Domestic Fuel

While California leads the nation in alternative fuel stations, pumps offering E85 ethanol and biodiesel are still extremely rare.

In fact, this Los Angeles Times story posted on Checkbiotech.org says that out of the 835 alternative fuel stations, 379 offer electricity, 215 pump liquefied petroleum gas, and 174 dispense compressed natural gas… with just a handful offering biodiesel or E85. But that could change:

Now, however, California has adopted ambitious new goals for alternative fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions – and it can no longer afford to leave the public out of the mix.For starters, the state is going to increase the use of ethanol as a fuel additive to all gasoline sold here.

New state and federal grants will help add E85 sites. In May, the state air board set aside millions to help set up 34 public E85 stations. Most are planned for the Sacramento area, but new sites will also open in the coming weeks in Carlsbad and Oceanside in San Diego County. Separate grants will fund new E85 sites elsewhere later this year.

But getting commercial stations on board might be a little tougher. The article says it costs about $50,000 to add E85 pumps. In addition, the big oil companies, which own most of the commercial outlets, are not warm to allow alternatives to petroleum to be sold at their stations.

GM, which has sold the largest number of the six million E85 vehicles on the road in the country today, is trying to help pump up the use of E85 by underwriting events such as selling E85 for just 85 cents a gallon in an effort to get more people to use the greener fuel.

Government to Greenpeace will be taking part in the Biofuels Conference at the end of April in London, England.

The one-day conference is scheduled for April 29th and is being billed as the “must attend” event of 2008:

Moderated by Sarah Montague of Radio 4, this high quality debate will outline the challenges of biofuel production and highlight possible future solutions.

Jim Fitzpatrick, MP, will be laying out the Government’s vision for biofuels and the low carbon economy.

In addition, various feedstocks for biofuels, including algae, waste and landfill gas will be discussed.

If you register by Friday, February 29th, you’ll save nearly $200 off the approximately $900 registration fee.

The National Ethanol Conference got a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll tonight and a whole lot of corn fed. I don’t know about you but I love being corn fed and I love Shannon Brown’s song. I got to meet her this afternoon here at the National Ethanol Conference and she and her band performed an awesome show.

I asked her about the song and how it all came about and what she thinks of the ethanol business that she’s been involved in through her sponsorship by VeraSun Energy.

Shannon says the song reflects the fact that she’s a corn fed Iowa girl and the song signifies who she is and where she comes from. She says that working with VeraSun has been an eye opener and she’s fully behind the mission of the ethanol industry. She says consumers should definitely feel comfortable putting it in their car.

You can hear my interview with Shannon here: nec-08-brown.mp3

And if you’d like to hear how this song sounded on stage then you can also do so here: nec-08-corn-fed.mp3

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

Bob Dinneen, RFA President, isn’t the only one to preach a powerful sermon here at the National Ethanol Conference. I was very surprised and pleased to hear Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, speak at today’s luncheon. He gave a very passionate speech that you would really enjoy listening to. That’s why I decided to post a link to the full speech below for you. I know it’s a little long but you can listen to as little or as much as you’d like this way.

I think he went to great lengths to talk about the mis-information filtering out to the public about renewable fuel sources. In fact, as so many of you know, it’s hard to believe how much of it is out there. So he addressed those problems head on with good scientific information.

He tells a very moving story about how much he travels for his present position and how that has affected his family and young children. He says that even though it’s difficult, it’s minor compared to what our military men and women are doing to fight the war on terror overseas. He says it’s the least we can do to do our part here at home which includes developing sources of energy that make us more independent of those countries that would do us harm.

Another message that came through loud and clear was his idea that the solutions to our energy needs are something that will be done by not just the government but by private industry and government working together.

You can listen to Andy Karsner’s speech here: nec-08-karsner.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (18.0MB)

The Reverend of Renewable Fuels got up and preached a powerful sermon today on the state of the ethanol industry. Bob Dinneen, President of the Renewable Fuels Association, gave his annual state of the industry speech this morning.

Speaking before more than 2,200 attendees at the 13th Annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, Florida, he declared that the state of the U.S. ethanol industry is sound:

“With your continued commitment, I can report to you without exaggeration or hyperbole that the state of the U.S. ethanol industry is sound, that we are prepared to meet the opponents of change with facts, with a resolute spirit, and with renewed dedication to the proposition that together we can change our nation’s energy, economic and environmental destiny.”

