Student Transportation Wins Propane Bus Contract

Joanna Schroeder

Student Transportation has been awarded a contract with Omaha and Milliard Public Schools in Nebraska to transport students with propane autogas school buses. The company will provide nearly 300 buses with more than 400 to be fueled with propane. The contract will begin in August 2013.

To best serve the schools, Student Transportation will open at least three facilities in the Omaha metro area. Blue BlueBird Propane Fueled School BusBird Corporation will manufacture the propane autogas buses equipped with ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system technology. The remaining buses in the fleet will be provided by IC Bus, a division of Navistar.

STI Chairman and CEO Denis J. Gallagher said, “Domestically-produced, clean-burning propane autogas is a perfect fit for school fleets with up to 30 percent less greenhouse emissions. By running propane-powered buses, Omaha Public Schools can reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 2,310,469 lbs. per year, significantly lowering the school district’s carbon footprint, which was its goal for the coming year.”

According to Student Transportation, propane sales currently contribute more than $122 million to Nebraska’s economy.

“This large deployment is the catalyst that alternate fuels needed to become a viable and reliable fuel source for school transportation,” said Gallagher. “We have been leaders in this area and have been pushing and working with our manufacturers to have a final product that can lower greenhouse emissions and lower costs at the same time. We wanted a large project to roll out our initiative in this area so school districts around the country can see there is a better way to transport children to school with a lower cost of operation. “

Propane

Bioheat is Cool

Joanna Schroeder

The National Biodiesel Board has launched a new television advertising campaign in the Northeast to promote the use of Bioheat. Bioheat is heating oil blended with biodiesel and is a renewable option for consumers and businesses that use heating oil to heat homes and offices. The campaign is funded by the Nebraska Soybean Board, the United Soybean Board, the Iowa Soybean Association and the South Dakota Soybean Research & Promotion Council.

BioheatTVThe commercials began running throughout the Northeast in late November, and will run for the next few months during local newscasts and football pregame shows in markets such as Boston, New York City, and Hartford, Conn. The ads highlight the benefits of Bioheat, including greater energy independence, supporting American Jobs, and “making the air in your home and town cleaner.”

“Strong imagery supporting our message is an advantage in creating a connection with customers,” said Paul Nazzaro, petroleum liaison for the National Biodiesel Board. “Consumers see the visual of a Bioheat truck, and see families like theirs, which helps personalize the message. Our goal is simply to pique their curiosity, drive them to the Bioheat website, and contact a dealer who carries it.”

In New York City, one of the commercials congratulates the city on using 2 percent biodiesel in all of its heating oil, thanks to a law that took effect in October. The ads proclaim New York City “Proud 2B2,” a play on the B2 requirement. The campaign is also a marketing tool for Bioheat dealers who can use the commercials in their own markets or on their websites.

Greg Anderson, a fifth generation farmer in Newman Grove, Nebraska said of the Bioheat campaign, “The oilheat market genuinely wants and needs our product, which empowers farmers to continue participating in the U.S. energy sector. Soybean farmers are very proud to wave the Bioheat flag because we recognize the tremendous potential it holds for both our industries.”

advanced biofuels, Alternative energy, Biodiesel, NBB

SEIA Releases Solar Training Materials

Joanna Schroeder

Solar Energy International has released a series of textbooks and online training materials for use around the world for technical renewable energy training and workforce development. The Solar Energy International Textbook Series will be released throughout 2013.

SEI_Textbook_Cover_FinalKathy Swartz, Interim Executive Director for SEI said, “When SEI was selected by the Department of Energy to be part of the Solar Instructor Training Network (SITN) we saw an immediate increase in requests for our textbook. The SITN is composed of nine Regional Training Providers (RTPs) to help fulfill a critical need for high-quality, local, and accessible training in solar system design, installation, sales, and inspection through train-the-trainer programs.”

She added that the nine RTPs are well-established solar training institutions that offer expert trainers and first-class training facilities across the U.S., and that SEI has a goal of helping to create a well prepared solar workforce.

The textbooks contact photos of PV applications, informational graphs, and interviews with professionals throughout the industry. This textbook series includes both introductory topics for people just entering the field and highly technical textbooks for solar professionals. Book titles include: Introduction to Renewable Energy; Solar Electric Handbook: Photovoltaic Fundamentals and Applications; Solar Electric Handbook: Advanced Photovoltaics for Solar Professionals; and
Solar Electric Handbook: Battery Based Photovoltaic Systems. Click here for more information.

