Domestic Fuel

The Chicago Farmers, an agriculture and agribusiness organization, will discuss, “Alternative Energy’s Impact on Farm Income,” at its December meeting, Mon., Dec. 12 at the Illini Center in Chicago.

Fred Iutzi, of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, will provide a strategic overview and update on renewable energy trends and a status of the industry in Illinois. Corn ethanol and soy biodiesel, advanced biofuels from cellulosic biomas, biomass heat and power, and wind and solar power all will be discussed. The presentation will highlight policy and development issues for both large-and small-scale renewable energy projects and connections between Illinois and the wider national energy economy. It will be followed by a question and answer session.

Reservations are due by Fri., Dec. 9. Participants are encouraged to
register early.

You hear a lot about the role biofuels could take in the aviation sector. Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Air Force successfully tested renewable jet fuel in several of their fighter planes. Biojet fuel is poised to become a big player for the U.S. military which is the largest user of fuel in the country. But what might be holding biojetfuel back on a commercial aviation scale? No ASTM International Committee on Petroleum and Lubricant approvals.

ASTM develops standards related to oil products. You hear much ado about the biodiesel industry producing ASTM standard biodiesel but we haven’t heard much on this issue in terms of aviation. This week, ASTM announced a provisional approval for a new specification for hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel.

“This is a significant step toward a new era of greener and more energy-independent air travel,” said US FAA Administrator Randy Babbit. “We anticipate publication of a standard in the next few weeks will open the door for production of commercial aviation biofuels that can be used without changing aircraft systems or airport fueling infrastructure.”

To help move along the approval process, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuel Initiative conducted thorough research and testing. Once the standard is officially approved, biojet fuels with up to a 50 percent blend can be used. Feedstocks currently in the running – camelina, jatropha and algae.

My Dear Friends,

For the past four-and-a-half years, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of blogging about this nation’s and world’s efforts to wean itself from non-renewable energy. It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience, taking me down the blogging highway, sometimes from the comfort of my own living room chair. But, sadly, I will not be able to continue writing for this blog.

I have been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Afghanistan to help the Afghans start a radio journalism/production program, so they can get good information to the people of that country and not just what some mullah wants to tell them. Don’t worry about my safety; I’ll be warm and safe and dry in the cozy confines of Kandahar Air Base, protected by the finest collection of fighting men and women the world has ever seen. I only hope that my efforts will make their jobs a little easier and help Afghanistan recover from decades of war and strife.

In the meantime, I hope to check in from time to time and give you a glimpse of our efforts there.

I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated Chuck’s and Cindy’s efforts and opportunities they have afforded me. They are true friends. I also feel confident that between them and their pool of talented, sophisticated freelance journalists, they’ll continue to spread the good news of renewable energy.

I thank you for reading my posts and providing comments. Even when (and probably especially when) we disagreed, I think it made for some great conversation … the real key to solving this nation’s energy issues. Keep reading Domestic Fuel, and keep putting in that great feedback!

Until we see each other again, take care!

John

According to AAA’s fuel-gauge report, this week the national average for one gallon of regular unleaded is $3.79 up from $2.86 last year, a 33 percent price hike. While it is higher in some areas and lower in others, price jumps at the pump are far from over. As the summer driving season nears, a new study estimates that pump prices will be more than 40 percent higher than last summer’s gas prices.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), regular-grade gasoline will average $3.86 across the country from April this September. Last year it averaged $2.76 per gallon throughout the summer driving months. The EIA also said that in some areas, monthly average prices could top the national average by at least 25 cents per gallon. This price trend appears to be accurate considering many cities have seen per gallon pump prices over the $4 mark since March.

The EIA report states, “The continuing economic recovery tends to boost gasoline and diesel fuel consumption, while the effect of higher retail prices tends to dampen it. These counterbalancing forces are expected to be prominent features of the summer driving season.”

Also a concern – if gas prices continue to skyrocket, people will have to tighten the budgets and stop spending. This could spiral the country back into the recession.

