Domestic Fuel

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced two grants that will create educational opportunities in math and science for students interested in bioenergy and bio-based products.

NIFA awarded Corinne Rutzke at Cornell University $4,999,940 to provide teachers from grades 8 through the undergraduate level with a strong footing in multi-disciplinary content and research-based training materials and activities linked to the Northeast’s projected feedstock systems. Information will be shared to help teachers prepare students for the various career options available in the bioenergy and bio-based products field. Rutzke will partner with researchers at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Delaware State University, Pace Law School and Ohio State University.

Both projects are funded for five years through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). AFRI’s sustainable bioenergy challenge area funds grants targeting the development of regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and bio-based products that contribute significantly to reducing dependence on foreign oil, have net positive social, environmental and rural economic impacts and are compatible with existing agricultural systems.

Homeland Energy Solutions has joined the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) as a new producer member.

Homeland Energy Solutions is 100 million gallon per year ethanol biorefinery located in Lawler, Iowa which started production in April 2009. The facility uses approximately 37 million bushels of corn annually, and produces more than 350,000 metric tons of livestock feed in the form of distillers grains.

“Ethanol production is a vital component of rural economies today, providing new markets for farmers and jobs and economic activity for our neighbors all across the country,” said Homeland Energy Chairman of the Board of Jim Boeding. “Homeland Energy is committed to working with our colleagues in the RFA and throughout the ethanol industry to develop commonsense policies that expand the market for all ethanol producers.”

With the addition of Homeland Energy Solutions, the RFA Board of Directors now consists of 47 individual companies.

Ethanol industry campaigns targeting the general public and Congress have won top awards from Region II of the National Agri-Marketing Association, which covers the west central part of the country from Montana to Texas.

First place honors for “Television Ad Series” and “Best in Show” from the NAMA Region II went to a national TV advertising campaign for ethanol producer POET. The campaign includes three ads, each representing a different aspect of ethanol production. A farmer, a scientist and a plant manager recite free-verse poetry explaining their role in helping solve the nation’s fuel crisis. The campaign ran on Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC, CNN and HLN. The ads, which can be seen on POET’s website, were designed by 3 Advertising out of Albuquerque, N.M. POET’s website, which was also designed by 3 Advertising, won first place in the Internet Website category.

In the same region, the national advertising campaign “Facts” by Growth Energy won a First Place award for outdoor creative. The Facts ad campaign launched in April and ran through the fall, with nearly $3 million invested on national TV, on-line, traditional print, and outdoor ads. The outdoor creative segment of the campaign was Growth Energy’s “station domination” at the Washington, DC, Capitol South Metro station – the closest stop to the U.S. Capitol and the offices of the House of Representatives – which included 45 large-scale floor mats, pylon wraps, wall graphics and banners. The campaign also won a Merit Award in the multi-media category, for how the creative was used on national TV, on-line, and in traditional print and broadcast, as well as outdoor. The TV spots can be viewed on Growth Energy’s website.

The submissions now advance to the Best of NAMA National Awards in Kansas City in April.

One of the largest rooftop solar farms in Florida is now under construction in Gainsville, Florida as part of a new Publix-anchored shopping center. Once complete, the 350 kW solar array will have nearly 1,500 panels spanning 46,000 square-feet atop the Exchange shopping center.  The solar panels will begin providing electricity by the end of March 2011 and will be purchased by Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU).

GRU is purchasing the power under its feed-in tariff program, which began in 2009 to foster renewable energy growth. Under the program, GRU will pay a fixed price for the power generated by the solar system over the next 20 years with the developers providing the financing for the system. This type of program allows the solar facility to be built at no upfront cost to either GRU or Stafford Properties, based in Atlanta, Georgia, who owns the fully leased 88,000 square-foot shopping center.

The project was put together by BrightPath Energy and The Real Thing Solar Energy Services developed and structured the project before selling their interest in the solar plant to Nautilus Solar. Nautilus Solar, the permanent owner of the system, will manage the construction process with Inman Solar. Inman Solar is designing, engineering and constructing the system.

Stafford is receiving lease payments in exchange for hosting the system on its roof.  At the same time, a more reflective and better insulated roof is being installed at The Exchange shopping center which should help lower electricity bills for tenants. In addition to the solar rooftop, the shopping center also has other “green” features.

