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DOE
and USDA to Grant $17.5 million for Biomass Research
In October, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $17.5 million in grants
for research, development, and demonstration of biobased products,
biofuels, and biomass power. USDA and DOE have provided $12.8 and
million $4.7 million, respectively. Feedstock production and product
diversification is the focus of USDA funding, while DOE funding is
focused on cellulosic biomass.
Source: EERE
Network News.
October 18, 2006
. or http://www.energy.gov/news/4351.htm
Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy: A Joint Research Solicitation -
USDA, DOE
A
$4 million joint solicitation was also announced by DOE’s, Office
of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER), and USDA’s,
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
and its National Research Initiative’s (NRI) Competitive Grants
Program for plant feedstock genomics. The research will focus on
“genomics-based research that will lead to the improved use of
biomass and plant feedstocks for the production of fuels such as
ethanol or renewable chemical feedstocks.” No funding has been
appropriated for this program yet. Applications are due on
January 30, 2007
.
Source:
https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/29F5CC5829D678BC8525720300584853?OpenDocument&PF
Fermentative Organisms for the Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to
Ethanol Solicitation
DOE announced the “Development of Robust, Highly
Efficient Fermentative Organisms for the Conversion of
Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol” solicitation. The
organisms must be able to survive a wide range of environmental
conditions and be genetically stable. To be eligible for
consideration applicants must be willing and able to take the
strains to a commercial scale and have a sound business strategy to
license and market the organism. The solicitation is for $17 million
and four awards are expected. No
funding has been appropriated for this program yet. Applications are
due on
January 18, 2007
.
Source: https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/13949F628D2B2DB68525720C00706F4E?OpenDocument
Changes
in DOE Loan Guarantee Program
On December 18, DOE announced that it no longer anticipates
being able to respond to Pre-Applications within the timeframe
stated in the solicitation. The Office of Loan Guarantee’s made
this decision based on Congress’s inability to complete action on
‘funding and authorities’ needed to implement the program. The DOE
extended deadline for pre-applications for loan guarantees, December
31, still is applicable. DOE will continue its plans to issue a
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the adoption of final regulations
and additional solicitations that include all of the technologies in
Title XVII.
Source: http://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/a62beb2f6e6159ac852566c60075270a/d230e80d10f4aad4852571c5004a1749?OpenDocument
http://www.lgprogram.energy.gov/
Small Gains Made in Renewable Energy Tax Credit Extensions
In an
early morning session on December 9 the Senate extended several
renewable energy tax credits by passing and sending to the President
the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (H.R. 6408). Specific
extensions of interest are the Production Tax Credit for electricity
produced from certain renewable energy resources (Section 45) to
January 1, 2009; credit to holders of Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs)
Dec 31, 2008; deduction for commercial energy efficient commercial
buildings to December 31, 2008; credit for new energy efficient
homes to December 31, 2008; credit for residential energy efficiency
property, but it looks to be only for PV through December 31, 2008
(solar thermal may not be extended); and energy credit (Section 48)
to December 31, 2008. Furthermore,
two additional provisions will help biomass technologies, one is a
special depreciation provision for cellulosic biomass ethanol plant
property placed in service before
January 1, 2013
and the other is an extension of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the
United States
for ethanol extended from
October 1, 2007
to
January 1, 2009
.
Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/
and http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=235155&Month=12&Year=2006&Party=1
New
Federal Legislation
In recent months a number of new bills were
introduced to combat high energy costs. These
bills include provisions to increase biofuels production, require
the production of flex-fuel vehicles, extends the renewable energy
tax credits and a variety of other initiatives.
See the list below for a brief description of these important
bills. To find out the
specifics of each bill use the following link to search by each bill
number. http://thomas.loc.gov/
S.
3840 – Ethanol Stimulus Act of 2006
On September 5, Senator Schumer (D-NY) introduced the “Ethanol
Stimulus Act of 2006”, which
amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax incentive
to produce ethanol in high-consumption, low-production States, and
for other purposes. This bill provides specific tax incentives for
states which consume more than two percent of the aggregate amount
of gasoline consumed in all States and produce less than two percent
of the aggregate amount of ethanol produced in all States as
determined by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
S.
