Domestic Fuel

The nation’s corn growers called comments made Wednesday by a coalition of radical environmental groups “just another attempt to prevent the ethanol industry from decreasing the United States’ dependence on foreign oil.”

“These environmental groups are stirring up fear for the American public at a time when Americans are already struggling due to the faltering world economy, job losses and high costs of food brought on by some food companies’ record profits and greed,” said National Corn Growers Association President Bob Dickey, a producer from Nebraska.

Several environmental organizations held a press conference urging the federal government to stop promoting renewable fuels like ethanol and saying they would rather increase the use of imported oil. During the conference, Clean Air Task Force spokesman Jonathan Lewis told a reporter that “burning gasoline is better than increasing the production of corn ethanol.”

Listen to that soundbite here ewp-bite.mp3

The group representatives made claims that they were unable to back up with any specific facts when questioned and they offered no ideas for moving toward a renewable energy future, although they claim that is their ultimate goal. They simply want the production of corn ethanol halted because they question whether biofuels are capable of making a major contribution to reducing fossil fuel use.

“The fact remains that ‘made in the U.S.’ corn ethanol is here — and available today — to strengthen the U.S. economy, create new, U.S.-based jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Wind and solar power are good options for energy; however, these will take years to have the same impact that ethanol is having now,” Dickey said.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (245.8KB)

Two biodiesel projects have garnered $150,000 worth of state grants from the Colorado Agricultural Value Added Development Board… a branch of the state’s Department of Agriculture.

Biodiesel Magazine reports the Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy… or ACRE… grants will actually help three facilities:

In partnership with Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST) in Lakewood, Colo., was awarded $100,000 to assist with the implementation of two farm-scale oilseed crushing and biodiesel production facilities. According to Raphael Shay, sustainability project manager for ICAST, one of the facilities will be at a feedlot in Stratton, Colo. “By producing meal with the oilseeds, we can actually make the project viable,” he said. “The biodiesel in this case is the coproduct. We’re hoping to use this as a demonstration project so that other producers see how it can be done.”

Colorado State University’s Golden Plains Area Extension Service received the second ACRE grant. A $50,000 research grant will be used to evaluate how energy crops should be rotated on northeastern Colorado dryland farms.

The article goes on to say that ICAST has been taking a mobile biodiesel demonstration unit… called Big SID (Seeds Into Diesel)… around Colorado and Wyoming, teaching farmers and ranchers how they can make their own biodiesel on the fam.

In the wake of Air New Zealand, Continental Airlines and Japan Airlines successfully testing biodiesel in their airliners, discount flyer JetBlue has announced it will try biofuels in its Airbus A320-200 by the spring of 2010.

This story from Flightglobal.com says the company plans to use non-food feedstocks:

Feedstocks being considered for the trial include jatropha, algae, waste forest residues, organic waste streams and the non-edible component of corn plants, corn stover, the spokesman says.

The biofuel should have the same properties as standard jet fuel and should not require engine or auxiliary power unit (APU) modifications, the spokesman adds.

And if I know JetBlue, the company will probably find a way to do it cheaper than everyone else.

It’s been nearly a month since some school buses in Minnesota wouldn’t run after temperatures dropped to -20 to -30 degrees F. Commentators such Fox TV’s Glenn Beck derided the state’s 2 percent biodiesel mandate as the cause of the stalled Bloomington school buses… although he offered no explanation why this didn’t happen at EVERY other school district that had the exact same requirement.

Well, apparently, Beck has shot his mouth off again last Friday as he’s continuing his tirade against the green fuel, and according to this opinion piece in the Minneapolis Star Tribune Beck said, “Lawmakers put children’s safety at stake because they don’t want their buses to run on a politically incorrect kind of fuel.” But the editorial doesn’t want to give Beck the last word:

With Minnesota poised to transition to a higher percentage of biodiesel this spring, it’s important to set the record straight on the Bloomington bus issue. Biodiesel wasn’t the culprit causing the school buses to stall out. Unfortunately, the brouhaha has given the state’s pioneering mandates and the promising biodiesel industry an undeserved black eye.

Minnesota law currently mandates that virtually all diesel in the state contain 2 percent biodiesel. Almost any oil can be used to make biodiesel, according to Ed Hegland, an Appleton, Minn., farmer and chairman of the National Biodiesel Board. In Minnesota, it’s mostly made from soybeans, then blended with regular petroleum diesel. Petroleum diesel is the fuel on which most of the nation’s trucks, tractors and road equipment run. Minnesotans in particular are long acquainted with regular diesel’s drawbacks in cold weather. When the temperature drops below a certain point, wax crystals can form and gum up fuel filters. It’s why truckers idle their trucks overnight in cold weather and why many who rely on diesel during the winter switch to a different blend to minimize the problem.