A few months ago, I did a review of the book, The Story of Stuff. While the book was good, I was alarmed at the author Annie Leonard’s, unflattering views of waste-to-energy. For decades, municipal waste companies have been burning their trash. Known as incineration, Leonard says that this causes a multitude of problems, the first being burning pollutes and spews toxins into the air.

She writes, “Waste-to-Energy Plants Should Be Called Waste of Energy…But here’s the deal: first off, the little bit of energy recovered from burning trash is a very dirty energy, releasing far more greenhouse gases than burning natural gas, oil, or even coal. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, waste incinerators produce 1,355 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour; coal produces 1,020, oil 758, and natural gas 515.”

Leonard continues, “Second, let’s step back and look at the grand scheme of things for a moment. When you bum something, the most energy you can recover is a fraction of the energy value (the “calories”) of the actual material; you can’t recover any of the energy investments of that thing’s entire lifecycle….If the ultimate goal is to conserve energy, we could “produce” far more energy by reusing and recycling Stuff than we ever could by burning it.”

So in a nutshell, waste-to-energy pollutes, it has a negative net energy, it doesn’t create jobs, they don’t eliminate the need for landfills and they are not economically feasible to name a few reasons to not like the energy source. You’ll also note that for the most part, these are the very same reasons (minus the waste-to-energy reduces pollution) opponents support waste-to-energy.

So who is right and why should we care? Well I was bothered knowing that millions and millions of people have visited her website and watched her videos and they may be getting outdated information. So I’m taking action.

In just a few weeks, the Municipal Solid Waste to Biofuels Summit is taking place in Chicago. On February 10-11, 2011, hundreds of people will be coming to together to discuss the up and coming waste-to-energy technologies. Leading up to this conference, I’m kicking off a 7-part series, “An In-depth Look at Waste’s Role in Energy Development.”

This series will explore the developments of waste-to-energy from the 70s or so until now. It will delve more deeply into Leonard’s claim that waste-to-energy plants actually produce more greenhouse gases than coal, oil and natural gas, It will discuss the opportunities and challenges in the industry, and it will feature various companies’ technologies who are excited for the opportunity to “clean” up the misconceptions surrounding waste-to-energy.

German auto maker Mercedes-Benz says governments and utility companies need to invest more in hydrogen infrastructure in order to help get use of fuel cells in cars.

The Detroit News says the company made the pitch during the North American International Auto Show and said it soon put 70 fuel-cell powered B-class vehicles on the road soon in California and is promoting an around-the-world tour by fuel-cell B Class:

Mercedes said fuel cell cars are now at the same stage of development as early internal combustion engines in the late nineteenth century, when drivers had to buy gasoline from drug stores.

The fuel-cell B class has a range of 200 miles on one tank of fuel, and takes about three minutes to refill, if you could find a hydrogen filling station.

After making the pitch, the company unveiled an electric version of its gull-wing, two-seater roadster.

A Canadian company has plans to open a biodiesel plant in Toronto.

This article from TheProvince.com says Energy Innovation Corp. will make the fuel, as well as animal feed and human food from flax seed without creating any waste:

“The demand is actually 10 times more than we think we’ll be able to supply over the next 16 to 18 months,” said 27-year-old CEO Jon Dwyer.

A federal mandate will require two-per-cent renewable content in all diesel fuel in 2011. Dwyer’scompany plans to make up to 10 million litres of biodiesel annually at its Toronto plant.

Dwyer plans to open at least eight more plants in Ontario over the next three years.

Last week EcoTrek’s “Best of America Tour” kicked off at the Pier of Santa Monica. On Friday, January 14th, the EcoTrek truck made a tour stop at the California Ethanol Symposium. I had the chance to check out the EcoTrek truck and spend some time with Tom Holm the Executive Director of the EcoTrek Foundation and the creator of the Best of America Tour.

Holm said he had an idea to build an American made vehicle and accessorize it with American made parts. He explained that not only does this show patriotism, but also demonstrates the environmental impact of shipping products into America – it increases pollution and fossil fuel use while American made products reduces these issues. The truck features tires made from “clean” oil, faux leather from recycled plastics, the doors will be made from a corn product, and more. And the fuel that the truck will be powered with is E85 cellulosic ethanol produced from corn cobs and light stover provided by POET who is in the process of building the first commercial corn corn and stover cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa known as Project Liberty.

“We’re taking an American-made pickup truck, outfitting it with American-made accessories and powering it with American-made advanced cellulosic fuels in order to emphasize our ability to be gentler to the environment, while bolstering American’s economy, national security, and independence from foreign oil,” said Holm.