3844 – Biofuels Investment Trust Fund Act
On September 5, Senator Nelson (D-NE) introduced the
“Biofuels Investment Trust Fund Act”, which provides for the investment of all funds collected from the tariff on
imports of ethanol to be used for research, development, and
deployment of biofuels, especially cellulosic ethanol produced from
biomass feedstocks.
S.
3890 – Rural Energy for
America
Act of 2006
On
September 12, Senators Harkin (D-IA), Lugar (R-IN), Durbin (D-IL),
Hagel (R-NE) and Nelson (D-NE) introduced the “Rural Energy
for America Act of 2006”, to enhance and improve the energy security of the United
States, expand economic development, increase agricultural income,
and improve environmental quality by reauthorizing and improving the
renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements program
of the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012. This bill
increases this programs authorization to $250 million over five
years. (Sec. 9006 of the Energy Title of the 2002 Farm Bill)
S.
3908 – Oil
Independence
, Limiting Subsidies, and Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency (OILSAVE)
Act
On September 18, Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Bennett (R-UT)
introduced the “Oil Independence, Limiting Subsidies, and
Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency (OILSAVE) Act”, which amends
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for fuel
efficient motor vehicles and to require major integrated oil
companies to amortize intangible drilling and development costs.
S.
3817 – American-Made Energy Freedom Act of 2006
On September 21, Senator Burr (R-NC) introduced the
“American-Made Energy Freedom Act of 2006”, to establish the
American-Made Energy Trust Fund, to increase the tax credits for
cellulosic biomass ethanol, to extend tax incentives for solar and
fuel cell property, to promote coal-to-liquid fuel activities, to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a
competitive oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain of
Alaska. This is a companion bill to H.R. 5890 introduced by Rep.
Nunes (R-CA) on July 26 in the House.
H.R.
6248 – Amendment to Sec. 1703 on Loan Guarantees of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005
On
September 28, Representatives Rogers (R-MI), Blunt (R-MO),
Knollenberg (R-MI), and Schwarz (R-MI) introduced H.R. 6248, which
authorizes the Secretary of Energy to make certain loan guarantees
for advanced conservation and fuel efficient motor vehicle
technology projects, including gasoline and diesel vehicles,
flexible-fuel vehicles, and hybrid-electric vehicles, that reduce
dependence on oil and the emissions of one or more greenhouse gases.
S.
4000 – National Fuels Initiative
On September 29, Senator Lugar (R-IN) introduced the
“National Fuels Initiative”, which amends the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 to modify the alcohol credit and the alternative fuel
credit, amends the Clean Air Act to promote the installation of fuel
pumps for E85 fuel, and amends title 49 of the United States Code to
require the manufacture of dual-fueled automobiles.
S.
4003 – Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2006
On September 29, Senators Harkin (D-IA) and Lugar (R-IN)
introduced the “Ethanol Infrastructure Expansion Act of 2006”, a
bill which requires the Secretary of Energy to award funds to study
the feasibility of constructing one or more dedicated ethanol pipelines
to increase the energy, economics, and environmental security of the
United States.
S.
4020 – Renewable Fuels Promotion Act
On September 29, Senators Dayton (D-MN), Obama (D-IL), Durbin
(D-IL), Stabenow (D-MI), Dorgan (D-ND) and Harkin (D-IA) introduced
the “Renewable Fuels Promotion Act”, which amends the Petroleum
Marketing Practices Act to prohibit restrictions on the installation
of renewable fuel pumps and amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to
require that all Federal fleet fueling centers in the United States
install not less than one renewable fuel pump.
S.
4039 – Global Warming Reduction Act of 2006
On September 29, Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Snowe (R-ME)
introduced the “Global Warming Reduction Act of 2006”, which
amends the Clean Air Act to establish an economy-wide global warming
pollution emission “cap-and-trade” program to assist the economy
in transitioning to new clean energy technologies, to protect
employees and affected communities, to protect companies and
consumers from significant increases in energy costs, and for other
purposes.