I’m sure this won’t even be the final word. But the next time biodiesel opponents try to point to the Bloomington bus story as evidence that biodiesel doesn’t work, I’d like them to explain why it worked everywhere else on that cold January day.

According to Motor Trend, the E85 compatible Saab 9-3X will appear at the Geneva Auto Show. The wagon is similar to the Audi Allroad. It is to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts looking for an alternative to large SUVs.

Saab designers lifted the chassis 1.4-in over the standard SportCombi and included the company’s “XWD” all-wheel-drive system. With multiple wet clutch plates and an optional rear limited slip differential, the system can dole out torque between the front and rear axles as it sees fit. For power supply, a turbo 2.0-liter E85-capable and a turbo 1.9-liter diesel engine. The all-wheel-drive-attached FFV engine produces 210 hp, and offers six-speed manual and automatic transmissions.

Two bills aimed at helping the renewable energy business in Virginia have advanced in the State Legislature.

This story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch says the measures are part of Gov. Timothy Kaine’s eco-friendly “Renew Virginia” and cleared the Virginia Senate:

Senate Bill 1146, carried by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, would require the government to purchase diesel fuel for its vehicle fleet that contains at least 2 percent biodiesel.

The bill, carried by Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Norfolk, provides credits for the installation of solar electric generation, solar heating systems and wind-powered electrical generators.

This year’s Green Grand Prix is taking a dual-track in the nation’s premier event featuring alternatively-fueled vehicles.

This press release says along with the road rally… the signature event for the grand prix… this 5th rendition at Watkins Glen, New York on May 2, 2009 will also feature a new fuel economy competition:

Both road events are open to anyone, and organizers anticipate vehicles that will include all hybrid models, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars and cars running on biodiesel, diesel, flex-fuel and pure electric. Organizers also expect many other interesting alternate fueled vehicles such as those powered by vegetable oil, as well as by LP and compressed natural gas.

The new ChicagoSoft Green Grand Prix Fuel Economy Run will offer its competitors the opportunity to set fuel economy records in various categories around the 80-mile perimeter of Seneca Lake. Fuel Economy Run entrants also will return to the Racing Research Center to take part in afternoon festivities.

Registration and more information is available on the Green Grand Prix Web site.

Toyota Motor Corporation along with other Japanese companies announced they would be setting up a research company to develop a next-generation cellulose-derived biofuel — at low-cost. Contrary to feedstock crops, cellulosic ethanol uses inedible plant matter. Recently in the U.S., feedstock based ethanol has been blamed for raising food prices however, next-generation alternatives have proven more expensive than gasoline.

According to Reuters, the consortium has set itself the goal of producing 250,000 kilolitres (1.6 million barrels) per year of bioethanol by March 2014, and producing bioethanol at 40 yen ($0.437) per litre (about $70 a barrel) by 2015.

The other firms involved include: Nippon Oil Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Toray Industries Inc, Kajima Corp and Sapporo Engineering Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sapporo Breweries.

A new study finds that large scale production of cellulosic ethanol beyond the level of the Renewable Fuel Standard is achievable and sustainable by 2030, with accelerated development of biofuel and agricultural technology.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced the release of “The 90-Billion Gallon Biofuel Deployment Study,” a new report by Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Corp. The report investigates the challenges and feasibility of increasing biofuel production targets to 90 billion gallons, which would displace nearly a third of projected transportation fuel use in 2030.

Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, says “This new study shows clearly that building U.S. production of cellulosic biofuels is a sound way to significantly reduce U.S. reliance on petroleum in the transportation sector. The study uses relatively conservative assumptions about the development of cellulosic biorefineries as well as the availability and possible yields of biomass to show that large-scale production of cellulosic biofuels can be done. Moreover, cellulosic biofuels can compete with high prices for oil while requiring investment equal to or less than that needed to find and develop new sources of domestic oil.”

Sandia National Laboratories’ Biofuels Deployment Model was used to complete the 90 billion gallon study, which found that cellulosic biofuels could compete without incentives with oil priced between $70 and $90 per barrel in 2030, with accelerated development of
technology and feedstocks.

This edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast features comments from Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper about recently released studies from the University of Nebraska and the University of Minnesota regarding life cycle analysis and greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol compared to gasoline. Cooper compares the two reports and discusses RFA’s major concerns with the Minnesota study.

