Domestic Fuel

In what’s being touted as a first of its kind for the country, a city in Georgia says it will use its wastewater to grow algae to make into biodiesel.

The Daily Citizen of Dalton, Georgia reports Dalton Utilities plans to build a pilot project to use with its land application system along the Conasauga River:

“We are working on the design now,” said Mark Marlowe, Dalton Utilities’ vice president of water and wastewater engineering. “We hope to start construction in the fall or winter of this year, and complete construction in fall or winter. The startup will take several months. But it should be fully operational by the spring of 2010.”

“The target is 2,000 gallons (per acre per year),” Das said.

DU officials say they the algae will eat the phosphorous in the water, removing it from the wastewater… growing fuel while cleaning up the environment!

A Southern Florida biofuel refiner has plans to build a 15 million-gallon-a-year biodiesel plant that will use oil from the jatropha plant and algae as its feedstocks.

This article from the Miami Herald says Ag-Oil, based in Delray Beach, is putting up the $20 million pilot-scale biodiesel production facility thanks to some federal stimulus dollars:

Teri Gevinson, CEO of Ag-Oil, said the company has planted 20 acres of jatropha, a fast-growing plant with seeds that contain oil, to make biodiesel. The biorefinery will use a patented technology to convert jatropha seeds, algae and related by-products into fuel.

Once operational sometime in 2011, the facility and plantation on 103 acres will maintain an estimated 128 direct jobs and 915 indirect jobs, the company said.

Other farmers in South Florida will also be growing jatropha for the plant.

Update your passport and book your ticket for Green Power’s 5th Next Generation Biofuels conference being held September 28-30, 2009 in Amsterdam. This event will bring together key players from around the world who are pioneering the development of advanced biofuels. The conference will address the latest developments in creating cost competitive, industrial scale production of next generation biofuels technologies.

In past years more than 720 biofuels professionals from 40 countries have participated in the forum. This year the line-up includes:

• •    Dr. Jos Van Boxtel, Arcadia Biosciences
• •    Prof. Bruce Dale, Office of Biobased Technologies, Michigan State
• •    Michael Dennis, Chairman, Enerkem
• •    Jim Flatt, Developments and Operations, Mascoma
• •    Bill Haywood, LS9
• •    Arnold Klann, Bluefire Ethanol
• •    Joseph Skurla, DuPont Danisco
• •    Dr. Rick Wilson, Cobalt Biofuels

To learn more about the Next Generation Biofuels conference and to register, click here.

The World Bank received a failing grade this week for its lack of support to developing countries trying to implement biofuels project. The “F” comes from the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) representing over 65 percent of the world’s biofuels production from 44 countries.

In a letter to Robert Zoellick, President of World Bank, from Bliss Baker, President of the GRFA, Baker wrote, “I am writing to you to express our deepest concern that the World Bank is failing developing countries in their desire to develop sustainable biofuels industries and relieve their crippling reliance on imported crude oil. Your Bank remains on the sidelines without any commitment to investing in biofuels projects while many developing countries look for scarce capital to build local projects.”

The GRFA continues to call on the World Bank to support the development of biofuels in regions that are in desperate need of relief from their dependence on foreign oil. However, despite pleas from various organizations, the World Bank remains indifferent.

Baker noted that, ”Thirty-eight of the forty-five poorest countries on earth are net importers of crude oil yet many of these underdeveloped countries possess vast amounts of biomass and potential for sustainable biofuels production.”

It is estimated that by 2050, biomass theoretically could supply 65 percent of the world’s current energy consumption, with sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America accounting for roughly half of this global potential. Several potential projects have emerged in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Sudan and South Africa looking to attract investment; however, access to investment funds have been scarce.

Andrew Makenete, President of the Southern African Biofuels Association commented, “We see what many western countries have been able to accomplish in terms of energy security and attracting investment into the agricultural sector by building vibrant biofuels industries. We know that with the right support we can replicate this remarkable accomplishment here in Africa.”

The Environmental Protection Agency today formally announced a 60 day extension of the comment period on the proposed rule revising the national Renewable Fuel Standard program, commonly referred to as RFS2. The original comment period was to end on July 27, 2009 and will now end on September 25, 2009.

“With the 60-day comment period extension, EPA seeks to provide the public adequate time to provide meaningful comment while finalizing and implementing the standards in a timely manner,” the agency stated in a release.

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said he was not surprised by the action. “They only had a 60 day beginning comment period and this is between 1000 and 2000 pages of scientific and technical data,” said Buis in an interview this week. “You don’t want to get a bad rule because people didn’t have the time to thoroughly analyze it.”

Buis says he believes the agency will still have enough time to implement the RFS2 rule by the January 1 target date, “even if they have to do what they did when they implemented the original RFS, which was announce the volumetric level for each of the fuels and then fill in the details later.”

More information and instructions on submitting comments on the rule, which was mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, can be found here on the EPA website.

A YouTube video of EPA official Margo Oge testifying before a House panel in May reveals her providing radically incorrect information about the amount of corn and soybeans it takes to make biofuels.

