12,956 MW and more than a quarter of that new capacity, or 3,276 MW, came online during December 2012 alone.

geothermal-energyWind power led the way in 2012 with 164 new “units” totaling 10,689 MW installed. Solar power followed with 240 units totaling 1,476 MW installed. Biomass added 100 new units totaling 543 MW while geothermal steam and water each had 13 new units with installed capacities of 149 MW and 99 MW respectively. By comparison, during 2012, new natural gas generation in service totaled 8,746 MW (33.15%) followed by coal (4,510 MW -17.09%), nuclear (125 MW – 0.47%), and oil (49 MW – 0.19%).

New capacity from renewable energy sources in 2012 increased by 51.16 percent compared to 2011 when those sources added 8,571 MW. In 2011, renewables accounted for 39.33 percent of all new in-service generation capacity. Renewable sources now account for 15.40 percent of total installed U.S. operating generating capacity: water – 8.47 percent, wind – 4.97 percent, biomass – 1.30 percent, solar – 0.34 percent, and geothermal – 0.32 percent. This is more than nuclear (9.24%) and oil (3.57%) combined.

“If there were still any lingering doubts about the ability of renewable energy technologies to come on-line quickly and in amounts sufficient to displace fossil fuels and nuclear power, the 2012 numbers have put those doubts to rest,” said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “Not only has renewable energy become a major player in the U.S. electrical generation market, but it has also emerged in 2012 as THE reigning champion.”

Alternative energy, biofuels, biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, Solar, Wind

USDA Under Sec Dallas Tonsager Heads to Iowa

Joanna Schroeder

Portrait Dallas Tonsagar Under Secretary for Rural DevelopmentUSDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager, is heading to Iowa to speak at the 7th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show on January 30, 2013. Additional speakers include Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad; Growth Energy’s Tom Buis; Anne Korin of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security; and Nathan Kauffman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

“Hearing the USDA’s outlook for renewable fuels and the role they play in rural development in America will be one of the many highlights of the 2013 Summit,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Mr. Tonsager has been a great voice for rural America, and the USDA has been a stickler for the facts when it comes to ethanol and biodiesel.”

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit provides an opportunity to hear experts address state and national issues facing the future of renewable fuels, as well as a chance to network with biofuels professionals and business leaders throughout the Midwest. The Summit, held at The Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa, is free and open to the public. The registration deadline is January 23, 2013.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

Ceres Awarded Zayed Future Energy Prize

Joanna Schroeder

Ceres has been awarded the top prize in the non-governmental organization (NGO) category of the Zayed Future Energy Prize that honors innovative companies who have had a positive impact and shown strong leadership in the renewable energy and sustainability sectors. The award is part of the World Future Energy Summit, and this year’s awards attracted 579 submissions from companies in 88 countries.

Zayed Future Energy Prize“We believe that investing in people is the future of our collective prosperity,” said His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at the awards ceremony. “Through the Prize, we are not only recognizing tremendous achievement, but also providing support to help accelerate promising technologies and fund organizations, schools and individuals committed to impacting communities around the world.”

Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of the Republic of Iceland and Chairman of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury, noted that the winners show that change is possible and that vision and innovative thinking hold great promise through practical endeavors.

“Ceres is honored to receive a Zayed Future Energy Prize, and we believe it will enable us to have an even greater impact in our work,” added Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres. “In order to tackle the global challenge of climate change, we must expect even bolder action from investors, businesses, and policymakers. We will use the Prize to expand international investor leadership on clean energy and to grow our ongoing work with leading companies that are striving to integrate sustainability into their operations by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency and sourcing renewable energy.”

Alternative energy, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Environment, Renewable Energy

API Launches Fuels Campaign

Joanna Schroeder

Yesterday the American Petroleum Institute (API) announced a new TV advertising campaign. According to API’s Senior Manager, Cindy Schild, the ad is designed to highlight the importance of the nation’s refining industry. She said a strong energy future for our nation depends in part on our ability to refine and distribute the fuels we need – and that Oil Pipeline in Alaskasound decisions on the Renewable Fuels Standard, transportation infrastructure such as the Keystone XL pipeline, and refinery regulations could contribute to a more robust, competitive refinery sector that would continue to support America’s economy and strengthen its national security.

In response, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, responded by saying, “The lengths to which Big Oil will go to protect their absolute lock on fuels market are astounding. While they often pay lip service to the importance of renewable fuel for our country’s energy needs, at every turn they work to undermine them. Biofuels have helped reduce our dependence on foreign oil and created a robust domestic renewable fuels industry.” Buis will be speaking during the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Expo on January 30, 2013.

