Domestic Fuel

The next generation of biofuels must be developed in conjunction with advanced combustion engines, if there is to be long-term success of those biofuels. That word comes from researchers at the Sandia National Laboratories.

The recommendations were made following a Sandia-hosted workshop held in November, Next Generation Biofuels and Advanced Engines for Tomorrow’s Transportation Needs. Participants included researchers at the Department of Energy’s Combustion Research Facility (CRF) and Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI), as well as representatives from oil companies, biofuel developers, engine manufacturers, suppliers and experts from the university, regulatory, finance and national laboratory communities.

“The oil companies and the automobile and truck engine companies have engaged in a dialogue and collaboration on fuel and engine issues for almost 100 years,” Stoltz said. “But the same cannot be said for the majority of biofuel start-up companies, especially those that are thinking ‘beyond ethanol’. The report highlights how fragmented the biofuels industry is today and how, by putting serious thought behind some key issues like fuel chemistry linked to engine performance, great strides can be made.”

The workshop was designed to help get a dialog going between researchers and experts from industry, academia and government, with the goal to figure out how to accelerate the transition to biofuels. Those participating did agree that the next generation of biofuels needed to be clean (at or below EPA-designated pollutants criteria); sustainable (with a smaller carbon footprint than the petroleum-based fuels being displaced); and compatible with current and future engine designs, and with current and future distribution infrastructure.

The group also recommended modernizing the testing, specification, and certification of all fuels; plan and integrate the research and development of next-generation biofuels in conjunction with the development of advanced engines; develop specific guidelines, roadmaps, and objectives for co-development of next-generation biofuels and advanced engines; and convene an International Fuels and Engines Summit, sponsored by industry with government and university participation.

This past Sunday, Tom Weis left Boulder, Colorado on a hybrid electric-assist recumbent trike on a 2,500 mile journey that will end in Washington, DC. Coined the Ride for Renewables, Weis is set out to gain support for his plan that calls for a 100% renewable electricity grid for the U.S. by 2020.

Weis believes that 2010 is the year America needs to set the agenda to address climate change and he is so passionate about making change, that he is willing to pedal across the country to build grassroots support for his plan. He writes on his website, “This is about everyday Americans “taking back our power” by demanding a green industrial revolution that will put unemployed Americans back to work, reestablish our role as world economic leader, and help ensure future generations a livable planet.”

Weis will be traveling through Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and ending in Washington, DC. Along the way, he will highlight local renewable projects, bring attention to old, dirty technologies that need to be replaced and solicit signatures for his petition that he will present to DC legislators. You can follow his journey online at www.climatecrisissolutions.com where he will post photos and videos and he will also be posting to various social media sites.

This week I read a book about the ongoing discussions regarding the causes of the food crisis. It should come as no surprise that several of the main reasons the globe is in the midst of a food crisis, according to a The Food Wars author Walden Bello, are commodity speculation, biofuels,  increased demand for food in Asia brought on by prosperity, and most influential, the massive ag policy reorientation known as structural adjustment.

In this case, I’m going to focus on Bello’s explanation of how biofuels contributed to rising food costs. Bello states that biofuels have been blamed for the food price increases over the past few years, but continues by saying while they were a contributing factor, they were not the cause of the volatility of food prices.

He writes, “More central as root causes have been structural adjustment, free trade, and policies extracting surplus from agriculture for industrialization, all of which have destroyed or eroded the agricultural sector of many countries. No one factor can be pinpointed as the cause of the global food crisis. It is the confluence of these conditions that has made the contemporary food price crisis so threatening and difficult to solve.”

But despite this concession, he is still not a supporter of biofuels, at least in the context of environmental benefits, and he says, “Indeed agrofuels contribute to global warming and certainly do not provide a solution to climate change.”
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The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) is partnering for cleaner air. The organization will be sponsoring EPA’s upcoming Clean Diesel 10 conference on October 19 and 20th being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in D.C. As part of its promotional efforts during the event, PERC will be helping to celebrate the success of the National Clean Diesel Campaign through its involvement in presentations. PERC will also showcase its latest autogas products including research, development and training programs.

According to PERC, propane autogas has been used in vehicles since 1913 and today, a wide range of vehicles are now available that can use propane including trucks, vans, shuttles, and school buses. For those who convert to propane autogas, there are various federal and state rebates and incentives to help offset conversion costs. In addition, there is currently an alternative fuel tax credit for fleet vehicles of 50 cents per gallon.

“We congratulate the National Clean Diesel Campaign for its effort and progress to help clean our air, and we are pleased to sponsor this event,” said Brian Feehan, vice president of PERC, who will make a presentation during a panel discussion on state and local leaders working with communities. “Propane autogas is already helping Americans reduce their impact on the environment, and it stands ready to do more.”