H.R.
6266 – 21st Century Energy
Independence
Act of 2006
On September 29, Representatives Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Berman
(D-CA), Solis (D-CA), Watson (D-CA), Millender-McDonald (D-CA),
Conyers (D-MI), McGovern (D-MA), Kennedy (D-RI), Pallone (D-NJ),
Kucinich (D-OH), Butterfield (D-NC), Scott (D-GA), Kilpatrick
(D-MI), Rangel (D-NY), Lee (D-CA), Ortiz (D-TX), Cuellar (D-TX),
Reyes (D-TX), Napolitano (D-CA), Kildee (D-MI), Langevin (D-RI),
Lynch (D-MA), Thompson (D-MS), Clay (D-MO), Ruppersberger (D-MD),
and Davis (D-IL) introduced the “21st Century Energy
Independence Act of 2006”, which authorizes
the Secretary of Energy to make loan guarantees for cellulosic
ethanol production technology development.
H.R.
6269 – Oil and Gas-to-Alternatives Swap (OGAS) Act of 2006
On September 29, Rep. Biggert (R-IL) introduced the “Oil and
Gas-to-Alternatives Swap (OGAS) Act of 2006”, which amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand and
extend the incentives for alternative fuel vehicles (extended to
2012) and refueling property (credit rate increased from 30 to 60
percent) and to repeal the oil and gas production incentives added
by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
H.R.
6291 – Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Stimulus Act
of 2006
On September 29, Rep. Lowey (D-NY) introduced the “Renewable
Energy and Energy Efficiency Stimulus Act of 2006”, which extends the production tax credit from 2008 to 2011 and,
the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds from 2007 to 2010; extends
commercial building and home credits; solar investment credits;
extends the excise tax for biodiesel and alternative fuels to 2008;
and extends many other incentives for clean and renewable energy and
its more efficient use.
S. Res. 600 – National Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Day
On September 29, Senators Byrd (D-WV), Lugar (R-IN),
Rockefeller (D-WV), Kerry (D-MA), Bingaman (D-NM), Stabenow (D-MI),
Ensign (R-NV), Cantwell (D-WA), Dodd (D-CT), Mikulski (D-MD),
Feinstein (D-CA), Levin (D-MI), Wyden (DOR), Burr (D-NC), Bayh
(D-IN), Biden (D-DE), DeWine (R-OH), Durbin (DIL), Dorgan (D-ND),
Lieberman (D-CT), Conrad (D-ND), Salazar (D-CO), Hagel (R-NE),
Grassley (R-IA), and Reid (D-NV) introduced a resolution designating
October 12, 2006, as ``National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day.”
H.R. 4609 –
High-Performance Buildings Act of 2006
On December 16, Representatives Smith (D-WA), Lewis (D-GA),
Blumenbauer (D-OR), Serrano (D-NY), Markey (D-MA), Brady (D-PA),
Pallone (D-NJ), Israel (D-NY), Brown (D- OH), Kucinich (D-OH),
McDermott (D-WA), Payne (D-NJ), Grijalva (D-AZ), Carnahan (D-MO),
Holt (D-NJ), Inslee (D-WA), Nadler (D-NY), Wexler (D-FL), Baird
(D-WA), Miller (D-CA), Capps (D-CA) introduced “High-Performance
Buildings Act of 2006”, to increase the use and research of
sustainable building design technology, and for other purposes.
Minnesota
Next Generation Energy
Initiative
Renewable energy, biofuels, energy efficiency
and conservation and carbon reductions are the focus of Governor
Pawlenty’s new Next Generation Energy Initiative announced on
December 12. Minnesota’s
initiative includes the ‘25x25’ strategic goal of 25 percent of
energy including power and fuels coming from renewable resources by
2025; increases to the Renewable Energy Objective (REO) (up from 10
percent of electricity by 2015 to 25 percent by 2025); quintupling
of E85 pumps; and reduction of fossil-fuel energy 15 percent by 2015
are some of the provisions. “The obligation should be firm enough
to ensure we reach our goals, but flexible enough to allow utilities
and regulators to respond to changing markets, consumer demand and
regulatory conditions,” Governor Pawlenty said.