You can listen to “The Ethanol Report” on-line here:
ethanol-report-26.mp3

Or you can subscribe to this podcast by following this link.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.4MB)

Saskatchewan-based Prairieland Motorsports has unveiled the world’s first jet-powered biodiesel truck.

This picture from the Prairieland Web site is the truck in progress. This story from CanadianDriver.com has details:

The truck, named Prairie Gold, was shown at the Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon, and at the Farm Tech Show in Edmonton in January. The body resembles a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck, but uses a J60 Pratt and Whitney jet engine, normally found in the U.S. Navy’s T-2 Buckeye intermediate training aircraft.

The truck is expected to reach speeds of 402 km/h in about 6.5 seconds on a drag racing track. It will be attending car shows, trade shows and drag races throughout Canada in 2009, including the World of Wheels Show in Calgary from February 19 to 21.

The truck runs on canola-based B100 biodiesel from local biodiesel supplier Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan.

San Francisco-based Sirona Fuels has joined the biodiesel business. During an announcement, fittingly enough, at the National Biodiesel Conference & Expo last week in the Golden Gate city, company officials said they bought Blue Sky Biofuels, giving them a 15 million gallon a year refinery using recycled cooking oil:

Sirona has implemented plans for the rapid expansion of its used cooking oil collection business, and by the end of 2009 expects to produce the majority of its biodiesel from jatropha, an oil-yielding plant that grows on non-arable land and is not part of the food chain. The company has identified commercial sources for jatropha in several countries and is developing businesses that will promote the establishment of jatropha farms in Haiti, India and other developing countries.

“There is no better way for a company to go green or get ahead of rising oil prices and upcoming low-carbon fuel standards than with a fixed-price, high-quality biodiesel like Sirona offers,” said Lacourciere. “Sirona’s biodiesel exceeds ASTM standards and has among the highest quality of any biofuel in America. We plan to grow the company exponentially by acquiring more refineries and aggressively expanding our local and international feedstock supplies.

Sirona also is doing some pretty impressive philanthropic things as well, including helping underdeveloped countries develop their potential and establishing a relief fund for more than 1,100 orphans in Haiti. Check ‘em out!

Need a job to make some green? Well, then, think GREEN!

SustainLane.com, which bills itself as the leading Web guide for green living, is now offering a green collar job board: www.sustainlane.com/green-jobs.

A company press release says the board has hundreds of job listings from across the U.S., including alternative energy jobs:

“Green collar jobs are on the rise, thanks to a growing national consciousness on environmental issues, the rapid growth of the alternative energy industries and President Obama’s pledge to generate new green jobs during his term,” says James Elsen, SustainLane Media CEO. “For those currently in green jobs—or looking to enter the industry—the time has never been better. Through SustainLane.com’s green collar job board, we hope to simplify the job search and provide the ultimate green job resource.”

Employers and job seekers can use the SustainLane.com green collar job board for free. Just go to www.sustainlane.com/green-jobs or call (415) 392-LANE for more information.

Kansas-based Crescent Oil Company has filed for bankruptcy after failing to make deliveries last week to many retailers the company serves in the Midwest. The sudden move comes just two weeks after Crescent took part in a grand opening for NewGen Fuels, a joint venture with ethanol plant owner/designers ICM and POET.

Officials with NewGen say their goal to offer “new generation” ethanol-blended fuels at hundreds of retail outlets remains the same, but the timing could be affected.

NewGen President Alan Goodnight was quoted in the Wichita Business Journal. “We’re still focused on the mission of NewGen,” Goodnight says. “We don’t see these unfortunate events in any way changing the mission or changing our objective. Crescent Oil was also a partner in NewGen LLC and still is.”

According to an article in the Dunn County News, the American Lung Association (ALA) in Wisconsin recently received the “Friends of Wisconsin Corn Growers” award during the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association (WCGA) annual meeting in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

“Representatives of the American Lung Association in Wisconsin have worked tirelessly to promote E85 fuel as a ‘Clean Air Choice’ fuel for many years at dozens of gas station promotions, trade shows, fairs and other gatherings,” says Randy Woodruff, president, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association. “We are fortunate to have this committed group of professionals working diligently to communicate the benefits of ethanol fuel to all the residents of our state and we look forward to partnering with them on some new programs.”

The ALA of Wisconsin promotes E85 through a variety of outlets such as listing E85 stations throughout the state on highway signage. “The blue highway signs are a great tool to remind motorists who have flex fuel vehicles that they have a cleaner alternative to gasoline,” says Jackie Blackburn, Clean Fuels coordinator for the American Lung Association of Wisconsin. “And often, E85 is priced significantly less than regular unleaded fuel.”

Wisconsin now boasts more than 120 E85 fueling outlets.