The purpose of the National Clean Diesel Campaign is to reduce diesel emissions. According to the EPA, every dollar spent on clean diesel projects produces public health benefits worth up to $13.

Conference attendees include government policy makers, environmental project managers and those working in and around the diesel and auto industries. To register or for more information on the conference, visit www.cleandiesel10.com.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering equating biogenic carbon emissions with fossil fuel emissions under the Tailoring Rule, which requires the accounting and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). Biogenic carbon emissions are those that are naturally created during the combustion and decay of woody biomass and up until now, have always been considered carbon neutral by the EPA. As such, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is disputing this clause in the rule.

In a letter to the EPA, RFA wrote, “While RFA generally supports a national policy to address climate change, we believe biogenic emissions must be exempt from GHG accounting schemes and regulatory frameworks. Specifically, inclusion of biogenic GHG emissions in determinations of applicability of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) or Title V Permitting Programs is not scientifically justified, runs afoul of accepted national and international GHG accounting methods, and is contrary to public policies enacted to encourage development of a robust renewable fuels industry in the United States.”

According the the RFA, it is “indisputable that CO2 emissions resulting from the combustion, fermentation, and decay of biomass, are by nature, carbon neutral in that those emissions are naturally offset when the biomass removes an equivalent amount of CO2 from the atmosphere via photosynthesis during growth.”

Therefore, RFA is calling for the EPA to reconfirm that the carbon neutrality convention for accounting of biogenic GHG emissions is both scientifically justified and appropriate for regulatory contexts.
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Landmark research by an internationally recognized engineering firm finds that E15 should be safe for older vehicles.

According to the study, carried out by Ricardo, Inc. on behalf of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), moving from 10 percent ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent will mean little, if any, change on the performance of older cars and light trucks, those manufactured between 1994 and 2000. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently considering a fuel waiver request to allow ethanol to be blended up to 15 percent, but the agency has indicated it may only approve the waiver for 2001 and newer vehicles only.

The study analyzed the vehicles manufactured by six companies and which represent 25% (62.8 million vehicles) of light duty vehicles on the road today, concluded “that the adoption and use of E15 in the motor vehicle fleet from the studied model years should not adversely affect these vehicles or cause them to perform in a sub-optimal manner when compared with their performance using the E10 blend that is currently available.”

“This analysis provides conclusive evidence for the EPA that there is no reason to limit the availability of E15 to newer vehicles only,” said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen. “This analysis together with affirmative results in reports from the Department of Energy and other academic and private testing institutions show that there are no significant issues with the use of E15 in virtually all vehicles on the road today.”

In analyzing the various vehicles, the Ricardo analysis found minimal effects on engine components and materials, emission systems (including catalytic converters) and overall performance of raising the ethanol percentage from 10 percent to 15 percent.

Berkley-California based start-up venture Bio Architecture Lab (BAL) has announced a partnership with the one of the world’s largest offshore oil and gas producers, Statoil. The partnership will help fund the research & development of seaweed-to-ethanol using macro algae grown off the coast of Norway. Today, Statoil offers Norwegian drivers a 5 percent bioethanol blend at the pump. Should the technology prove successful, Statoil will also fund the commercialization of BAL’s technology in Norway and elsewhere in Europe. BAL will have the right to equity participation and will receive royalties on all ethanol and by-products produced by the partnership.

“This game changing partnership will allow Bio Architecture Lab to accelerate our path toward commercialization and establish our technology in key markets in Europe,” said Daniel Trunfio, CEO of Bio Architecture Lab. “The significant commitment of resources and funds from Statoil further validates BAL’s market opportunity and puts us with an elite group of companies in our industry who have partnered with established oil and gas companies to bring technology to market.”

The first phase of the partnership will focus on BAL developing the technology and process to convert Norwegian seaweed into ethanol while Statoil will be responsible for developing and managing the aquafarms. From there, the next phase of the project will be to develop a demonstration scale biorefinery in Norway with the goal of building a commercial scale facility.

“Statoil has a unique competitive advantage in energy production in the marine environment. We are very impressed with the science and the progress BAL has made and we believe their approach to low cost and sustainable biomass feedstock solutions is among the most promising we have seen,” said Guntis Aboltins-Abolins, Head of the Future Fuel unit at Statoil. “We look forward to partnering with BAL on such an important strategic initiative that has the potential to provide Europe with low carbon renewable fuels.”

BAL is developing a similar program off the coast of Chile as part of a program funded by the Chilean government.  In addition, BAL has partnered with DuPont in a project funded by the Advanced Research Program Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) to convert macro algae into isobutanol.

A new ad campaign by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) says ethanol is the answer to energy independence that’s “Right Here, Right Now.”

The thirty second ad began airing this morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe news program in the Washington, DC media market and will continue through October 12 with nine spots per week. The target audience is policy makers in the nation’s capitol.