The complete text of Dinneen’s State of the Ethanol Industry Address can be found here (pdf).

You can listen Bob’s speech here: nec-08-dinneen-speech.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (10.9MB)

The 2008 Commodity Classic kicks off this week in Nashville at the Opryland.

Biofuels will be in the spotlight throughout the conference and the yet-to-be-completed Farm Bill will likely be a major topic of conversation as new agriculture secretary Ed Schafer will address the crowd on Friday during the general session.

Saturday night’s entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry featuring “Corn Fed” Shannon Brown – sponsored by VeraSun following up on her appearance at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando – along with John Conlee, Joe Diffie, Carolina Rain and The Steeldrivers.

The Commodity Classic is the combined convention and trade show of the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Association of Wheat Growers. Next year it will be even bigger when the National Sorghum Producers join the show.

Domestic Fuel coverage of the 2008 Commodity Classic
is sponsored by:

The City of New Orleans will be running the buses that replace the losses from Hurricane Katrina on biodiesel.

The New Orleans CityBusiness reports that the new buses will arrive this spring:

The first of 39 new RTA buses will be delivered in April, a $15-million step toward replenishing a 372-bus fleet Hurricane Katrina cut by 205 ruined buses.

“We started looking into the alternative options and so far biodiesel is the option that best fits our needs so we can strike a compromise between efficient transportation and a greener city,” Burgos said.

New Orleans is not alone as San Francisco, CA; Columbus, Ohio; Houston, Texas; and Bloomington, Indiana… among others… have all switched either their bus or city vehicle fleets or both to biodiesel.

Officials also hope the switch to biodiesel, made cheaper by certain tax incentives, will help the city transit system get back on track to its pre-Katrina days. Right now, ridership is only about one-fourth what it used to be.

Gadsden, Alabama is getting into the swing of biodiesel… and it’s depending on the community to help fuel the green move.

This story in the Gadsden Times says the city is handing out jugs to residents to get them to collect their used cooking grease so it can be turned into biodiesel:

The city is a partner in the program with the Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Board, which purchased collection jugs and labels, and Auburn University, which bought the equipment used to turn the cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.

The city will spend about 70 cents a gallon to produce the diesel fuel from cooking oil and grease. The fuel then can be used in the city’s diesel vehicles.

Officials hope to get the local restaurants involved as well so they can collect enough used grease to fuel the $14,000-bill Gadsden spends on diesel each year. In addition, they hope they’ll keep the grease out of the city’s sewer system, which has been a big problem clogging the pipes.

It has been a great first day here at the National Ethanol Conference.

The opening reception was held outside just before sunset and it was a big party. According to RFA President, Bob Dinneen, this is the biggest ever with over 2,300 attending. It seemed like they all came out to the opening reception.

I spoke with a lot of industry representatives today getting an idea of how things are going and the mood is upbeat even with all the challenges out there. Tomorrow kicks off the serious sessions and I’ll have a lot more interviews at that point.

The new leaders of the Midwest Governors Association (MGA) are committing their group to the advancement of the biofuels they see as the future for their region.

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds will serve as chair with Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm as vice-chair:

Under its new leadership, the Midwestern Governors Association will focus on strengthening state and federal efforts to build and maintain our transportation network. This effort will center on using energy produced in the Midwest to fuel the vehicles that use our roads and rails, helping Midwestern businesses move their products more efficiently and improving travel for Midwestern residents and visitors. The MGA will also build on its recent efforts to make the region a leader in domestically produced energy and facilitate several states’ efforts to address climate stewardship.

“As governors of our respective Midwestern states, we are committed to building a stronger alternative-energy economy that lessens our dependence on foreign oil and creates jobs in the process, said Granholm. By working with Gov. Rounds to improve our region’s transportation needs, we will make Midwestern states more competitive in this global economy.”

Here at the National Ethanol Conference golf is the first activity. RFA President Bob Dinneen got everyone started here this morning out at ChampionsGate golf course. Just before he gave everyone the send off I spoke to him about the Conference.

Bob says that this is the biggest and best Conference ever with over 2,300 people attending. He says they’ll be talking about the challenges ahead including climate change and the food vs. fuel debate that keeps raging.

Bob says the future is bright and the industry is on solid footing.

You can listen to my interview with Bob here: nec-08-dinneen-1.mp3

NFL Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood is also on hand with us here today at the golf tournament. He welcomed everyone out at the start of the event.