Source: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/mediacenter/pressreleases/PROD007863.html
New
Hampshire Governor Calls for Promoting Renewable Portfolio Standard
(RPS)
Governor John Lynch emphasized the importance of promoting
renewable resources at the opening of a wood-pellet facility in
Jaffrey
,
NH
. According to Lynch, the adoption of a Renewable Portfolio Standard
(RPS) is an important step toward “lowering energy costs and
controlling the strain on the state’s power grid.” Compared
to other New England states,
New Hampshire
often has been viewed as not doing enough to encourage renewable
resources. John Lynch said that he is determined to integrate more
renewables into
New Hampshire
’s energy infrastructure in the next few years.
Source: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=45755
Illinois
Invests $25 Million in Five
New Biofuels Facilities
On August 15, 2006, Gov. Rod D. Blagojevich announced an
investment of $25 million to help build five new ethanol and
biodiesel production plants across
Illinois
. The money will come in Opportunity
Returns grants and additional support. The new plants are
expected to produce 225 million gallons of biofuels each year,
create almost 150 new jobs and reduce
Illinois
’ dependence on foreign oil. The grants will help build the
following five facilities:
·
Central Illinois Energy, LLC in
Fulton
County
has received $6.35 million
·
Illinois River Energy, LLC in
Ogle
County
has received a $5.5 million grant
·
Center Ethanol Co., LLC in St. Clair County is receiving nearly $5.7 million in grants and tax credits
·
Biofuels Company of
America
, LLC in
Vermilion
County
is receiving approximately $4.8
million in grants
·
Stepan Company in
Will
County
is a receiving a $3
million grant
Source: http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=4&RecNum=5181
Study
Explores Possible New Uses for Vegetable Oil
Clemson University and the Savannah River National Laboratory
(SRNL) have teamed up to research the possibility of using edible
vegetable oil as a way to deter oil-based contaminants from entering
groundwater reservoirs. Water
contamination occurs when a small amount of toxic oil-based
substance dissolves into water.
Researchers hypothesize that injecting vegetable oil into
hydraulic fractures will cause chlorinated contaminates leaked from
tanks or pipes to cling to the vegetable oil instead of entering
into water reservoirs. Since
these edible oils also create the right conditions for a specific
type of microbe that degrades the harmful solvents, researchers are
hoping for a secondary benefit of microbes breaking down the trapped
pollutants.
Sources: http://www.ornl.gov/info/news/pulse/pulse_v219_06.htm
http://clemsonews.clemson.edu/WWW_releases/2006/September/edible_oil.html
Study
Examines Glycerin as a Dietary Supplement for Growing Chickens
Recent research by the
University
of
Arkansas
’s Division of Agriculture showed that glycerine can be used as an
energy source for broiler diets. Glycerine is a byproduct of
biodiesel production. Since there has been a rapid increase in the
production of biodiesel, new uses for glycerine will become
increasingly important, according to Park Waldrop, poultry
nutritionist for the UA Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. In
the near future, the production of biodiesel will double compared to
today’s annual production of 354 million gallons, Waldrop said,
and the traditional uses for glycerine in cosmetics and other
products will no longer be sufficient. Waldrop and his research
group are looking into implementation of glycerine into the diets of
growing broiler chickens as a necessary new way of using glycerin.
A short-term preliminary study showed that chicks up to 16
days of age can be fed 10 percent glycerine without impairing
performance. Positive results of the study serve as evidence that
glycerine can be used as a safe feed additive for broiler diets.
Meat quality would not be affected by the new diet, according to
Waldrop. However, more extensive research is needed to assess that.
Sources: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/060822-biodiesel-byproducts/
Report
Urges Adoption of Holistic Approach to Cellulosic Industry
Development
A new report released by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) entitled "Putting the Pieces
Together: Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol," recommends that
the Department of Energy (DOE) begin using a holistic approach in
their effort to commercialize cellulosic ethanol, utilizing all
available policy tools instead of any single one.