The ad educates viewers that ethanol is an American-made product produced from coast-to-coast, in over 200 ethanol plants – from Rancho Cucamonga, California to Peoria, Illinois to Shelby, New York – creating over 12 billion gallons of clean, renewable energy fueling nearly 400,000 jobs across the economy.

“After a historic oil spill off our shores and in the midst of both an economic slowdown and two wars, ethanol has never been more important. Ethanol is creating and sustaining good paying jobs in rural communities where job-creation is especially difficult. Ethanol is providing consumers with a clean, green, American-made alternative to petroleum, often from hostile countries like Iraq and Venezuela. Right here, right now is the time for the ethanol industry to tell its story,” explained Bob Dinneen, RFA President and CEO.

Watch the ad here:

In anticipation for the upcoming Midwest Wind Summit & Expo on October 4-6, 2010 in Brookings, SD, law firm Faegre & Benson is hosting a free webinar: A Legal Discussion on Wind Energy: Looking Past the Wind Industry’s Hurdles & Focusing on Completing Projects on September 24, 2010 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am CST. The webinar will focus on several issues affecting the future of the U.S. wind industry including the much-needed Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) and the future of the grid.

One question in particular that will be discussed in whether the wind industry can thrive or even survive without an RES. The webinar will also discuss who will control siting decisions for new transmission lines – federal, state or local authorities and And who will pay for these new lines – utilities, developers or the public sector?

Even without an RES or solutions to hard transmission questions, the industry is still optimistically moving forward with installing wind energy. Yet with all projects come challenges including how to most effectively structure a deal and how to manage contract risk. A few mistakes on the part of the company overseeing the wind project could spell disaster. This webinar will inform you on the current state of the wind industry, assess the future of wind projects in the region and conclude with tips and tactics on development, negotiations and risk management of project contracts.

The following areas will be discussed in detail: transmission issues, including the debate over payment for new lines, jurisdiction over siting and routing and acquisition of necessary property rights; wind project structuring issues including financing, and how to manage risk in wind contracts such as construction contracts.

Speakers include Bill Weimer, Betsy Schmiesing, Peter Halls, and Peter Eckberg, all partners with Faegre & Benson and experts in wind energy.

The webinar is limited to 100 people so register now.

There’s new life for a biodiesel plant in Southeast Missouri.

This article from Cape Girardeau’s Southeast Missourian says the former Great River Soy Processing Plant in Lilbourn has been reborn as ME Bio Energy LLC after being idled for the last three years:

After producing the first batch, the plant shut down to send a sample to the Environmental Protection Agency for inspection before opening for full production.

“We’re just starting to pick up with our deliveries,” he said. “The plant is averaging two trucks a day delivering supplies, and two trucks a day picking up the product.”

The plant will refine a 50-50 mix of animal fat and soybean oil into biodiesel.

The Canadian government is putting about $81 million in a couple of wind and biodiesel ventures.

This Reuters article says the money will be spent over the next decade in Quebec:

The government announced a C$65 million injection over 10 years in two wind farms in the Gaspe region in Eastern Quebec.

Earlier on Tuesday, Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis also announced a C$18.79 million investment over seven years in biofuel producer Biocardel Quebec Inc.

Biocardel will make about 10 million gallons a year of biodiesel from converted vegetable or cooking oil or animal fat for sale in Canada and the U.S.

Last Saturday, most Americans took a moment to remember those lost on 9-11. I was at the Iowa versus Iowa State football game when more than 70,000 fans spent a moment in silence to honor those who died. During this time I reflected on things that our country can do to keep Americans safe and one such action is to reduce our purchase of foreign oil.

Corn farmers play a major role in helping America produce domestic, renewable fuels such as ethanol and I also spent last Saturday with more than 900 Iowa corn farmers, many who are growing corn for ethanol. The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) sponsored the game on Saturday as part of their mission to educate consumers about the role Iowa corn farmers play in producing their food and fuel.

ICGA CEO Craig Floss said that during the game, they were able to tell the story of how ethanol fits into the picture and what that means for Iowa corn farmers.

“There is no other liquid form of petroleum product like ethanol that can actually replace foreign produced oil. And the bulk of our oil comes from countries that have governments that are not like ours,” said Floss. He continued that everyone was touched by the event and has a connection to the event and we need to find a way to send less money to those countries. That is why we like corn farmers, explained Floss. They’re good for our economy and good for our security.

Floss concluded that corn farmers will continue to exceed global needs of corn and said that we haven’t even started to unlock the genetic code of what corn can do.

You can see pictures from game day in the Iowa Corn Fed Game Day photo album.