The tour will visit consumers, organizations, and politicians across the country during the next two months and along the way will stop and participate in preservation projects. In fact, today, the tour made a stop in Sacramento where they met with several environmental organizations to discuss renewable energy and along the way stopped at a Propel Fuels’ station for a quick consumer promotion.

“Propel, EcoTrek, and POET each represent critical pieces to reducing our dependence on petroleum; widespread consumer access, advanced vehicle technologies, and the next generation of renewable fuels,” said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel Fuels. “Today we’re getting a preview of ultra-low carbon fuels from non-food sources, representing the next level of sustainability for fuels that can run in our vehicles today.”

You can follow along the tour by visiting www.ecotrek.com. You can view photos from my flickr California Ethanol Symposium photo album here.

Last Fall, National Wind named Peter Mastic President and Chief Development Officer. Now the company has named him CEO. He is now responsible for the company’s strategic planning, operations management, wind farm development, project finance, and overseeing all company employees. Mastic is replacing Leon Steinberg who had been the CEO since 2007 and is staying on as Executive Vice President during the transition period and will remain on the Board of Directors.

“Peter joined National Wind three months ago following a national search I initiated and led earlier in the year,” said Steinberg. “Since joining us, Peter has demonstrated a masterful ability to deal with the challenges of the wind industry, and I feel comfortable transitioning out of this role knowing the company is in good hands. His proven success in developing large-scale wind projects across the country will enable National Wind to reach its full potential moving forward.”

Mastic added, “I am pleased to be taking the lead of National Wind at a pivotal point in its progress. As a utility-scale community-based wind developer, National Wind is unique in the industry and is well positioned to adapt successfully to future challenges and opportunities.”

The Renewable Fuels Association is confident that U.S. ethanol trade policy conforms with World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.

In response to recent comments by senators about the legality of the ethanol tariff, RFA Legislative Counsel Ed Hubbard authored an explanation on the E-xchange blog. According to Hubbard, the market-based structure of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and the secondary tariff designed to offset tax benefits received by foreign imports of the fuel, precludes any claim or challenge to the U.S. ethanol program under the WTO.

In any WTO dispute settlement proceeding, the central point is who receives the financial contribution or subsidy. Because the recipient of the VEETC is the downstream blender, it would be very difficult for a complaining country to establish that their domestic industry is being adversely impacted by the U.S. tax incentive. Moreover, it would be nearly impossible to show that the complaining country’s industry was being sufficiently prejudiced by policy. Such a showing is required under WTO regulations.

Hubbard further explains that the secondary tariff is not a subsidy since it goes to the U.S. treasury, not ethanol producers. He notes that the secondary tariff is necessary to ensure that U.S. taxpayers are not subsidizing foreign ethanol producers and has been properly notified and scheduled according to WTO procedures.

Read the full post here.

*POST UPDATE*
Formally responding to comments made by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) that current ethanol tax and trade policies were illegal under World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today (1/18) sent a letter to each senator explaining why the tax incentive (VEETC) and the offsetting secondary tariff are WTO compliant.

“While agreeing to disagree about the efficacy of the ethanol tax incentives, I respectfully submit that your assessment of the policies’ compliance with WTO strictures is simply incorrect and not supported by any reasoned analysis or WTO precedent. We strongly disagree that this or any other part of the U.S. ethanol program is contrary to the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (“SCM Agreement”) or any other WTO regulation,” wrote RFA President Bob Dinneen.

Read more here.

A lack of investment capitol is taking its toll on a Georgia cellulosic ethanol plant.

According to media reports, the Range Fuels plant in Soperton will temporarily shut down after producing a small quantity of cellulosic ethanol. Range Fuels just announced in August 2010 the successful production of cellulosic methanol using non-food biomass at a Georgia biofuels plant in the first phase of an operation to ultimately produce next generation ethanol.

The Colorado-based company received the first ever loan guarantee for a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant from USDA almost exactly two years ago and a grant from the Department of Energy in 2008 with plans to produce cellulosic biofuel from wood chips. The company has received over 300 million dollars in funding since breaking ground for the plant in 2007, but have not been able to get enough money to expand the facility for commercial production. There are also reportedly some “technical problems” with the plant.

Los Angeles, California officials have announced the city’s Department of Water and Power has generated 20 percent of its power from wind, solar and geothermal sources.