This report, which was written as a response to a DOE Request
for Information (RFI) on Section 942 – Production Incentives for
Cellulosic Biofuels (better known as the ‘reverse auction’),
argues that using all the available tools provided in the Energy
Policy Act of 2005, EPAct (P.L. 109-58) to encourage
commercialization will not speed up the quantitative aspect of the
EPAct significantly, so instead incentives should be used to
implement the qualitative aspects of the ‘reverse auction’.
In other words, the available direct grants, loan guarantees
and direct incentives should not be used to promote the amount
of cellulosic ethanol made, as the incentives will make only a small
difference in the rate at which a certain quantity will be produced.
Instead, these incentives should be used to implement the qualitative aspects of the Act such as “maximizing the benefit of
cellulosic ethanol production to farmers and rural areas,
stimulating a diverse array of feedstocks, processing technologies
and geographic locations.” ILSR
strongly supports a holistic approach which will nurture local
ownership as well as geographic and crop diversity.
Sources: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46070
or http://www.newrules.org/agri/celluloseethanol.pdf
Paper by IATP Emphasizes High Water Use by Ethanol Plants
Water Use by Ethanol Plants: Potential Challenges,
published by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) in
August 2006, pointed out that the shortage of available water could
impede the ethanol boom. The report is written by IATP Senior Fellow
Dr. Dennis Keeney and Mark Muller, director of IATP’s Environment
and Agriculture program.
The paper revealed that there are no public records of water
use by ethanol plants in the
United States
except for
Minnesota
. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,
ethanol plants have improved the efficiency of their water use from
an average of 5.8 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol produced in
1998 to 4.2:1 in 2005. Assuming that Minessota’s use of water is
representative of other states, the paper predicted that water use
associated with ethanol plants could increase by 254 percent from
1998 to 2008.
Dr. Keeney said, “Despite steady improvements in the
efficiency of water use in ethanol plants, the sheer number of new
ethanol plants being built has the potential to put a strain on the
Corn Belt
’s water resources.” Muller agreed with Keeney by saying
“Economic development is only sustainable if it strengthens,
rather than depletes, natural resources.”
IATP’s recommendations include:
1) strengthening regulatory oversight by state and local
government on the siting of ethanol plants, with special emphasis on
the water supply;
2) where feasible, site plants adjacent to
municipal wastewater facilities;
3) look for water recycling opportunities with
livestock facilities;
4) place a greater economic value on water; and
5) maintain publicly available records on
ethanol’s water consumption
Sources: http://www.agobservatory.org/headlines.cfm?refID=89461
or http://www.agobservatory.org/library.cfm?refid=89449
Research Shows Potential of Algae as Biofuel
A number of companies and universities are doing research on
finding sustainable ways to commercialize use of algae and fungi to
produce renewable fuels. At one company the algae are grown in
specially shaped bioreactors. Sunlight, water and carbon emissions
from power plants are used to grow algae. The algae is harvested and
turned into biodiesel fuel. The next step of the experiment is to
place the bioreactors next to the plants that emit carbon dioxide,
whereby through photosynthesis, algae would stop CO2 from
being released into the air and transform it into oxygen.
Scott Sklar, president
of The Stella Group in
Washington
,
DC
, predicts that “by 2025, less than 20 years from now, we
will have several forms of algae and fungi producing all kinds of
biofuels in the commercial markets, and hundreds of others poised to
enter the market, not only for fuels but for coproducts.”
Source: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46426
or http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/03/veridian_corp_e.php
International
Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC) Released
Paper on International Biofuels Trade
The International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council (IPC)
released a paper on international biofuels trade on October 27 in
Washington
DC
. The study was lead by Professor Robert Howse of the
University
of
Michigan
. Howse is the principal trade expert for the Renewable Energy and
International Law Project which partnered with IPC on this project.
Howse examined the WTO’s options for biofuels and suggested that
biofuels are a new technology to which existing trade rules need to
be adapted. The paper discusses how international trade rules could
apply to the biofuels sector. Issues include whether biofuels and
their feedstocks should be classified as agricultural, industrial or
environmental goods.
