Domestic Fuel

Biofuels top the list as the most acceptable avenue to long term energy security in the nation, according to a national consumer survey commissioned by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC).

EPIC Executive Director Toni Nuernberg said they interviewed over 1,000 consumers nationwide for the survey. “About 73 percent of them responded that they want to see domestically produced biofuels such as ethanol to replace oil,” she said.

In addition, 62 percent of the consumers surveyed cited conservation as a solution to long-term energy independence, 58 percent favored increased domestic drilling, 55 percent support mandated manufacturing of environmentally friendly vehicles and 24 percent cited drilling in environmentally friendly areas as an option.

EPIC’s national poll also reveals consumer support for biofuels such as ethanol keeps growing. Nearly 62 percent of respondents have a favorable view of ethanol. And Nuernberg says consumers are very interested in flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) that can run on either pure gasoline or any blend of gas and up to 85 percent ethanol.

“What was somewhat surprising to us is that they also expressed some interest in purchasing a hybrid flex-fuel vehicle,” said Nuernberg. “Over 64 percent of respondents said they would consider purchasing such a vehicle and it was even a higher acceptance than FFV without the hybrid feature.” Nuernberg says the main reason cited for the purchase of a hybrid FFV was the environmental benefits of ethanol.

View survey results here.

A California biotechnology company has opened a biodiesel plant that makes the green fuel from sugarcane.

This story from Cleantech.com says Emeryville, Calif.-based Amyris Biotechnologies opened the first of its two pilot plants in its home state with plans to open four commercial-sized plants in Brazil in the next couple of years:

The 2.4 million gallon-capacity pilot plant in Emeryville is only expected to produce enough fuel for testing, experimenting and securing certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and fleet operators. Melo said he expects EPA certification within 30 days.

Unlike traditional biodiesel from lipids and fatty acids, Amyris uses synthetic biology to reprogram microbes, or “bugs,” to function as living factories for the environmentally-friendly production of high-value chemicals.

Company officials say the fuel they produce closely resembles conventional gas, diesel and jet fuel.

It’s not very often that you hear about a biodiesel firm turning down $1 million in the form of a government grant, but a green fuel maker in Pennsylvania seems to have some practical reasons for saying “thanks, but no thanks” to the money.

This story from the Binghamton (NY) Press & Sun-Bulletin says Alternative Fuels Inc. turned down the $1 million Pennsylvania grant to start an algae biodiesel fuel plant but will still produce biodiesel in the state:

Late last month, [Richard Smith, the business's principal] told the DEP he would not be using the grant and to make it available to someone else, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Charles Young said. The DEP asked for the request in writing and has not heard back from Smith.

Under a program initiated last summer, Smith also is eligible to receive 75 cents a gallon from Pennsylvania, or up to $1.9 million a year, if he produces at least 25,000 gallons of biodiesel a month, Young said.

The article goes on to say that Alternative Fuels does plan to take advantage of that conventional biodiesel credit.

The new Central Florida Pipeline will soon get its first customer as Houston-based Kinder Morgan Energy Partners starts shipping ethanol through the 106-mile pipe from the Port of Tampa to its terminal near Orlando ­International Airport.

This story in the Orlando Business Journal says this will take 40 fuel trucks a day off the road:

Although the pipeline was already in place, reaching the point where Kinder Morgan was able to begin shipping ethanol was no easy undertaking.

Kinder Morgan’s Tampa terminal receives ethanol transported by rail, barges and other vessels, said spokeswoman Emily Mir Thompson.

The move is seen as setting a precedent for pipeline ethanol distribution.

Debuting in early May of this year, the South Dakota ethanol blender pump program has grown to 34 stations across the state. According to the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), 45 stations have filed applications to receive grants to install these blender pumps which give flexible fuel vehicle owners the choice of filling up with E20, E30, E40 or E85.

“Higher blends of ethanol are the ultimate goal. South Dakota consumers can now reap the benefits of higher blends by being able to access blender pumps across the state,” said Reid Jensen, president of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. “South Dakota was first to raise the bar and offer the next generation of fuel to consumers. This is only the starting point. Flex-fuel drivers are discovering that mid-level blends are a better option for them, offering better fuel efficiency, lower emissions and lessening our dependence on foreign oil.”

A state-wide consumer radio and print campaign began on November 5, 2008 to educate consumers about mid-level blends, blender pumps and blender pumps locations.

The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition is pleased to add our congratulations to President Elect Obama on his victory in the 2008 Presidential election. As a non-partisan organization, we do not and did not support any political candidate from President down to the local County Commissioners. We are however, unapologetic advocates of the use of ethanol and other forms of renewable transportation fuels and look forward to working with President Elect Obama and his administration in advancing the use of renewable fuels.

After his inauguration on January 20, 2009, President Elect Obama will immediately be facing a myriad of critical issues. The recent “credit crunch”; 186,000 U.S. military service men and women engaged in two wars; the continued threat of international terrorism; and loss of jobs in the U.S. are but a few of the central concerns he will be dealing with……..and while the price of gasoline at our nation’s pumps is now some 50% less than the cost in July of this year, we are certain that the goal of domestic energy independence will remain in the top tier of his priorities.