This story from the LA Daily News says it put the city well ahead of its and state renewable energy goals:

“This is a big deal,” Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a City Hall news conference with environmental leaders. “When we set this goal in 2005, the DWP was the dirtiest utility in the nation. Today, it’s the cleanest and we have been able to do it at a cost lower than any other utility in California.”

Wind power accounted for 47 percent of the renewable power, small hydro-electric was 20 percent, geothermal was 22 percent and solar was 1 percent. The mayor said the city hopes solar will provide more of the renewable energy in future years. The amount of renewable power generated by the DWP is 4,500 gigawatt hours, the level needed to power 750,000 homes. That reduces carbon dioxide by 2.5 million metric tons, the equivalent of taking 490,000 cars off the road.

The city was able to hit this goal ahead of other utilities in the area.

The wildly popular American Idol TV show will kick off its 10th season on FOX-TV by launching a month-long, 16-city tour dubbed the “Idol Across America Mobile Experience,” powered by a bus running on biodiesel.

The Diesel Technology Forum says the tour will feature Idol memorabilia, including framed platinum records, a Ryan Seacrest suit, Carrie Underwood’s finale dress and David Cook’s guitar, and will begin on January 19th, the same day the show premieres its new season on FOX:

“By choosing a clean diesel bus fueled with biodiesel fuel, American Idol made an excellent choice toward being environmentally-friendly while still having the power and fuel-efficiency needed to complete this grueling, four-week, 16-city national tour that ranges across the entire United States,” said Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

“Diesel has long been the power of choice behind America’s motor coach industry. Unlike other alternative fuels, advanced clean diesel engines using home-grown quality biodiesel fuels can serve every community throughout the country. Diesel power is the American Idol of clean energy.”

Now you’ll have reason to tune in past the bad auditions (let’s be honest … that’s really our favorite part, right?).

The maker of a biodiesel processor intended to turn waste grease and other feedstocks into the green fuel has announced one of its processor is now in its 50th school.

This press release from California-based Springboard Biodiesel says that Arkansas State University is the latest college and school system in the U.S. that has installed one of their systems … in this case, the BioPro 190, a fully-automated machine that converts 50 gallons of vegetable or animal oil into ASTM-grade biodiesel for less than $1 a gallon:

Announcing this milestone, Springboard Biodiesel’s CEO Mark Roberts explained, “Now, more than ever, universities, colleges and high school systems across the US are looking for ways to save money and reduce their carbon footprint. Making biodiesel out of cooking oil collected from a school’s cafeterias and restaurants gives any college, university or high school system the opportunity to make ASTM-grade biodiesel in a fully-automated machine, for only $0.95 cents a gallon.” Roberts added: “From a budget perspective, that’s compelling. But many of these same institutions are striving to reduce their campus greenhouse gas emissions and by converting waste cooking oil into a fuel that burns up to 90% cleaner than regular diesel, BioPro™ biodiesel production is an immediate and effective way to help institutions meet their goals.”

“Safety was a very important consideration when we chose to purchase a BioPro™,” said Dr. Kevin Humphrey, The Director for Agricultural Education at Arkansas State University. “After all, students are the ones who will be working with this equipment, so we are obviously very safety conscious.” He added, “When you take into account the automation and the rugged construction of the BioPro™, then you know that safety was an important factor in its design.”

The school plans to use oils from soybeans, canola and camelina grown on the university’s research farm, as well as waste cooking oils from the college’s cafeterias, to make biodiesel to be used in the university’s tractors, trucks and diesel irrigation motors.

He’s soon-to-be the new leader of the state that is certainly a leader in biodiesel and ethanol, so it only makes sense that incoming Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will address the 5th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 25th.

“This will not be the first Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit that Gov. Branstad has attended,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Before, he attended as an investor in Iowa renewable fuels refineries. Now as Governor, we’re excited to hear his vision for enhancing Iowa’s status as a leader in renewable fuels production and public policy.”

Governor-Elect Branstad is scheduled to address the Summit at 10:00 a.m. Other speakers include NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace and Renewable Fuels Association’s Bob Dinneen. Program highlights for this year’s Summit include, “E15: Bringing More Fuel Choices to Iowa,” “Iowa Biodiesel Resurgence,” and “Advanced Biofuels – A Turing Point for Renewable Energy.”

The IRFA points out that Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries able to produce nearly 3.7 billion gallons annually and 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 315 million gallons each year.

The free summit and trade show will be held at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines. Pre-register online at www.IowaRFA.org.