“Just the other day, API discussed how the RFS was broken, citing the blend wall as the primary challenge in a workable RFS. However, when it comes to the blend wall, Big Oil need only look in the mirror to see who is maintaining the status quo by protecting it,” Buis continued. “This is their entire play – if blend wall can’t be broken, the RFS won’t work. But Big Oil is maintaining the blend wall by erecting every possible barrier to bring increased blends of renewable fuel to the marketplace. While they opine for a free market, they are singlehandedly denying consumers a choice and savings at the pump by preventing a lower cost, high performance alternatives, such as E15.Read More

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Oil, Renewable Energy, RFS

Pompeo Bill Would Increase Petroluem Favoritism

Joanna Schroeder

Offshore Oil RigU.S. Representative Mike Pompeo (R-Kan) has introduced a bill dubbed the “Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act.” The bill eliminates tax credits for new industries attempting to compete with petroleum while maintaining billions in taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil. Furthermore, the bill would immediately eliminate every tax credit for alternatives to petroleum, including cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel and wind. Yet the bill only eliminates two petroleum tax credits (marginal well incentives and enhanced oil recovery credits) that only go into effect when crude oil prices are well below current levels.  Ironically, despite the immediate elimination of all things alternative, the oil tax subsidies would not be eliminated until the end of 2014.

“Rep. Pompeo’s bill ought to be named the ‘Petroleum Monopoly and Big Oil Prosperity Act,’” said  Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). It’s hard to take seriously the Congressman’s comment that we can’t afford ‘taxpayer-backed subsidies to companies that don’t need them’ when his bill does not eliminate a single oil subsidy currently in use. Rather the bill leaves intact oil subsidies that date back literally 100 years for the most profitable industry in the history of the world. If the question is, ‘When can Big Oil stand on its own two feet without a taxpayer crutch?’ then Rep. Pompeo’s answer is apparently ‘not yet.’”

If the bill were to be passed as is, the petroleum tax subsidies that currently cost taxpayers billions each year including:

  • Percentage depletion allowance
  • Intangible drilling costs expensing
  • Deduction for tertiary injectants
  • Exception from passive loss limitations for oil and gas
  • Oil and gas excess percentage over cost depletion

“This bill simply tilts government policy even further in favor of petroleum,” continued Shaw. Read More

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Cellulosic, Ethanol, Iowa RFA, Oil, Renewable Energy

Commit to Increasing Biofuels

Joanna Schroeder

As the World Future Energy Summit takes place in Abu Dhabi, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance called on policy development, business and technology sector leaders to commit to increasing biofuels’ share of the future global energy mix. The goal of the Summit is to advance future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies.

World Future Energy Summit Logo“The GRFA has demonstrated that increasing biofuels production and use in the future will lower GHG [greenhouse gases] emissions while positively contributing to our economy and reduce our reliance on crude oil,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance.

According to the GRFA, biofuels will help shape the future of renewable energy because they are good for the global environment and economy. According to a report commissioned by the GRFA, the global biofuels industry contributed $277.3 billion and supported nearly 1.4 million jobs in all sectors of the global economy in 2010. It is estimated that 85.2 billion litres of ethanol were produced in 2012 which is estimated to have reduced GHG emissions by over 100 million tonnes, the equivalent of taking more than 20 million cars off the road.

Baker continued, “Because biofuel feedstocks can be developed anywhere in the world, biofuels are a significant opportunity for all nations, especially developing countries, to develop and be part of an industry that is making such a significant contribution to global economy.”Read More

advanced biofuels, feedstocks, International, Renewable Energy

Drought Tops List of 2012 Stories

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, ” What do you think is top story of 2012?”

Our poll results: It looks like the majority of you at fifty-seven percent felt like “The Drought” was the top story for 2012. “No Farm Bill” came in at fourteen percent and ten percent said “USDA Meatless Monday Uproar”.

1.16.13

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Should we sit down with HSUS in “common cause”? Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s comments at the AFBF annual meeting this week about sitting down in common cause have attracted a number of comments here and on social networks. So we thought this week’s poll might produce some interesting feedback. Let us know what you think.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

New Holland, ZimmPoll

Vilsack Ties Farm Bill to Biofuels, Will Serve Again as Ag Secretary

John Davis

Vilsack 2013 afbfSecretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says the future success of biofuels in this country is also tied to successfully getting a new five-year farm bill passed. Speaking to delegates of the American Farm Bureau Federation at their annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn., Vilsack expressed his disappointment that a new farm bill was not passed … reserving some of his stronger language for maybe a smaller gathering. But he says the impacts of a new farm bill will be on more than just the mainstream renewable fuels, ethanol and biodiesel. It is for the overall bio-based economy.

