Domestic Fuel

The latest “Fill Up, Feel Good” podcast from the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council is about the latest pump promotion done in connection with IndyCar Series races.

The podcast features comments from Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, IndyCar® Series drivers Vitor Meira and Jeff Simmons, Michigan Ethanol general manager Tony Simpson, Saginaw county Michigan farmer Don Morse and customer Alicia Hope of Ann Arbor.

The “Fill up, Feel Good” podcast is available to download by subscription (see our sidebar link) or you can listen to it by clicking here. (4:20 MP3 File)

The Fill Up, Feel Good theme music is “Tribute to Joe Satriani” by Alan Renkl, thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.0MB)

Bunge North America and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy have announced plans to build and operate a 110-million gallon per year ethanol production facility near Council Bluffs, Iowa, according to a company release.

Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy, LLC (SIRE) is an entity primarily owned by farmers in Southwest Iowa that was formed in 2005 for the purpose of developing and operating the proposed plant. On Saturday, SIRE formally closed a successful investment round to provide equity for the project. Under the agreement, SIRE’s farmer members would hold the majority of shares while Bunge would be the largest single shareholder. Bunge would market the by-products and provide other key services for the new facility. AGRI-Bunge, LLC, a joint venture between Bunge and AGRI Industries, an Iowa cooperative, would be responsible for grain origination to support plant operations.

The food versus fuel debate is more of a feed versus fuel debate when it comes to corn and ethanol, since about half of our corn is fed to livestock. So, what does the livestock sector think about it?

Some are making a big deal about a recent article in Pork Magazine in which Gary Allee, University of Missouri swine nutritionist says he believes that “ethanol producers will out bid pork and poultry producers, driving up corn prices.” The article says that Allee and others are researching ways to use the ethanol by-product, distiller’s dried grains with solubles or DDGS, in swine diets. But there are some challenges in the performance value of that feed for hogs and whether they will eat it. The bottom line of the story is that “there will surely be some growing pains as the corn and livestock sectors re-adjust to changes that lie ahead.”

On the cattle side, there is an Associated Press story out of Iowa that says cattle producers think ethanol industry can boost beef production. The director of the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University thinks that because Iowa is such a major ethanol producing state that “the availability of distillers dried grains and other ethanol extras will give the state competitive advantage over other cattle-feeding states.”

Livestock have different feed requirements, but there is constant on-going research to address those needs in various forms.

The IRL Firestone 400 was delayed by two and a half hours Sunday, but at the finish line it was Helio Castroneves who finally brought it home after dueling it out the better part of the race with Vitor Meira, who finished second. Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons came in 10th to post his fourth consecutive top ten finish.

Simmons and Meira were both out pumping for ethanol last week prior to the race in Michigan, along with Governor Jennifer Granholm and fellow racers Buddy Rice and Kosuke Matsuura. They are all pictured here from left to right – Jeff, the gov, Buddy, Kosuke and Vitor (who looks kinda like Ben Stiller to me).

Chuck interviewed both Jeff and Vitor at the event.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Jeff here Jeff Simmons Interview (2 min MP3)

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Vitor here Vitor Meira Interview (1:30 min MP3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (862.8KB)

The action at one of the pump promotions coordinated by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council can be pretty fast paced at times. To give you a feel for it I shot a short video clip at last week’s Huron Fuel Depot promotion in Ypsilanti, MI.

Pictured are Ethanol Car driver Jeff Simmons (l), a consumer getting gas and Don Morse, corn grower from Michigan (r).

Here’s how it all works: Ypsilanti Pump Promotion (2 min wmv)

Archer Daniels Midland, better known as simply ADM, is the single largest ethanol producer in the nation and a significant biodiesel producer as well – in addition to producing feed and food products from both corn and soybeans. According to the company’s international website, they are one of the world’s largest agricultural processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. We work with farmers across the world to turn these crops into soymeal and oil, corn sweeteners, flour, cocoa and chocolate, ethanol and biodiesel, as well as a wide portfolio of other value-added food ingredients, animal nutrition and industrial products.

Chuck talked to ADM’s Greg Webb this week when he was at the Ag Media Summit in Portland, Oregon and specifically asked him about the “Food vs. Fuel” issue.

Webb says they expect to see more industrial usage of agricultural crops in the future and ADM’s answer to food vs. fuel is: “We are in the business to produce feed and fuel and food for the market place and we believe that modern agriculture will have the capacity to address that challenge and will produce to meet that opportunity.”

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Greg here Greg Webb Interview (5 min MP3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.2MB)

Registration is now open for Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance, a national renewable energy conference that will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Energy October 10-12 at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

The conference will focus on achieving goals outlined in President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative, which seeks to change the way we power our cars, homes and businesses through the use of alternative energy sources.