Source: http://www.ethanolproducer.com/article-web.jsp?article_id=2402
The Market for Cellulose Ethanol
Energy Business Reports, an energy industry think tank and
source for energy industry information and research products,
published “The Market for Cellulose Ethanol report on ethanol,”
a 68-page report on how cellulosic ethanol is produced. Topics
covered in the $397 report include:
- Ethanol
as a Source of Energy
- The
Cellulose Ethanol Market
- The
Outlook for Cellulose Ethanol
- Market
Dynamics Including Current and Future Potential
- Commercialization
Trends and Barriers to Development of Cellulosic Ethanol
- An
In-depth Analysis of Leading Industry Players
- Role
of Government
Source: http://mmdnewswire.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=772&Itemid=26
New B20 Study Shows No Increase in NOx Emissions
According to Effects of Biodiesel Blends on
Vehicle Emissions, a recent National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
study, vehicles using B20 fuel do
not increase nitrogen oxide emissions, unlike an Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) 2002 report that showed a two percent
increase in NOx emissions for B20. According to Robert
McCormick, NREL principal engineer for petroleum-based fuels
research, “This is a major finding because the perceived small
increase was leading some state regulatory agencies to consider
banning B20 biodiesel. Our study helps remove a significant barrier
to the expansion of biodiesel markets.”
“Our study shows that the NOx impact of B20
varies with engine design, such that some engines show a small
increase while others show a small decrease. The EPA's 2002 review
was based on a data set made up primarily of data from one engine
model that produces a small NOx increase. EPA uses these
data to draw a general conclusion for on-highway engines that B20
causes a 2% increase in NOx," McCormick said.
"The chassis dynamometer testing along with careful review of
previously published data suggest that their conclusion is not
correct, and that on average B20 has no effect on NOx.”
Source: http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/npbf/news.html
Three Pilot
Projects Test Biobased Products
The United Soybean Board (USB) funded three pilot projects
in which biobased products were utilized and tested at three Federal
agencies. To further
expand the use of biomass, different biobased products were utilized
at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Idaho National
Laboratory, and the Department of Veterans Affairs’
Fort
Custer
National
Cemetery
in
Michigan
. Products being
utilized include, but are not limited to, soy-based carpet backing,
mobile hydraulic fluids, lubricants, and diesel fuel additives.
USB-sponsored pilot projects are available for other federal
agencies as well.
Source: http://www.soybiobased.org/sept06/4/?lk=5449554-5449554-0-23465-UMx0Bj-fYPYY5XkIGxPZK0m2MRtLcgE8
Chevron and
U.S.
Department of Energy to Research Cellulosic Biofuels
Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV) and the National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the nation's primary laboratory
for renewable energy and energy efficiency, will collaborate in a
five-year strategic research alliance to create new production
technologies. CTV and NREL will work together to develop new
technologies to convert cellulosic biomass into biofuels with an
emphasis on ethanol and renewable biodiesel. Moreover, research on
bio-oil reforming to be funded by CTV is expected to accelerate the
development of a more flexible feedstock for renewable hydrogen. The
emphasis of the research is on sustainability of biofuels
production.
Source: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story;jsessionid=90894525A08A4039CE057A4C4C82353A?id=46166
The Number of E85 Stations in the
U.S.
Exceed 1000
The Cenex fueling station on 320 Street NW in
Bemidji
,
Minnesota
opened in October marking the thousandth E85 outlet location in the
United States
.
Minnesota
is the current leader of E85 facilities with over 300 E85 outlets.
Presently there are 946 public and 56 private E85 fueling stations
covering 39 states of the country. The two most recent states to
have added E85 facilities are
Arkansas
and
Massachusetts
. The number of E85 outlets in the
United States
has grown from 100 in 2003 to 1000 today.
Source: http://www.e85fuel.com/news/100606_1000_station_release.htm
Experts
Supported Biodiesel at Air Quality and Alternative Transportation
Fuel Forum
The Air Quality and Alternative Transportation Fuel Forum,
hosted by the American Lung Association (ALA) of the
District of Columbia
,
ALA
of the Upper Midwest, and
ALA
of the Southwest in
Washington
,
DC
drew attention of federal government officials and industry
representatives. National health and environmental leaders talked
about the crucial role biodiesel can play in decreasing harmful
emissions and improving air quality. Dr. Robert McCormick, the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Principal Engineer,
presented the latest data on biodiesel emissions.