American Ethanol, Education, Energy, Solar

Linda DiVall with American Viewpoint to Keynote NEC

Joanna Schroeder

p-nec13-divallLinda DiVall, President and CEO of American Viewpoint will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming National Ethanol Conference: Driving Forward, taking place in Las Vegas February 5-7, 2013. She will discuss trends in public opinion related to ethanol in general, including its brand image as well as public support of the RFS, E15 and other mid-level blends, and other public policies. Her presentation will run the gambit from political analysis to the most effective consumer and grassroots messaging.

According to the Renewable Fuels Association, who hosts the annual ethanol conference, as American Viewpoint’s founder, DiVall has provided effective strategies to both political and corporate clients for 27 years. She has been a member of the polling team for every GOP Presidential candidate since 1988. Her strategic insight has been utilized on policy issues of energy, Social Security, Medicare, retirement security, and healthcare as well as providing guidance to the GOP on strategies to counter the gender gap. Linda frequently provides political commentary to CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and PBS.

Registration is open. Click here to get more information about the conference agenda, speakers and to register.

biofuels, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Last Call for Student Biofuels Campaign Ad

Joanna Schroeder

Lights. Camera. Action.

Cut.

That’s a take.

Directors ChairThis could be you at your video premier of your biofuels campaign ad debuted during the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s 7th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show being held on January 30, 2013. High school students can enter to win $2,000 in cash prizes for the best ad promoting the use of E15 or biodiesel at the pump.  The top three video entries will receive prizes in the amounts of $1,000, $600 and $400 respectively.

“The IRFA is asking Iowa high school students to keep renewable fuels in mind over  winter break, and submit a campaign ad video encouraging consumers to choose E15 and biodiesel at the pump in 2013,” said IRFA Communications Director T.J. Page.  “We can’t wait to see how Iowa high school students set the record straight on renewable fuels and we hope all Iowans will vote with their fuel tanks by asking for E15 and biodiesel in 2013.”

The “Fuel the Future” contest is limited to students currently attending high school (grades 9-12 in a public, private or home school) in Iowa. Campaigns should not exceed 2 minutes in length and must be received by January 18, 2013. More information about the contest and instructions on submission can be found here.

Alternative energy, Biodiesel, biofuels, Ethanol, Iowa RFA

Old No. 44 Still Truckin on Propane

Joanna Schroeder

Blue Star Gas customers have seen “Old No. 44” delivering propane fuel for 40 years. The classic bobtail truck was also fueled by propane autogas. The truck was originally purchased in 1966 by Bill Stewart, father of Jeff Stewart, who is now the company’s president. Old No. 44 traveled more than a million miles in Northern California and Oregon before retiring in 2006.

BlueStarbobtailtruckChristmaspicIn 2007, the bobtail was refurbished in 2007 by Jarco, who first designed the built the International Loadstar 1600 to run on a propane auto-gas. Now it is back on the road with a look and is being exhibited nationwide at trade shows to demonstrate the evolution of propane autogas technology.

“Old No. 44 has served us well, even in retirement,” said Jeff Stewart, a third-generation owner of Blue Star Gas. “The truck’s longevity and performance has been remarkable. It made deliveries for decades over rough terrain, providing the communities we serve with clean, efficient propane. Now an award-winning show truck we use in parades and display at car shows, this old beauty is still an important part of the Blue Star Gas legacy.”

Robert Hobson, a Blue Star Gas service technician based in Salem, and his son Kenny, have taken Old. No. 44 to shows across the country. “It’s interesting to see the 40-year evolution in technology when we display the classic bobtail truck side-by-side with an updated one,” said Hobson. “There have certainly been advances in convenience and safety, but not many vehicles today can match the durability and craftsmanship of this workhorse propane truck.”

Propane

UMaine’s Floating Wind Turbine Project Gets $4M

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center the first phase of a potential $93.2 million grant to develop an offshore floating wind demonstration project. The demonstration project will de-risk the UMaine’s VolturnUS floating platform so that more private capital can flow in to Maine to build larger commercial farms.

During the first phase, awarded $4 million, the engineering, design and permitting will be completed. The next year, DOE will select up to three of the offshore projects that received awards, for follow-up funding. During this phase, the focus will be on siting, construction and installation with the goal of commercial operation by 2017. The UMaine Composites Center’s partners have pledged nearly $40 million in additional funds for the project.

OFFSHORE_WIND“We are pleased that the DOE has selected our team’s program after a rigorous technical review,” said Dr. Habib Dagher, P.E., director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and principal investigator for the project. “This R&D program could be transformational for our state, and will help us demonstrate a unique, patent-pending floating wind turbine technology called VolturnUS.”