Attendance is open to the public. Anyone involved with, or interested in, renewable energy is encouraged to attend, including transportation, large- and small-scale farming, finance and investment officials, as well as academia, and federal, state, government and elected officials. Registration is required and the cost is $495 before October 1. After that it goes up to $595, or $695 at the door. So, if you think you want to go, better register soon.

The Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of the American Trucking Associations has formed a Renewable Fuels Task Force to examine issues associated with renewable fuels and their importance to the commercial agricultural trucking industry in response to congressional action supporting the goal of establishing a national renewable energy goal whereby 25 percent of energy consumed in the United States must come from agricultural-based renewable fuels by the year 2025.

According to AFTC, Chairman Greg Owen says the resolutions will benefit AFTC members and the U.S. agricultural industry.

“With today’s rising energy costs and fuel charges, it is imperative that Americans and the business community work together to support renewable energy sources that can make the United States less dependent on imported sources of energy,” Owen said. “Commercial agricultural transportation will play a key role in the transport, distribution and use of renewable energy fuels.”

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm was out pumping for ethanol Thursday at a Marathon gas station in Ypsilanti.

Granholm joined Indy Racing League drivers Buddy Rice, Vitor Meira, Jeff Simmons and Kosuke Matsuura, arriving for the event with Simmons in a special 2-seater IRL show car.

The event, sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, was the latest in a series to promote ethanol-blended fuel at the pump and raise public awareness.

Regular unleaded E10 normally sells for $3.09/gallon but for the promotion the price was $2.20/gallon from 11:15 am to 12:45pm. All blends at the Huron Fuel Depot, a Marathon affiliated station, contain 10% ethanol. A record 231 cars were filled with 3202 gallons during the promotion.

Listen to Governor Granholm’s comments to kick off the event. Granholm Remarks (2 min MP3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.1MB)

According to the National Biodiesel Board, Chrysler Group has announced that the first diesel-powered, full-size sport utility vehicle offered in the United States will be shipped from the factory with B5, a blend containing 5 percent biodiesel. The Jeep® Grand Cherokee CRD’s B5 factory fueling builds on a similar program implemented with the company’s Jeep Liberty CRD.

The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee features a 3.0 liter common rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine built by Mercedes-Benz. Clean diesel technology improves fuel economy by an average of 30 percent and reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 20 percent. The Grand Cherokee CRD will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit and will arrive at Jeep dealerships in the first quarter of 2007. Peter Cremer North America of Cincinnati, OH – certified through the industry’s BQ-9000 quality control program – will supply the biodiesel fuel.

The Broin Companies is holding a ground breaking ceremony August 3 for Premier Ethanol, LLC, a 60 million gallon per year ethanol plant to be constructed near Portland, Indiana.

According to a company release, invited speakers for the program include Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, State Representative Bill Davis, Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, Ron Lamberty from the American Coalition for Ethanol, and Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association. Jeff Broin, CEO of the Broin Companies, will also address the audience. The public is invited.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to approve the testing of E-85 conversion kits in Minnesota. According to an EarthToys press release, Pawlenty sent a letter this week to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to approve the FlexTek conversion kit (see previous post) which is already being used in Brazil.

The EPA currently prohibits a company or individual from converting a gasoline vehicle to E-85 operation.

Pawlenty said his staff would contact EPA officials to further discuss testing the equipment in Minnesota.

I wish everyone would send me press releases with nice pictures attached like this one from Dresser Wayne, “an industry pioneer for the retail fueling industry” whose motto is “Fueling the Future.”

They sent me a release about these pretty new E85 pumps just installed at 18 Kroger fuel stations in Dallas and Houston. The Dresser Wayne Vista 387 E85 dispenser contains components specifically designed to be tolerant to alcohol, making the dispenser more durable and resistant to corrosion. To bring the first industry-approved E85 retail fuel dispenser to the market, Dresser Wayne is partnering with CleanFUEL USA, recognized as a leader in the alternative fuels industry.

We might be seeing more of those pumps around. The U.S. House this week voted 355 to nine in favor of legislation to expand the infrastructure required for increased availability of alternative fuels at U.S. gas stations. The measure – HR 5534 – establishes a program for independent gas stations to apply for assistance to install infrastructure like E-85 pumps.

A three-day conference in Tifton, Georgia next week will cover everything anyone would ever want to know about bioenergy – from research and production to marketing and legislation. The Georgia Bioenergy Conference is “not just about grain and beans,” as it focuses heavily on the use of alternative feed-stocks such as wood byproducts, grasses, and byproducts from peanut, cotton, and municipal wastes to generate energy.

The dates are August 1-3. More info is available on the website.

One of two ethanol plants being built by U.S. EnviroFuels has run into a snag due to a land issue. The company is planning facilities at both Port Manatee and the Port of Tampa, but according to the Bradenton Herald, the Manatee county site is on hold “until they can work out an agreement with Port Manatee tenant TransMontaigne Inc. to lease 16.5 acres of land.”

Meanwhile, the Tampa plant continues to moving forward and is close to groundbreaking, according to company officials.