President Elect Obama has been a strong supporter of the use of E85 as a form of renewable fuels. I first met then Senator Obama at the Grand Opening of a new E85 fueling facility in Springfield, Illinois, in June of 2004. At that time it was clear he possessed a tremendous knowledge of agriculture and renewable fuels and how renewable fuels could advance agricultural profitability and U.S. energy security. NEVC staff and contractors worked closely with Senator Obama and his staff to secure the federal income tax credit available to offset some of the costs of new fueling facilities. We have worked together to address matters relating to incentives that are provided to automakers to offset some of the costs of producing FFVs, and other matters of similar importance.

During the campaign, President Elect Obama frequently reiterated his support for biofuels, the massive production of flexible fuel vehicles, and the establishment of the infrastructure necessary to fuel new and existing FFVs.

On behalf of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, we look forward to working with the president elect and his team to continue to advance the use of renewable fuels, break the nation’s addiction to oil, and promote rural economic development.

The nation’s oldest ethanol advocacy organization is welcoming the formation of Growth Energy, a new group announced Tuesday in Washington DC.

In a statement, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) said it “welcomes Growth Energy’s support in tackling challenges and seizing upon the opportunities before America’s ethanol producers. On behalf of ethanol producers across America and in conjunction with our international colleagues, the RFA remains committed to expanding ethanol markets and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, dispelling misinformation about ethanol production and use, addressing climate change, and assuring the full potential of American farmers and ethanol producers is realized and put to work. We welcome another voice in Growth Energy in support of America’s farmers and ethanol producers.”

RFA has served as the voice of the ethanol industry since 1981, providing advocacy, authoritative analysis, and important industry data to its members, Congress, federal and state government agencies, strategic partners, the media and other opinion-leader audiences.

Growth Energy was formed by a group of ethanol companies – including POET, ICM, Western Plains Energy, Amaizing Energy, Hawkeye Renewables, Green Plains Renewable Energy – “committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy.”

POET and other leading ethanol producers from around the country announced the launch of a new organization, Growth Energy, at a press conference at the National Press Club today.

“The organization will be dedicated to promoting clean, green ethanol as America’s best renewable fuel that is high-tech and homegrown, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil,” said POET CEO Jeff Broin.

Answering questions about why yet another organization for ethanol was needed, “We believe the more associations, the better,” Broin said. He denied that there is any dissatisfaction with the way current organizations, such as the Renewable Fuels Association, have been working to promote biofuels.

The organization has already launched a new advertising campaign and released a policy paper aimed at dispelling the myth perpetuated by the food industry that ethanol is responsible for increased food prices. “When oil and commodity prices rose in early 2008, Big Food reflected their higher prices almost immediately,” said Dave Vander Griend, CEO of ICM. “Today corn prices have dropped by more than half, oil prices have tumbled to less than 65 dollar a barrel, yet food prices continue to go up and so do the mega profits of the major food companies.” Vander Griend says the data in the policy paper released by Growth Energy proves that “food prices and ethanol production are not strongly linked.”

The main companies behind the formation of the new organization are POET, ICM and Fagen – the three largest ethanol plant build/designers. These three companies organized the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) in 2005 and indications are that EPIC may now become part of the newly formed Growth Energy.

Listen to press conference here: growth-energy-edit.mp3

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A major maker of wind turbines has announced a major order for a wind farm in the Pacific Northwest.

Vestas-American Wind Technology, the Portland, Oregon subsidiary of the Danish wind turbine giant Vestas A/S, has announced in this press release that it has received an order for 22 units of the V80-2.0 MW wind turbine for Puget Sound Energy’s Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Ellensburg, Kittitas County in the state of Washington:

The Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility is owned by Puget Sound Energy, Washington state’s largest energy utility and a Northwest leader in renewable energy. Wild Horse entered commercial operation in December 2006 with 127 Vestas turbines and a capacity of 229 MW, with the additional turbines now ordered as part of a planned expansion to the wind energy facility. As such, the 22 units of the V80-2.0 MW wind turbine will add an additional 44 MW to the existing 229 MW installed at Wild Horse.

In addition to supplying turbines to Wild Horse, Vestas is also the turbine supplier for Puget Sound Energy’s Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility located in Dayton, Columbia County, Washington. Hopkins Ridge entered service in November 2006 with 83 turbines, expanding to 87 turbines this year.

The 22 turbines are set to be completed in the second half of next year.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) says the U.S. is on track to generate a record amount of wind power this year.

Florida-based Green Flight International and Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie Biofuels have teamed up to complete the first non-stop, transcontinental flight in a jet powered predominantly by biodiesel.

This press release from Green Flight says the flight took off from Reno, Nevada and landed in Leesburg, Florida, flying for more than 11 hours:

“This transcontinental flight was distinctive in that 1,776 miles of the 2,486 total miles flown were powered on 100% biofuel,” said [Green Flight International President and CEO Douglas] Rodante. Only 710 miles of the flight were powered by a mixture of 50% biofuel and 50% standard jet fuel. The 50/50 fuel mix was used to compare performance data and demonstrate the capability of blending biofuel with existing jet fuel supplies.