So how badly will this hit the pocketbook? The EIA estimates that summer fuel costs will increase approximately $825 from last year’s travel bringing the 2011 family’s fuel bill to $3,360 this year. In addition, the report expects refiner acquisition costs of crude oil to average $112.50 per barrel this summer a 50 percent increase from summer 2010. With respect to wholesale gasoline margins (the difference between the wholesale price of gas and the refiner acquisition cost of crude) are forecast to be 47 percent higher than last year with an average of 53 cents a gallon.

The EIA believes the driving force behind the higher prices of oil and at the pump is the “continuing strength in worldwide liquid fuels consumption.”

I’m sure there are people drinking green beer all over the world today but green beer is not just for St. Paddy’s Day. What, you ask? The U.S. Tax and Trade Bureau has recently approved Novozyme’s Ondea Pro, an enzyme originally introduced to the European market, to help make beer production more “green” aka sustainable. In fact, Danish brewer Harboe developed the first commercial beer using the enzyme entitled ‘Clim8 Beer’ just a few months prior to COP15. Nice timing, eh?

Now for those green beer drinkers in the States, raise your glasses and cheer for your greener beer.

“Ondea Pro enables brewers to create great-tasting beer while optimizing raw material utilization and reducing their carbon footprint – all with one simple process. It’s a real game-changer for the brewing industry,” says Soren Lund, Novozymes’ Marketing Manager for Brewing in the U.S. “With the long-term trend toward industrialization of the brewing process and ever-rising raw material prices, brewers are seeking effective solutions that do not jeopardize the consumer’s experience,” he says.

The resulting beer can be sold as a standalone product or it can be blended with traditional beer made with malt. Ondea Pro can also be blended into a different raw material mix of malt and barley in the beginning of the production process. Novozymes explains that malting barley requires soaking the grain in water to allow it to germinate. Next, the grain is then dried using both water and energy. Their enzyme allows you to avoid this step, thus reducing CO2 emissions (and water and energy requirements). Novozymes has also found that compared to the conventional brewing process, a 7 percent reduction in the amount of barley required to produce climate-friendly beer, thereby improving land utilization for society and decreasing operating costs for brewers.

”When we combined the fact that sustainable brewing is now a possibility in the U.S. with St. Patrick’s Day and our corporate brand icon of a green clover, it was an obvious choice for us to invite stakeholders to try some freshly-brewed green beer at our site today in North Carolina,” said Lund.

Bummer I don’t live in North Carolina because Novozymes is serving up some green beer brewed with Ondea Pro by Aviator Brewery of Fuquay Varina, NC during an event at their North American headquarters in Franklinton, NC today. In addition, the attendees will be also be served other food and beverages including crackers, bread and wine made ‘greener’ with the help of enzymes to present some of the many possibilities – and the different tastes of technology.

E85 sales in Iowa have broken all records reaching an all-time high for the state. According to the Iowa Department of Revenue, sales of E85 by Iowa retailers reached 9,311,908 gallons last year representing a 43% increase over 2009 sales.

“E85 has been a great success for Iowa consumers and retailers alike,” stated Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “With gasoline prices shooting skyward, E85 is the most cost-effective fuel choice for consumers today. And many E85 retailers have noted that E85 accounts for almost 10 percent or more of their total fuel sales. With more and more flexible fuel vehicles rolling off assembly lines, the only thing holding E85 back is the lack of E85 pumps.”

Iowa motorists currently have 138 retail locations available to purchase E85. Click here to view a list of all the E85 stations in the state.

IRFA predicts that it is likely to see more ethanol blended fuel sales because Iowans are looking for ways to fight back against high gas prices. “Unrest in the Middle East coupled with the desire to promote Iowa jobs is leading more Iowans than ever to choose the E85 dispenser. We are excited that several additional retailers are planning to add E85 and other mid-level ethanol blends to their stations this year.”

Iowa is a good place to be amid rising gas prices. The state is the number one producer of renewable fuels production, with 41 ethanol plants with the capacity to produce 3.7 billion gallons of ethanol per year. In addition, the state boasts 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 315 million gallons per year.

Usually we talk about alternative energy being used on the roads, but this time, I’d like to introduce you to a technology that harvests energy FROM the roads.

Continuing my conversation from yesterday with New Energy Technologies’ President and CEO John Conklin, he tells us today about MotionPower, that captures the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles.