You can listen to my interview with Craig Floss here. Iowa Corn Farmers Will Reach New Heights

The American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) National Solar Tour is set to become the most successful solar event to date, with 648 community solar tours registered. The number of registered tours, which are designed to engage tens of thousands of citizens interested about solar, is nearly triple that of last year when 150,000 people across 49 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico participated.

“Interest in the solar industry is cooking, and consumers across the nation are eager to sample its wares, which bring enticing tax credits, cash rebates, improved property values and cleaner communities to home and business owners across America,” said ASES National Solar Tour Manager Richard Burns.

The 15th annual tour features open house tours of thousands of solar-powered homes, businesses and public agencies. The featured solar projects will demonstrate to consumers how they can save money on their energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and receive tax credits and cash incentives to install solar now. This year, the bulk of the tours will take place on or around October 2, 2010 in all 48 states with just North Dakota and West Virginia missing. In addition, Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are hosting their first solar tours.

According to ASES, among the projects of solar solutions showcased are investments that have helped a couple beat Wall Street with their green ROI, an Iraqi war veteran now fighting in the renewable revolution, solar-powered homes, schools, public agencies, condo complexes, and businesses that run the gamut from solar-powered poultry farms to funeral homes.

Burns says as technologies have evolved, so have the diversity and sophistication of the solutions showcased on the tour. But it is the practical, grassroots approach of the people behind the tours that have made this event such a hit across America. The self-guided and bus-hosted tours are organized by grassroots organizations and solar installers throughout the country. Many tours are free; some tour hosts are non-profits and may request a donation. Click here to register for a tour.

Ethanol supporters are not wishing OPEC a very happy 50th birthday this week.

Growth Energy organized a press event in Washington today with more than 90 supporters and producers of domestic ethanol to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries – better known as OPEC.

“Since the inception of OPEC we have had conflict in and with the Middle East. We’ve invested generations of soldiers and untold trillions in warfare in the Middle East, over access to oil. We’ve experienced $4-a-gallon gasoline, gas lines and oil shocks to our economy. Every year we pay $300 billion annually – the equivalent of a thousand-dollar-a-person tribute—to foreign countries for oil,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “Today, after 50 years of OPEC, we suggest it is time to retire this cartel’s hold over our country.”

Growth Energy Co-chairman Jeff Broin, CEO of ethanol producer POET, commented that ethanol could replace oil if there were an open market for all fuels. “As a producer of ethanol, but even more important, an American, I urge policy makers to immediately take these necessary steps so future birthdays for OPEC can be ‘over the hill’ parties,” said Broin.

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen also issued a statement to mark the OPEC anniversary. “While there may be cause for celebration in the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela and other member countries, here in the U.S. it is time to thank America’s renewable fuels industry for staunching the flow of OPEC oil,” said Dinneen in a release. “Without the growing production and use of biofuels in the U.S. and around the world, IEA (the International Energy Agency) calculates that more than one million barrels per day of new oil production would be required. Thanks to forward thinking U.S. policy promoting the production and use of biofuels, the U.S. can celebrate 50 years of OPEC not by cutting cake, but cutting even more oil imports.”

Gal Luft, executive director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, wrote an op-ed about OPEC’s anniversary for Foreign Policy magazine advocating the simple fix that would help decrease dependence on foreign oil – make all cars sold in the U.S. flex fuel vehicles, allowing them to run on any combination of gasoline and alcohol fuels such as ethanol and methanol made from coal, natural gas, and biomass. “Congress could make this happen by imposing an open fuel standard, requiring new vehicles to be flex-fuel-capable. Such a standard would put a virtual cap on the price of oil,” Luft writes. “An open fuel standard would add just $70 to the cost of a new car, the equivalent of filling up a couple of tanks at the pump. Such minimal investment would enable the United States for the first time to challenge OPEC using the weapon the cartel fears most: competition at the pump.”

The crop report was released last week and the USDA is predicting a record harvest – even after accounting for excessive rain in areas of the Midwest. This is promising news as there will be even more corn available for food and fuel. It is interesting to note that prior to ethanol, the excess corn produced had no home. Today, with ethanol, the corn that has never been used for feed, is now used for ethanol.

In Iowa alone, 40 percent of the corn crop goes to ethanol but nationally only 20 percent of the total corn crop goes to ethanol. Also, the livestock industry is the largest consumer of Iowa corn.

I was spent some time with the Iowa Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) new President Dean Taylor last Saturday before the Iowa versus Iowa State football game to learn more about what this record corn crop means for both farmers and consumers. My first question for Dean, was in fact, what are we going to do with all this corn? We’re going to produce feed, food, fiber and fuel, he said.

“The fuel, the feed, the fiber, the ethanol….all these things are very important. Especially now that we grow so much corn, we have to remember that what we put into ethanol was never even in the market for feed in the past because we’re just growing that much more corn,” said Taylor.
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