Domestic Fuel

The Center for Advanced BioEnergy Research (CABER), part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, is hosting a symposium on Near-term Opportunities for Biorefineries on October 11-12, 2010. Among the topics discussed will be the impact of technology improvements and utilization of value-added co-products of corn ethanol production. Attendees will also learn about the political and economic considerations that affect the development of improved technology as well as the proposed Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS2) requirements and implications.

“Modest tweaks in technology can reap substantial economic and environmental benefits for current corn ethanol plants. This symposium will address near term technologies and utilization of co-products that can add another revenue stream,” said Dr. Hans Blaschek, Director of CABER. “We’ll also discuss biochemicals, including butanol, which is considered a next generation biofuel as well as feedstock chemical that can add to the portfolio of products being produced in a biorefinery.”

University of Illinois researchers, along with staff from the USDA, Argonne National Laboratory, and biofuels industry leaders will share their views of the current and future status of corn ethanol.

Topics for the symposium include:

• • Potentials for a biorefinery and a portfolio of products
• • Co-product utilization and conversion
• • Overcoming impediments to scale-up and commercialization
• • Technologies to make ethanol and butanol an advanced fuel
• • Economic advantages to diversification of products produced in a traditional corn ethanol plant

The early-bird registration fee is $249; after October 1 the registration fee is $299. Click here to learn more about the symposium and to register.

Just got a quick note from my friend Tamra Fakhoorian with the National Algae Association letting me know that she will be one of the speakers at the 2010 Energy & Sustainability Conference Sept. 23-25 at the Trabant Center in Newark, Delaware.

Tamra will be presenting on Thursday afternoon during the Carbon Abatement session of the conference with a talk entitled, “Algae for Energy: The Long Road to Fuel Independence.” I’ve talked to Tamra many times before, and I can assure you that it’s a session you won’t want to miss!

She’s pretty busy, too. I know right after she gets done talking at that conference, she’ll be hot-footing down to The Woodlands, Texas (just north of Houston) for the NAA’s national conference at the Sheraton North Houston hotel near George Bush Intercontinental Airport (see my post from Sept. 16 for more details).

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.

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.

Make your plans now to attend the free Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance Workshop, Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Crowne Plaza in Denver, Colo.

Sponsored by our friends at the Renewable Fuels Association, the National Biodiesel Board, the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation and the Propane Education & Research Council, this one-day event promises to be a must-attend event for a wide range of alternative fuel users, producers and marketers:

This training seminar will cover alternative fuel quality, infrastructure, available vehicles, safety, and environmental impact of propane, ethanol, biodiesel, and compressed natural gas. Attendees will include fleet managers, petroleum marketers, policy makers, fuel station owners, and media.

To register and for more information, check the alliance’s website, www.altfuelsalliance.org, or contact Julie Puckett at julie@thesales.net or 703-675-0520.

This year has marked the first year in several that wind installation in the U.S. is on the decline. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported in July in that only 700 megawatts (MW) of wind energy were added in the second quarter of this year. This is down 57 percent from 2008 and 71 percent from 2009 levels. One of the reasons cited for the decline is a lack of investor confidence in the long-term viability of the industry. This could be overcome, in part, by the passage of a federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES).

So, how should the industry go about overcoming this issue and others? They can learn this very thing during the inaugural  Midwest Wind Summit & Expo October 4-6, 2010 in Brookings, SD. The event will be headlined by Cascadia Capital Chairman and CEO, Michael Butler, who will provide a keynote address focusing on energy policy and future demand for transmission. These two key issues will set the foundation for more investment, new financing and mergers and acquisitions in the industry.

“Although the wind sector is forecast to have a turbulent 2011, we believe that local content requirements, investment by the turbine manufacturers in the U.S., and the reopening of the U.S. capital markets present opportunities for those who understand the changing dynamics of the U.S. market,” said Michael Butler, chairman and CEO of Cascadia Capital. “The Midwest Wind Summit will dissect key trends in wind investment and finance to help industry leaders understand how the market will evolve and what steps companies can take to stay at the forefront of the sector.”

The event will bring together leaders from the wind and solar industry, federal and state government, academia, trade groups, environmental leaders, and research centers to address the opportunities and urgency to develop more investment and expansion in wind, solar, transmission capabilities, and a smart grid for the Midwest and the nation.

“We are excited to present an all-star program at the Midwest Wind Summit, which will focus on several key issues including investment and finance, energy policy and regulations, said Randy Stratton, Summit Co-Chairman. “With Michael Butler, Susan Sloan from AWEA, along with PUC Commissioners Dusty Johnson-SD, Tony Clark-ND and Dr. David Boyd-MN, we will get a clear understanding of what is next for the wind industry and for transmission developments in the region.”

Registration is now open. You can learn more about the conference including the speaker line-up and agenda as well as register online by visiting the Midwest Wind Summit & Expo website at www.midwestwindsummit.com.

Is Texas fully capitalizing on the ethanol fuel revolution? You can find out by attending the new conference, Shaping Texas’ Fuel Ethanol Policy Conference on September 10, 2010 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Omni Hotel downtown Austin, Texas. The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association will be bringing decision makers and industry leaders together to help the state develop and strengthen its biofuels programs.