The program, known as “Aqua Ventus I,” will be a 12 MW demonstration wind park using the VolturnUS floating platform technology developed at the UMaine Composites Center over the last four years. This project builds on the success of the DeepCwind Consortium Research Program, spearheaded by UMaine Composites Center and its industry partners. In spring 2013, a 1:8-scale VolturnUS floating platform will be deployed by UMaine researchers at the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site near Monhegan Island, Maine.

According to UMaine, deepwater floating offshore wind farms could harness stronger and more consistent winds than traditional fixed-foundation offshore wind turbines. This type of wind turbine would also be out of sight of the shore, alleviating esthetic concerns.

The Gulf of Maine has 156.6 GW of offshore wind potential, the majority of which is in deepwater. Maine has a plan to build a 5,000 MW network of floating farms by 2030, which would attract $20 billion of private capital to our state, and create thousands of jobs.

Alternative energy, Electricity, offshore wind, Renewable Energy, Wind

Tom Buis to Give Keynote at IRFA Summit

Joanna Schroeder

Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis has been selected to give the keynote address during the 7th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show taking place on January 30, 2013. The summit is hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and will be held at Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

Tom Buis Growth EnergyAccording to IRFA, under Buis, Growth Energy has been a powerful voice for ethanol and the renewable fuel standard (RFS). In addition, Buis and Growth Energy have been instrumental in promoting E15 through public outreach and the “American Ethanol” NSACAR sponsorship.

“Iowa leads the nation in ethanol production, so needless to say, the IRFA is excited to have such a great voice for the industry at the 2013 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit,” said IRFA President Rick Schwarck. “Growth Energy has been a tireless advocate for E15, and Tom’s leadership has spurred their commitment to bringing fuel choice to consumers around the nation.”

The 2013 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show is FREE and open to the public. Click here to learn more about the event and to register.

Alternative energy, biofuels, Growth Energy, Iowa RFA, Renewable Energy

Solazyme Project in Iowa Achieves Milestone

Joanna Schroeder

Solazyme has confirmed they have completed several initial fermentation runs at ADM’s facility in Clinton, Iowa. According to the company, the runs achieved commercial scale production metrics, exhibited linear scalability of its process from laboratory scale, and demonstrated the ability to run at this scale without contamination. The fermentation process is one of the critical steps needed to convert feedstock to biofuels, biochemicals or biomaterials.

The fermentation tests were conducted in approximately 500,000-liter vessels, which are about four times the scale of the vessels in Solazyme’s Peoria facility. Solazyme is initially targeting annual production of 20,000 metric tons of oil starting in early 2014 at the ADM facility, with targeted expansion to 100,000 metric tons.

Solazyme said in a press statement that the achievements in Clinton were comparable to the fermentation equipment being installed in the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils facility in Brazil. The facility is targeted to begin production before the end of 2013 and will have a nameplate capacity of 100,000 metric tons.

“Working with ADM’s world class fermentation team to achieve commercial scale operations at the ADM facility shortly after announcing the partnership exhibits our ability to rapidly and successfully scale in large commercial fermentation facilities,” said Peter Licari, CTO, Solazyme. “Solazyme is currently developing commercial facilities in the US, France and Brazil, and with these runs we have now achieved linear scale-up of over 70,000-fold from our labs.”

advanced biofuels, algae, Renewable Energy

“Icebreaker” Offshore Wind Farm Wins $4M Grant

Joanna Schroeder

The country’s only fresh water offshore wind farm known as “Icebreaker” has been awarded $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project is led by the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDC0). Through a one-year cooperative agreement, the DOE has committed $4 million to support the continued development of the project that will consist of five to nine wind turbines sited seven miles off the coast of Cleveland in Lake Erie. LEEDCo’s private partners have committed an additional $1 million to the project.

DOE awarded seven offshore wind projects funding. In addition to Icebreaker, projects in Maine, New Jersey,  Oregon, Texas and Virginia could receive up to $47 million over the next four years, for a combined total of nearly $180 million, subject to Congressional appropriations.

The selected demonstration projects will help address key challenges associated with installing utility-scale offshore wind turbines, connecting offshore turbines to the power grid, and navigating new permitting and approval processes.

“The DOE funding for ‘Icebreaker’ is a testament and vote of confidence for LEEDCo’s world-class team members and partners,” said LEEDCo President Dr. Lorry Wagner.  “After a highly-competitive evaluation process, I am excited and proud to say that ‘Icebreaker’ was selected for its innovation and expertise in wind energy development, paving the way for future financial support from the Department of Energy and private investors.”

Among LEEDCo’s winning development team for the project are Case Western Reserve University, McMahon DeGulis, Freshwater Wind, Siemens, and DNV KEMA.

Alternative energy, Electricity, offshore wind, Renewable Energy, Wind