The Federal Aviation Administration has expressed an interest in using the Orlando-based Green Flight’s biofuel test program as a template to assess future generations of aviation fuels. “There is absolutely no room for error in a single engine jet aircraft operating on 100% biofuel,” said Chief Pilot [Carol] Sugars. “The extended cross-country experimental flight operated to stringent specifications required by the FAA in order to ensure public safety.”

Green Flight officials promise another record-breaking flight in the future… maybe around the world next time.

Our friends at the Farm Foundation are at it again, bringing a variety of folks together to offer differing viewpoints to come up with workable solutions. Last month, I had a chance to sit in on their Transition to a Bioeconomy: Environmental and Rural Impacts Conference in St. Louis where I heard many sides of the issues facing the biodiesel and ethanol industries.

Now, the foundation, in conjunction with Farm Journal, is holding its first Food and Agriculture Policy Summit, Dec. 2nd–4th in Washington D.C., where biofuels will be a key part of the agenda:

On Dec. 4, Farm Foundation will examine long-term challenges and opportunities in the conference Agriculture’s Strategic Role: Feeding and Fueling a Growing World. This program will begin with the release of a new Farm Foundation report detailing the policy challenges and options the United States and the world will face to feed a growing world over the next 30 years.

“Experts predict the world’s population will increase 35 percent by 2050, reaching almost 9.2 billion people,” says Farm Foundation President Neil Conklin. “It is critical that we begin today to address the challenges facing the world’s food and agricultural system to provide feed, fiber and fuel for this growing world.”

On Dec. 3rd, nine former Secretaries of Agriculture are slated for a 90-minute discussion of challenges and opportunities facing agriculture today, and you can bet that biodiesel and ethanol will be a key part of that talk.

There’s still plenty of time to register with early-bird registration open until Nov. 17th. Click here for more information.

Indiana firefighters learned firsthand how to battle an ethanol fire at one of Poets’ refineries in Alexandria. A fire training exercise yesterday led the firefighters to learn how to battle ethanol verses gasoline type fires.

According to The Herald Bulletin, Alexandria Fire Chief Bruce Waters invited Pendleton, Anderson, Richland Township and Pipe Creek Township fire departments to take part in the exercise along with the Madison County Hazmat team. The ethanol plant arranged four square steel walls on a gravel section of the plant property for the exercise. Firefighters poured ethanol into designated burn areas and then ignited the fuel. They were taught how to fight the blaze during a four hour training prior to the exercise.

Dave Hudak of Poet noted that the likelihood of a fire at the ethanol plant is low since ethanol fires are extremely rare and Poet officials take strict precautions to prevent accidents. Hudak said ethanol at the plant is contained to pipes and enclosed structures that are not exposed to heat or air, two of the components that fire needs. Fuel, in this case ethanol, is the third.

America’s ethanol producers have formed a new organization based out of Washington, DC. It’s called Growth Energy.

Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home.

The organization will be dedicated to promoting clean, green ethanol as America’s best renewable fuel that is high-tech and homegrown, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. In addition, the organization will release a new policy brief and announce a new advertising campaign focused on dispelling one of the major myths about ethanol production.

The new organization will have a press conference tomorrow which we’ll participate in and have more information to share then.

BBI International is moving to bigger headquarters nearer to an international airport.

BBI has maintained its corporate headquarters in Salida and neighboring Cotopaxi, Colorado for nearly 15 years. Maintaining its operational hub in the geographically remote community became increasingly difficult for the 90-person international company, according to company president Mike Bryan, especially being three hours from Denver airport. The company headquarters will move to the Denver suburb of Lakewood, Colorado, by the end of the year.

The privately held media, events, consulting and engineering firm will also consolidate its event logistics, marketing and media operations in Grand Forks, North Dakota, effective immediately.

Mr. Ethanol, Jeff Broin, CEO, POET is looking to the future and a new organization that will help open new markets for the renewable fuel.

I spoke to Jeff at last week’s Project LIBERTY field day and asked him what he thinks about the results of our Presidential election. He says, “President-Elect Obama, is going to be I think very, very strong for ethanol.” In fact, Jeff says that POET had one of Obama’s top advisors on energy at their grand opening in Ohio just a couple weeks ago and she stated that he would like to see the RFS increase to 60 billion gallons which Jeff says, “is a great thing for farmers, it’s a great thing for agriculture, it’s a great thing for ethanol.”

An issue that Jeff says presents a challenge to the ethanol industry is the regulatory cap which limits ethanol to 10 percent of the fuel supply – and the industry is bumping up on it now. He says they need access to more markets. For that reason a new ethanol organization is being formed. “We actually are just in the process of working with many other ethanol producers and several ag companies to create a new organization that’s going to drive that agenda forward.” He says we’ll hear more about it shortly.

You can listen to my interview with Jeff here: poet-liberty-08-broin-2.mp3

You can also download the interview with this link (mp3).

Project LIBERTY Field Day Photo Album

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