“If solar and wind energy can be used to generate electricity for commercial and residential use, we began to wonder, ‘why can’t automobiles and trucks?’”

Conklin says more than 250 million vehicles drive about 6 billion miles each day on this nation’s roadways, providing a great feedstock for this new technology. Only about 15 percent of the energy in transportation fuels actually moves the vehicle; the rest is lost to the moving parts of the engine. And of the 15 percent, 10 percent of that is lost to the rolling resistance known as braking. Capturing that lost energy is the basis of the MotionPower technology.

He adds that MotionPower is really divided into two types of energy-capturing technologies: one that uses a mechanical treadal-type of system that generates the electricity from a deceleration area, such as an off-ramp or a low-speed road area; and the other that uses a peristaltic system that pushes a fluid through the mechanism to take advantage of wave motion energy generation (which would be used more commonly with heavy-duty trucks).

“With kinetic energy being related to mass and velocity, we can develop systems to target low-speed automobiles, high-speed automobiles and heavy trucks,” Conklin explains.

Conklin says these technologies are very close to being installed in our roads and sees 2011 as key to his company’s commercialization efforts.

Listen to more of my conversation with Conklin here: John Conklin, New Energy Technologies, part 2

Protec Fuel announces the opening of an E85 pump at 5264 New Jesup Highway in Brunswick, Georgia. Offering the clean burning, alternative fuel, Mr. Pete’s is the first station to have Protec Fuel’s imaging on their dispenser.

E85 is a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petroleum and can be used in over 8,000 FFVs across the area. The alternative fuel has been proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign petroleum.

Mr. Pete’s used Protec Fuel’s turnkey program which included designing and managing the equipment conversion and fuel supply. “We are pleased to be assisting this station with their E85 infrastructure and supply of fuel,” said CEO of Protec Fuel, Todd Garner. “Mr. Pete’s is a prime location for Protec’s roll-out of new E85 dispenser imaging and we look forward to seeing additional sites with our specialized branding.”

The E85 site is also the first of its kind in the area. Located just north of Jacksonville and south of Savannah, the owner is excited to begin selling the product. “I’m looking forward to see how many green vehicles will use our new fuel,” noted owner of Mr. Pete’s, Al Coty. “I’m proud to carry the fuel – it’s keeping the money in this country and helping our economy.”

Mr. Pete’s and Protec Fuel have teamed up with the Clean Fuels Foundation through their National Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) Awareness Campaign to help market the station and gain additional exposure. “Support from the state government, a strong Clean Cities program, in-state 1st and 2nd generation ethanol production, and a strong existing refueling infrastructure placed Georgia on our key market list in this partnership,” said Burl Haigwood, Clean Fuels Foundation and Project Manager for the National FFV Awareness Campaign.

Mr. Pete’s is open seven days a week. The site offers a convenience store and pay at the pump option.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve got no place to go,
Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a Survey!

The snow doesn’t show signs of stopping,
And I’ve bought some corn for popping,
The lights are turned way down low,
Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a Survey! Fill Out a Survey!

When I’ve completed the short questionnaire,
How I’ll hate going out in the storm!
So I’ll daydream about my online shopping spree,
Where I’ll buy a sweater to keep me warm.

I’ve clicked “register me to win,”
And, my dear, I may win $250.
All because it was snowing,
And I Filled Out a Survey! Filled Out a Survey! Filled Out a Survey!

I hope my rendition of “Let it Snow” hasn’t offended you too much to fill out our DomesticFuel survey. If not, those who complete the survey will have a chance to win $250. Happy Holidays and may Santa bring you some extra green this year.

Chevrolet will be highlighting a promise the company made three years ago – to design, build and sell the world’s first electric vehicle with extended-range capability, the Volt – in a web event tomorrow (Tuesday) morning:

To commemorate this milestone, we’ll host an event at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly facility – the home of the Chevrolet Volt. The pre-show begins at 9:30 a.m. EST, and will be led by GM CEO Dan Akerson along with other key members of GM and Chevrolet leadership, including representatives from the Volt development team.