Jack played with the Rams in 5 NFC Championship games and in Super Bowl XIV. He’s a tough guy but very friendly. Today he’s out on hole number 2 helping teams out since he takes a drive and they can use his if needed.

I spoke to Jack in between groups on his hole. He says that here in Florida they’ve had their hand in the ethanol business for several years. He’s really pleased to see the enthusiasm on the part of the people involved in the industry and is looking forward to seeing what’s going on in the business here at the Conference.

Jack wants consumers to know that ethanol is a renewable resource that can take us in the direction we want to go. As he puts it, when it comes to fuel, “we want to grow our own.” He thinks it’s the most common sense approach to relieving our dependence on foreign oil that there is.

You can listen to my interview with Jack here: nec-08-youngblood-1.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (850.3KB)

Biofuels had a seat on the plenary panel entitled, “Getting It Right: Responding to Market Forces” at USDA’s 2008 Outlook Forum last week.

Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen noted that while ethanol is “not a silver bullet” for all of America’s energy, economic and environmental issues, but “biofuels are absolutely a part of addressing each of them to some extent.”

Dinneen talked about how ethanol production has revitalized rural economies and offset the increased gasoline demand over the past few years. “We have stemmed the tide of increased gasoline imports into this country,” he said.

And he talked about cellulosic ethanol. “We recognize that in order to grow our industry we need to move beyond grain,” and Dinneen says it is already happening.

Other panelists were Paul Schickler of DuPont/Pioneer Hi-Bred, C. Larry Pope of Smithfield Foods and Tom Stenzel with United Fresh Produce Association. The entire webcast of the panel is posted on USDA’s website.

There was also a panel on new sources for biofuels, focusing on biodiesel and featuring presentations from the National Biodiesel Board and Agriculture Blue Sun Biodiesel. (The links will take you to their presentations.)

And a panel focusing specifically on sustainability of ethanol with presenters including Dr. Mark Stowers of POET and Rick Tolman of National Corn Growers Association.

And that was just the first day. The second day saw panels on wind, solar, biomass and more. Most presentations are available on USDA’s site.

It’s time for the National Ethanol Conference. I’ll be providing on the scene coverage once again this year and working closely with the Renewable Fuels Association again, including posting onto their blog site.

So far we’ve just had registration taking place this afternoon and tomorrow we’ll have the annual golf tournament as the first scheduled activity before tomorrow evening’s opening reception. You can count on interviews and lots of pictures.

In fact you can keep up with things if you’d like with my Conference Photo Album which is already started.

If you’re looking for a career change or you’re just joining the workforce, you might consider a job in the wind industry.

This story in the Seattle Times says while the industry has taken off like a shot, installing 3,200 turbines last year alone… and that number expected to be repeated this year, the number of workers has not kept pace:

[W]ind-power officials see a much larger obstacle coming in the form of its own work force, a highly specialized group of technicians that combines working knowledge of mechanics, hydraulics, computers and meteorology with the willingness to climb 200 feet in the air in all kinds of weather.

Park developers, turbine manufacturers and utilities are investing in training programs, attempting to lure workers with wages of up to $25 an hour, or teaming up with the growing number of wind-energy training programs offered at community and technical colleges.

The article goes on to say that some wind energy companies are so in need of skilled workers, they are snatching up those in the technical programs at colleges before they even finish their training.

So if you’re career future is still up in the air, you might consider the industry that is gaining a whirlwind of support: wind power.

Canadians seem to be willing to use ethanol and biodiesel… if they can get the green fuels.

This story in the Vancouver Sun says there are only TWO E85 ethanol pumps in the country, and biodiesel seems to be available mostly just for farmers and large fleets. But some groups are trying to change that:

The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association and the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association have lobbied government for programs and tax incentives not only to increase production of biofuels, but also to get them to customers.

“They didn’t know they had flex-fuel vehicles on the floor,” said Sicard, who supplied Guelph and Chatham car dealerships with yellow tags to hang on the rear-view mirrors saying “You are sitting in a flex-fuel vehicle” with a map on the reverse to the fuel station. Sales have picked up. Who doesn’t like this stuff? Who can find fault with environmentally friendlier products?”

In addition, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association has stepped up its efforts to refute what it considers the false claims that biofuels add to world hunger. So, they’re trying to educate on two fronts: the government into providing the incentives to help make biofuels available… and the public so they can be assured they’re getting an environmentally-friendly fuel.