Domestic Fuel

DuPont research scientists outlined the company’s biofuels strategy at the third annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing held in Toronto. According to a release, DuPont biofuels research manager William Provine said the three-part strategy entails: (1) improving existing ethanol production through differentiated agricultural seed products and crop protection chemicals; (2) developing and supplying new technologies to allow conversion of cellulose to biofuels; and (3) developing and supplying next generation biofuels with improved performance.

Ford has been generating ethanol excitement this week at the British International Motor Show in London with its Ford Focus FFVs.

Ford announced that UK supermarket giant Morrison’s – which recently became the first retailer to sell “bio-ethanol” – became the proud owner of the 1,000,000th Ford Focus FFV sold in the country.

The company also announced that the Focus is the first FFV to be backed by discounted insurance, and that a new study measured the Focus FFV emissions at under 100 grammes of CO 2 per kilometer – lower than comparable vehicles using hybrid technology.

Ford also unveiled the snappy little number in the photo with a name that sounds like a French wine – Coupé-Cabriolet. This concept car was one of three new FFVs Ford has on display at the show.

In addition, Ford announced it’s intention to invest at least £1 billion to reduce emissions and fuel consumption in the UK.

While all of the “Big Three” U.S. car makers are pushing their lines of flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) capable of running on up to 85 percent ethanol, Toyota continues to mull it over.

A press release this week quoted Toyota Motor North America president Jim Press saying, Toyota is strongly considering introducing a flex-fuel vehicle program in the U.S. “We’re already developing vehicles that can operate in ethanol-rich Brazil and we’re optimistic that we can offer similar vehicles to American consumers.”
He said Toyota is also pursuing a plug-in hybrid vehicle that would be capable of traveling greater distances without using its gas engine, with the ultimate goal of conserving more oil, reducing smog and greenhouse gases to near zero emissions levels.

Press made his comments in a talk at the National Press Club (no relation to him), and numerous media outlets picked up the story out of DC from their own perspectives. The Chicago Sun-Times headlined that Toyota was “charging ahead with plans for plug-in hybrid.” Detroit Free Press noted that Press ” stopped well short of committing Toyota to bringing either technology to the U.S. market.” Associated Press headlined with Press’ denial that Toyota was thinking of hooking up with GM and buried the ethanol/plug-in angle about mid-article. Bloomberg focused on the plug-ins.

The Indy Racing League made a White House call Tuesday to meet with President Bush and talk about racing and ethanol.

Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. presented the president with an autographed racing helmet and IRL CEO Tony George “shared a brief exchange” with Bush about ethanol, according to an IRL news release. The IndyCar Series is using a 10 percent ethanol blend this season and will convert to 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol for all races in 2007.

“You’re leading edge, leading edge,” said Bush, who has touted exploration and support of alternative fuel sources in his State of the Union address for the past two years.

Tom Slunecka, executive director of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, was pleased with the president’s recognition of the IRL’s ethanol use. “We appreciate the sentiments of the Bush administration, which has been a long-time supporter of ethanol, and together with its efforts to bring more ethanol to the consumer, we believe ethanol can take our country a long, long way.”

The stars just keep coming out for biofuels. The latest to lend a name to the domestic fuel movement is none other than Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, according to a release from Earth Biofuels.

Ms. Roberts joins fellow Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman and country music legend Willie Nelson in promoting the use of renewable fuels such as Earth Biofuels’ biodiesel and ethanol.

Dallas-based White Energy Holding Company broke ground Tuesday on a new state-of-the-art ethanol facility in Hereford, Texas. According to a Business Newswire release, the $117 million project is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2007 and will have a nameplate production capacity of 100 million gallons per year (MGPY), placing White Energy among the top ten ethanol producers nationwide and the first operator in Texas. The company currently operates a 45 MGPY nameplate ethanol plant in Russell, Kansas that was recently acquired from U.S. Energy Partners, LLC.

Ethanol-fueled airplanes are on the program for an air show at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport this weekend.

The Vanguard Squadron of Sioux Falls is a four-plane formation group that flies in air shows across the country. I had a chance to meet the entire squadron last week in Sioux Falls at the Broin Companies for media training. Here is a short interview I did with one of the pilots, Steve Thompson, who talks about why they have been using 100 percent ethanol in their planes since 1993. Thompson Interview (1 min MP3)

The Vanguard Squadron, which is sponsored by the Broin Companies, will also be appearing at the 2006 EAA AirVenture next week in Oshkosh, WI.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (525.9KB)

Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) hosted a promotion of E-85-fueled passenger cars and trucks Monday at the Dixie Motor Speedway. According to a story in the Saginaw News, representatives from DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. attended to demonstrate their new flex-fuel vehicles, while the Michigan Corn Growers Association and Michigan Farm Bureau also participated to share perspectives on the future of ethanol and its impact on Michigan families, farmers and workers.

The logo is very cool and the company is “established to deploy the commercially ready, patented, and proven Arkenol Technology Process for the profitable conversion of cellulosic (“Green Waste”) waste materials to ethanol,” according to the Blue Fire website. The Irvine, CA-based corporation announced its management team this week, “led by Arnold R. Klann the founder of Arkenol and its cellulose conversion technology that has now been licensed on an exclusive and perpetual basis to BlueFire,” according to a MarketWire release.

Lots of interesting stuff on the website about this technology, as well as tribute to a Higher Power, for the inspiration and passion of the company’s founders. Amen. That’s pretty cool.

The first Pacific Northwest ethanol plant is scheduled to break ground July 20 in Oregon. Cascade Grain is being constructed by JH Kelly Ethanol of Longview, Washington. According to JH Kelly, the plant will be the largest on the West Coast and one of the 10 largest in the United States. Cascade Grain has been working for more than six years on the 113 million gallon per year plant project which is expected to be complete in 2008. More on the story from the Longview (WA) Daily News.