The conference will feature national, state and local leaders from companies such as General Motors, CleanFuel USA, Ceres, Inc., and Abengoa Bioenergy. Several leading biofuels organizations along with government associations will also be on hand including the Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, Texas Dept. of Agriculture, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board, Corn Producers Association of Texas, and the Clean Fuels Development Coalition.

“This conference offers a clear picture of today’s realities and opportunities in a growing renewable energy sector that some may have written off,” said Russel Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA). “The nation’s use of ethanol will continue to increase, and Texas has huge production possibilities and more flex fuel vehicles capable of running on E85 than any other state. Our current approach to this important industry may leave money on the table.”

The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, organizer of the conference, is the oldest renewable energy trade organization in Texas. Click here to learn more about the event and to register.

As the July 4th weekend kicks off, the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is reminding everyone that energy independence can be achieved through choice at the pump.

To reinforce this message, ACE has confirmed that Anne Korin, author of “Turning Oil Into Salt: Independence Through Fuel Choice,” chair of the Set America Free Coalition and nationally sought after expert, will provide a keynote address on consumer choice at the pump, August 4th, during their national conference August 3-5 in Kansas City.

“We are so pleased that Anne Korin will be joining us for our national ethanol conference next month to share her expertise on how America can achieve energy independence,” said Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE.  “A key tactic outlined in her book is to break oil’s monopoly at the pump, thus breaking its status as a strategic commodity. Fuel choice is the answer, which is why we are fighting hard for the consumer’s right to access flexible fuel vehicles and blender pumps.”

According to ACE, the type of choice at the pump that would benefit consumers are blender pumps. These pumps offer consumers the choice to fill up with E10 or E85 or various mid-level blends such as E30 or E40. However, to use mid-level or higher blends of ethanol today, a consumer must own a flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) and there is currently pending legislation that would require all vehicles sold in the U.S. to be FFVs.

“Our nation’s fuel system is built around petroleum, and if there’s any hope of achieving energy independence, we must start building some flexibility into the fuel system,” Jennings said. “Flexible fuel vehicles and blender pumps will open up the fuel system to competition and allow the consumer to choose, instead of living under the decades-old mandate for 90 percent petroleum in every gallon of gasoline.”

Discounted registration is available for attendees through July 23. Click here for online registration. To learn more about other topics and speakers at this year’s event, click here.

As the nation’s worst oil spill in history threatens the Gulf Coast’s energy, tourism and fishing industries, Florida is continuing efforts to promote the production of renewable energy from biomass resources in the Sunshine State.

For the fifth year in a row, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson will host the Farm to Fuel Summit, August 11-13 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, to bring together hundreds of industry leaders in agriculture, energy, academia and government who want to make Florida a leader in the production of renewable energy.

“Florida has the greatest potential for biomass production in the country, and the technology exists to convert our natural resources to clean, renewable energy,” Bronson said. “This event will bring together all the stakeholders so we can continue working toward the goal of reducing our dependence on foreign oil while at the same time providing another source of income for our farmers.”

Highlights of the summit include more than 40 speakers and 50 exhibitors. Last July, Bronson’s fourth Florida ‘Farm to Fuel’ summit attracted more than 500 participants. Attendees of this year’s summit will hear about various feedstocks and technologies for renewable energy production, challenges relating to project financing, permitting and infrastructure, and state and federal energy policy.

Find out more about the summit, agenda and registration on-line from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Three CEOs of companies working toward next-generation biofuels will take the stage at Fortune Magazine’s Brainstorm Green conference in California next week.

Joining the conversation on “Beyond Corn Ethanol?” will be Jeff Broin of POET, William Roe of Coskata and Jonathan Wolfson with Solazyme. Broin will also take part in another discussion on “Renewable Energy – Hype and Reality” with David Crane of NRG Energy; Bill Gross, Founder of eSolar and Idealab; Katrina Landis, BP Alternative Energy Division CEO; and Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas Wind Systems.

Other topics at the conference include clean technology, the role of government in current and future energy issues, sustainability, electric cars, and more.

Registration and more information about the conference can be found here on-line.

The preliminary agenda for the 2010 Fuel Ethanol Workshop has been announced, along with incentive to register early. Register by March 16 to save $200 and be entered in a drawing to win an iPod Touch. The winner will be announced on March 17.

The 26th Annual Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo features more than 120 industry professionals delivering presentations across five topic tracks. This year’s line-up was assembled from over 240 abstracts which were vigorously reviewed by a panel of nearly 40 industry professionals. The result is a compilation of presenters addressing our industry’s most current concepts, processes, technologies, challenges, and opportunities. Topics as varied as plant optimization, advances in fermentation, carbon monetization, and industry salary trends are all available in this one, content-packed event.

The 2010 FEW will be held June 14-16 at the America’s Center in St. Louis.