You can check out the webcast here, and I’ll be talking with some of the good folks from Chevy during tomorrow’s Domestic Fuel podcast.

If you have food on your table today – thank God and thank our nation’s fabulous farmers and ranchers for the affordable, safe and abundant food supply they produce for the world.

I found this poem online that gives good reasons to give thanks today for those who produce the food, fuel and fiber that we all enjoy everyday:

I’m Just a Farmer, Plain and Simple
By Bobby Collier

I’m just a farmer,
Plain and simple.
Not of a royal birth
But rather, a worker of the earth.
I know not of riches
But rather, of patches on my britches
I know of drought and rain,
Of pleasure and pain.
I know of the good and the bad,
The happy and the sad.
I am a man of emotions.
A man who loves this land,
And the beauty of its sand.
I know of a spring’s fresh flow
And autumn’s golden glow,
Of a newborn calf’s hesitation,
And the eagle’s destination.
I know of tall pines,
And long, waiting lines.
Of the warmth of campfires,
And the agony of flat tires.
But I am a man who loves his job
And the life I live.
I am a man who works with God,
I cannot succeed without his help,
For you see,
I’m just a farmer
Plain and simple.

Scoop up some extra cash for the holiday season by filling out the DomesticFuel Survey. By participating in our fast, easy quick 5 minute survey, you could win $250 to spend on yourself or to help spread the joy to your friends and family.

Here’s all you need to do. Click on this link to complete the survey that will help the blogging team bring you more stories that are of interest to you. Once you’ve answered all the questions, enter to win $250 in cash. Each month, one winner will be chosen  from all of the survey’s entrants. Non winners will be put into the drawing for the next month so there is no need to fill out the survey multiple times.

Ready? Then click here to begin.

An Ohio company has won a state grant that will help it turn dirty plastic and rubber into transportation fuel.

Akron-based Polyflow LLC, has announced it has received a $50,000 grant in development funding from the Edison Technology Assistance Grants (E-TAG) program funded by the Ohio Department of Development. Polyflow will get some help from EWI, a leading engineering and technology organization dedicated to materials joining and allied technologies:

The E-TAG program is a strategic technology acceleration program whereby for-profit Ohio companies, working in collaboration with one or more Edison Centers or Incubators, can receive small and targeted grants that will help the company overcome some hurdles that stands between them and commercial success of a technology-based product or production process. The E-TAG award will allow Polyflow a greater speed to market by validating the Polyflow product for meeting fuel specifications and helping Polyflow target specific markets.

“The assistance of the E-TAG award will allow Polyflow to assess and fine tune our material for the most viable and opportune markets,” said Polyflow Feedstock Development Manager Terry Parmelee, Jr. “We thank the Edison Welding Institute for the resources and insights that will help ensure that Polyflow commercializes swiftly and effectively.”

Polyflow officials say the timing of the grant is perfect. It will compliment Polyflow’s work so far to establish the right commercial channel and buyer the company commercializes in the near future.

The 2012 Ford Focus will receive up to 40 mpg using E10 and will also be able to run on E85. The 2.0-liter engine will combine the technology of gasoline direct injection with twin independent variable camshaft timing and E85 flexible fuel capability.

Ford notes that the direct injection improves fuel economy and performance by delivering the exact amount of gasoline right into the combustion chamber. The engine can operate at a high 12:1 compression ratio, compared with the 2011 Focus’ engine’s 10:1 ratio, further enhancing power and efficiency. And unlike most competitive direct injection systems, the engine will be E85 flex fuel-capable.

The new Focus will be among the global leaders in fuel economy and CO2 emissions,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. “We will continue to pioneer new technologies beyond launch, including the zero-emissions Focus Electric BEV launching in North America in 2011. Throughout its life cycle, Focus in all forms, in all regions, will demonstrate the Ford commitment to deliver unsurpassed fuel economy on a truly global scale.”

Ford’s 2011 flexible fuel vehicle line includes the Crown Victoria, E-Series Van, Escape, Expedition, F-150 and Super Duty. Their Lincoln FFV line includes the Navigator and Town Car. Mercury’s 2011 FFVs are the Grand Marquis, Mariner and Milan.