The blunder occurred when Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) asked Ms. Oge, who is responsible for regulating all emissions within the United States, about the indirect land use issue. “It’s my understanding that the EPA’s Renewable Fuels Standard 2 methodology assumes that for every acre of soybean crop that is used to produce biofuel, an equal acre of ground is used in the Brazilian rainforest to replace that acreage, is that correct?” asked Schock.

“Obviously we know that it takes about 64 acres for a gallon of soy biodiesel,” she begins, and then corrects herself, even more incorrectly. “It’s actually the opposite. It takes 64 acres for corn ethanol and over 400 acres for a gallon of biodiesel.”

Actually, one acre of soybeans makes 64 gallons of biodiesel and one acre of corn makes over 400 gallons of ethanol. This may have been just a simple mistake – or maybe she really doesn’t know – but it is now possible that members of the U.S. House Small Business Committee believe that it takes a huge amount of corn and soybeans to produce biofuels because that is what she told them.

The YouTube video with commentary was posted anonymously by an account called “FreedomIs1st” and no one in the biofuels industry has taken credit for it – but it is very good and should be shared. In fact, it might be good for people in the industry to write to their congressional representatives, especially if they are on the House Small Business committee, to make sure they have the facts.

Will corn crop meet demand of both food and fuel? Even before the USDA planted acreage report was released this week, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) had the answer to that question posted on YouTube.

In one of three recent videos posted by the ethanol organization, RFA Vice President of Research Geoff Cooper says the 2009 corn crop is going to be another huge crop. “Probably the second or third largest crop in history,” Cooper says. “Which will be more than sufficient to meet very strong demand for livestock feed, for exports and what will likely be record demand for ethanol production. All of those demands will be met and there will still be a healthy surplus of corn left.”

In another video, Cooper answers the question, what is international indirect land use and why is it controversial? The video is only two minutes long, which is hardly enough time to even begin to explain the controversial theory, much less refute it – but it does get the main point across. RFA also has another short video with Cooper explaining why ethanol is not to blame for higher food prices.

Two Arizona State University researchers working on biodiesel projects have been nominated for the 2009 World Technology Award, which recognizes individuals and corporations from 20 technology-related sectors.

They’ll be headed to New York for the World Technology Awards gala ceremony on July 16, 2009 at the conclusion of the two-day World Technology Summit:

Scientists Qiang Hu and Milton Sommerfeld in the College of Technology and Innovation at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, have been selected as nominees for the award for their work with algal feedstocks and biodiesel fuel. In November 2008, TIME magazine selected the researchers’ work as one of the top 10 best innovations for 2008.

Nominees for the 2009 World Technology Awards were identified based on an intensive, global process over a period of many months in which current individual WTN members — primarily elected WTN Fellows from previous awards cycles who now number over 1000, spread out over 60 countries — as well as others made their nominations based on who they think is doing the innovative work in their field of the greatest likely long-term significance. After the WTN gathers further information from nominees, WTN individual member then vote on their preferences within their category. The top five selections in each category are announced from the podium on stage at the awards ceremony, and inducted into the WTN membership as Fellows. The winner receives an award on stage and makes comments about their innovative work to those assembled.

You can find more information at www.wtn.net.

The combination of more corn planted this year than expected and more corn stocks could mean a better chance of the ethanol blend rate being increased.

According to Terry Francl, senior economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, “For the 2009/2010, the greater availability of corn supplies makes it more likely that the EPA will increase the ethanol blend rate from the current 10 percent to 12 percent or 13 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2010,” Francl said. “That will in turn utilize some 400 to 500 million more bushels of corn in the 2009/2010 crop year and reduce corn ending stocks by 300 to 400 million bushels. It is also important to remember that about one-third of the corn that is utilized as ethanol comes back as distillers dried grain, which replaces corn and some protein meal.”

USDA’s planted acreage report out this week estimated the second largest corn crop since 1946 at 87.0 million acres, and corn stocks were pegged at 4.27 billion bushels as of June 1, up 6 percent from June 1 of last year.

In a move to fight a proposed change that would basically shut out soy-based biodiesel… the bulk of the nation’s biodiesel production… from the Renewable Fuels Standard, the National Biodiesel Board has launched a Web site to give people the tools to make comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal.

The RFS2 Action Center gives those who want to stop the change examples of comments, where and how to send the comments, and this letter from NBB CEO Joe Jobe himself:

Dear Biodiesel Stakeholder:

Joe Jobe, CEO
National Biodiesel Board

The Obama administration embarked on a National Rural Tour this week that will include discussions about green jobs, a new energy economy, climate change and renewable energies.

During an interview for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting with Michelle Rook of WNAX, Yankton, SD, Obama was asked about the role renewable fuels will play in the future for rural America. “Obviously, I come from a farm state – Illinois – and ethanol has been a big boon for a lot of rural communities,” the president said. “But we also are recognizing the key for us is to move into the next generation of biofuels, how can we use wood chips and refuse and switchgrass and how can we improve the efficiency of first generation biofuels. Farmers are going to be critical to that entire process.”