“I’ve seen the ability to use corncobs and switch grass and algae and a wide variety of things that are grown and raised or could be produced in rural areas, converted into plastics, into chemicals, into fabrics, into fibers, into fuel, into energy. It is an unlimited future. But we require support and assistance and help and a commitment through a five-year bill,” Vilsack explained.

Vilsack reminded his audience who knows full well that rural America is providing the feed stock for most of the energy and most of the fuel that’s consumed and used across the country, while providing millions of jobs, many of those in the renewable energy sector. And he said that rural economy, booming with renewable energy, will attract young folks back to the heartland.

“If I were talking to a young person, I would say, you’re concerned about our overreliance on foreign oil, you can solve that problem in rural America.”

Growth_Energy_logo-1Vilsack also announced that he plans to serve another term as Secretary of Agriculture … a move applauded by Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy:

“Secretary Vilsack has been a tireless advocate for the renewable fuels industry, and I commend President Obama for his reappointment to the Department of Agriculture. I am confident that Secretary Vilsack will build upon his excellent service record supporting renewable fuels and economic growth across rural America. I know that during his tenure he will continue his strong advocacy for biofuels increased market access for higher ethanol blends such as E15.

You can listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s speech here: Sec. Vilsack Speech

And his press conference after the closing session here: Sec. Vilsack Press Conference

Audio, biofuels, farm bill, Farm Bureau, Government, USDA

January 15 is Iowa Wind Day

Joanna Schroeder

WindTurbineinIowa Photo Joanna SchroederJanuary 15, 2013 is Iowa Wind Day at the Capitol, in Des Moines, Iowa. Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad will be a featured speaker during the event and other speakers include Kathleen Law, the Iowa Wind Energy Association’s (IWEA) Board of Directors President, and Harold D. Prior, IWEA’s executive director.

The free event will feature more than 20 exhibitors representing many aspects of Iowa’s wind energy industry. Exhibits are open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon for legislators and renewable energy enthusiasts to learn more about the wide diversity of opportunity in the wind energy industry.

Iowa leads the nation in the number of wind manufacturers and wind related businesses and was the first state to exceed 20 percent of its electrical generation from wind. The state also leads the nation in the number of wind jobs and its ranked third nationally behind Texas and California in installed capacity. According to IWEA, Iowa is one of four states that would benefit the most from increased wind investment and has outstanding wind resources. Iowa’s central location, access to two navigable rivers and the U.S. Interstate Highway system are also distinct advantages leading to further growth of the wind energy industry in Iowa. Lastly, Iowa has many planned electrical transmission projects that will help move wind power (aka all power) to Iowans living throughout the state.

Alternative energy, Education, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Los Vientos I & II Wind Farms Completed in Texas

Joanna Schroeder

Los Vientos I & II wind farms have been completed in south Texas and now operational, have the capacity to produce 402 megawatts of wind power. Both projects are owned by Duke Energy Renewables and the project marks the company’s largest wind-power project to date. With the geographic location, approximately 120 miles south of Corpus Christi and 20 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, the two wind farms will generate the majority of their power during the day, when peak power demand is highest.

Los Vientos wind farm“2012 was a very significant year for us,” said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf. “With five new windpower projects and three new solar power projects commissioned into service, we added 800 megawatts of clean, emissions-free energy to our fleet last year alone. Now that Los Vientos I and II are on line, our total renewable power capacity grows to more than 1,700 MW, enough to power about half-million homes.”

All of the output and associated renewable energy credits from the 200 MW Los Vientos I Windpower Project in Willacy County are being sold to San Antonio-based CPS Energy under a 25-year agreement. In addition, Austin Energy is buying all of the output and associated renewable energy credits from the 202 MW Los Vientos II Windpower Project, sited in Willacy and Cameron Counties.

Duke Energy Renewables Vice President Milton Howard added, “We’re proud to be partnering with CPS Energy and Austin Energy to bring renewable energy to this region. And, we couldn’t have done it without the foresight of the leaders, landowners and people of Willacy County. Thanks to them, we were able to bring 600 jobs to the area during construction, and going forward, the Los Vientos projects will continue to boost economic development, support the local school districts, and be a source of dependable tax revenue for years to come.”

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar, Wind