Everyone needs an excuse to go to Italy and now you have one – Solarexpo. Solarexpo in an international conference and expo on renewable energy and distributed generation. The event will be held on May 5-7, 2010 in Italy and as part of the event, is launching the R4R – Research for Renewables event.

R4R is a “research consortium” of sorts representing Italy’s entire range of renewable energy technologies. Organizations involved in research, technology developments, university spinoffs and innovative startups have the opportunity to be involved. The concept has been developed and managed in partnership with Galileia, a spinoff from the engineering faculty of the University of Padua that specializes in the energy sector.

“With the R4R project, Solarexpo is building on its innovative approach and continuing to create new spaces in which the vast worlds of renewable energy can come together. R4R is our way of engaging with parts of the renewables sector that would only be marginally interested in a traditional exhibition event: the world of research and new companies in the renewable energy field,” said Luca Zigale, scientific director of Solarexpo. “This is an environment that is evolving rapidly and is full of new talents, ideas and projects, but isn’t very visible for more established companies and public sector decision makers.”

Another interesting twist of the R4R is that is will have a dedicated hall in Solarexpo and 20 of the most promising startup companies will be selected to exhibit at no charge. In conjunction with the expo, a series of networking events, informational sessions and workshops will take place around two themes: “Research Day” and “Green Financing Day”.

But what may be the coolest thing about 4R4 is its support of young, innovative companies that have great ideas but not enough funding. This event will give these companies that audience they need to attract investments and bring these cutting-edge technologies to market.

You can learn more about the conference by clicking here.

Back by popular demand, Phibro Ethanol Performance Group, along with Fremont, Fermentis and Novozymes are hosting the second Process Optimization Seminar targeted for plant managers, operations managers, technical managers, lab managers and general managers. This interactive seminar is focused on helping ethanol plants increase their efficiency and profitability through learning about new technologies available for the fermentation process. This two half-day seminar is being held in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 30-31 and the early registration deadline is March 10.

I was able to spend a few minutes with Tom Slunecka, the VP of Marketing for Phibro Ethanol Performance Group to learn more about the seminar and why fermentation is so important. “The life blood of the plant is optimizing alcohol production within that plant. That’s really what drives the profitability of a plant. Of course, we have to buy our corn right and sell our ethanol right and sell our distillers right but if we’re not optimizing every kernel of corn for every amount of ethanol it can possibly produce, we’re leaving money on the table.”

Slunecka continued, “That’s really what this seminar is all about. It’s making sure that the people involved with the most important details of the plant have the optimum information to maximize the profitability of the plant.”

The location of the seminar was designed to be within driving distance of many ethanol plants and Slunecka explained that the class size is small, and limited, so that the exchange between instructors and participants is high, yet the price point is low. Click here to learn more and to register.

Listen to my full interview with Tom below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (2.0MB)

Another approach and discussion is emerging surrounding messaging and education of global climate change. Green communication specialists will gather in May for a summit to refine the cause that clean energy and sustainable business practices are good policy and good business.

The first-ever Green PR summit rEnergize Communications Summit will be held May 23-25 to discuss how corporate brands, products and initiatives will be best positioned for success in the new era of climate change and sustainability. Communication experts from corporations, organizations, trusts, foundations, and local and state government will be working together to create a unified messaging strategy that will prepare people for the global changes already under way to alleviate the destruction of climate change.

“There is a disconnect between the importance that people place on the environment and what sustainability actions they are willing to adopt,” said Joanna Schroeder, APR and Principal of 4R Communications, the company spearheading the summit. “Now that the world has embraced the issues surrounding climate change, and policy is underway to mitigate potential damage, we need a concerted communications effort that will help educate and prepare the public for these inevitable changes.”

Conference speakers include Cara Pike, Director of Our Social Capital Project and author of Climate Crossroads: A Research-Based Framing Guide; Autumn Salamack, Aveda; Greensburg, Kansas Mayor Bob Dixson; Brian Davis, CleanBiz Horizons; Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest; and Greg Pahl author of The Citizens Energy Handbook.

Register by March 15 to receive free registration to the webinar, “5 Key Barriers to Environmental Engagement,” as well as for conference registration discounts. For a full list of speakers, and to register, visit www.rEnergizeMedia.com. You can also follow news about the conference on Twitter at #GRPR.

During the National Biodiesel Conference, Renewable Energy Group (REG) held an outlook conference at which they provided an overview of the company as well as a look ahead. One of the speakers was Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Gary Haer.

Gary says the new RFS-2 gives the industry a good foundation for demand. He says the industry took a step back last year but he sees good market opportunities coming. Another driver for growth will be state initiatives like those in states like Minnesota. Some are in place now or are expected at a future date. He says REG assists in these state processes with staff that work on government relations. Other drivers include the biodiesel specifications that may require labeling in some states.

Gary says that the company plans to have a free webinar available on RFS-2 on February 24th. Information about it should be available on their website.

REG has released several reports that are available for download:

“Feedstock and Biodiesel Characteristics” (pdf)
Steryl Glucosides Study (pdf)
Moisture Study (pdf)
Soap Study (pdf)

You can listen to Gary’s comments below.

National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.2MB)