“We want to be able to compete with countries like Brazil that now are running basically their entire automobile fleet on biofuels,” he continued. “If Brazil can do it, there’s no reason why America can’t do it.”

Obama also commented on the climate change bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week, saying that the legislation provides “a whole host of opportunities for rural communities to profit even as they are helping to achieve America’s energy independence.”

The first stop on the administration’s rural road trip was in Wattsburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday where the topic was rural broadband service. Future dates where energy will be the focus include July 18 in Ringgold, Virginia; August 12 in Bethel, Arkansas; and August 16 in Zanesville, Ohio.

Listen to Obama’s ethanol and climate bill comments here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.4MB)

Investors are getting back into green investing in a big way, and venture capital into solar and biofuels are two of the big drivers.

An excerpt from a Greentech Media report posted on MarketWatch.com says that investors put $1.2 billion into 85 deals during the past quarter… compared to just $836 million in 59 deals during the first quarter of this year.

“The recent quarter’s balanced distribution of sectors that attracted capital underscores cleantech’s breadth and diversity of opportunity, one of the key drivers behind why cleantech remains an enduring area,” said Ira Ehrenpreis, General Partner at cleantech VC, Technology Partners.

One of the drivers for steady second quarter venture investment was the promise of stimulus monies offering startup investors a non-dilutive funding source. Meanwhile, early-stage and late-stage investments dominated, while mid-stage funding was harder to come by, and the average round sizes were slightly smaller. There were no giant $100 million+ solar or biofuel rounds as in 2008.

Greentech analysts believe that this year will be one of consolidation and development, but green sector investments will really take off in 2010 and 2011.

Growth Energy is building a team from the grassroots to speak up for the ethanol industry.

CEO Tom Buis says they created the eTeam to be “an army of thousands of ethanol consumers and supporters who are willing to take action to spread the message that ethanol is a clean, green renewable fuel available today.”

Buis says they already have 1200 eTeam members signed up who are armed with factual ethanol information to comment on blog posts, write letters to the editor, speak to local organizations, participate in community events, and contact their state and national lawmakers about policy issues.

“I’ve found that there are so many advocates out there that if they would get energized and participate, we would be winning all these debates in the media and in the halls of Congress and in the statehouses,” said Buis. “Now’s the time we have to stand up in a proactive manner and go out and tell that good story. Tell people that we’re a low carbon fuel, we emit less greenhouse gases than gasoline, tell them we create jobs and we are helping our nation address a problem that has existed for the past 35 years, that literally our economy and our nation are held over a barrel – an oil barrel.”

Growth Energy is reaching out to people in rural communities where ethanol has created jobs, to farmers, and to consumers who believe in the benefits of ethanol for the economy, the environment and energy security. Buis urges people to sign up for the eTeam by going to GrowthEnergy.org and clicking on the Get Involved button.

Sign up for the eTeam here.

Listen to or download an interview with Tom Buis about the eTeam here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.2MB)

The Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance (WBIA) hosted a media event today to discuss the importance of increasing the number of blender pumps in Wisconsin. Working in partnership with representatives from the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and the American Lung Association, Wisconsin’s bio fuel producers are drawing attention to the benefits of increased ethanol use in Wisconsin.

While there are more than 100 locations across the state where consumers can purchase gasoline blended with up to 85 percent ethanol, there are fewer than 30 locations across Wisconsin where consumers have the choice to purchase fuel blended with different levels of ethanol. Blender pumps allow consumers to determine what percentage of gasoline and ethanol they would like to purchase for their vehicle. When visiting the fueling station, consumers are able to select a variety of fuels, including E10, E20, or E85.

“Consumers should be given a choice. Whether you want a gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol for your boat or small engine, or you chose to purchase ethanol blended with 20 percent or 85 percent ethanol for your flex fuel vehicle, blender pumps give you those options,” said Joshua Morby, Executive Director of the WBIA. “We’re working closely with our partners nationally to increase the number of blender pumps not only in Wisconsin but throughout the United States.”

The newest member of the U.S. Senate says he is pro-ethanol. In an interview with MinnPost.com today, Senator-elect Al Franken (D-MN) expressed his support for ethanol.

“What we’re talking about here is the science of how ethanol affects our carbon footprint,” Franken said. “The science to me tells me it helps. I’ve looked at this a lot, and it seems to me that ethanol already helps our carbon footprint and it’s only getting more efficient in the way it’s produced. Corn ethanol is a step on the way to cellulosic ethanol, which is also going to benefit Minnesota. I’m in the pro-ethanol camp.”

Franken’s campaign website gives his views on renewable energy and the need for America to reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

I think we need a new “Apollo project” – this time to fundamentally change our energy policy and end our reliance on foreign oil.

This “Apollo project” should provide financial support for research into new forms of renewable energy and development of currently-identified sources to make them more efficient. Of course I’m talking about corn ethanol. But I’m also talking about cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. I’m talking about solar power. And, especially here in Minnesota, I’m talking about wind power. We live in a windy state!