Source: http://www.biodiesel.org/news/bulletin/2006/100106.htm#6
Residential Garbage Haulers to Use Cleaner Biodiesel Fuel in
Portland
,
Oregon
On October 16, Dan Saltzman,
Commissioner-in-Charge of the City's Office of Sustainable
Development, announced that starting in March 2007 all residential
garbage and recycling haulers in the City of Portland will be
required to use B20 (20 percent biodiesel blend fuel). The switch
will generate a 17 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
from waste management trucks.
Portland
has been using a B20 blend of biodiesel in all city-owned diesel
vehicles since July 2004 and is the first city in
Oregon
to start using the B20 standard for haulers.
Portland
was the first city in the
United States
to develop a Climate Change Action Plan and has been a leader on the
issue of climate change since 1993.
Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/E631E81CBC83BF5F852572090055089E
Renewable Fuels Forum in
Indiana
Draws Local Contractors
A renewable fuels forum sponsored by OnCallPSN LLC, a Fort
Wayne-based management firm, took place in October at the
Northeast
Indiana
Innovation
Center
. The event drew about 85 contractors, local government officials
and industry participants. Forum speakers said that local
contractors could play an important role in building the region’s
alternative fuel plants, even though this industry has been
dominated by a small group of specialized contractors working on
building ethanol and other renewable fuel plants.
Sheldon Light, an owner of Master Group, said that he believes
that “there is a great opportunity in this industry to utilize
alternative fuels, to reduce our energy use.” He is especially
interested in manufacturing ethanol. Another local company,
WaterFurnace International Inc., which co-sponsored the event,
specializes in geothermal heating and cooling systems and could
provide this equipment to new plants.
Source: http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/15805961.htm
Japan
to
Start Utilizing Wooden Pellets to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions
Wood pellets will travel from
Canada
to
Japan
in a partnership between Canadian Forest Products (Canfor), Pinnacle
Pellet and the Moricetown First Nation. The combustion of these
pellets is expected to help lower greenhouse emissions in
Japan
. In 2007, the pellets will be sent to
Japan
where they will be used to replace coal in a coal-fired electrical
generation facility which is being converted to burn pellets.
According to Leroy Reistma, business development manager with
Canadian Forest Products, “It’s all about reducing the use of
coal and meeting targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Pinnacle Pellet has been manufacturing quality wood pellet
fuel for 15 years, and has the experience and skill required, along
with the raw material, to make Pinnacle Wood Pellets that are clean,
efficient, non-pollution and 100 percent natural. The company
believes that burning wood efficiently is much better for the
environment than burning fossil fuels. Pinnacle Wood Pellets are
made from waste wood, so they make use of products that previously
polluted the environment.
Sources: http://www.pinnaclepellet.com/pinnaclefuel.html
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/princerupert/story.html?id=96520da0-3f6a-4240-ae4e-d20ac88d8841&k=45503
Wood Pellet Manufacturing Plant Being Built in
New York
State
New England Wood Pellet LLC has started building the largest
wood pellet manufacturing facility in the
United States
in
Schuyler
,
New York
. Retiring New York Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (R-Utica),
well-known for his involvement in environmental and renewable issues
in Congress, said “Not only will this facility produce enough
energy to heat 40,000 local homes – it will also create close to
20 fulltime jobs and strengthen the local tax base.”
The production of premium grade wood pellets will begin in May
2007. The plant will use clean wood waste including sawdust, wood
chips, shavings and grindings from wood product manufacturing
throughout central
New York
State
. Wood waste is dried and ground to a fine substance and then
compressed into ¼ inch diameter pellets.
Source: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46331
Black Bear Boiler as Means of Protecting Environment
The Black Bear Boiler, a high-efficiency central heating
system, has been developed by Dominic Federico and Jeff Baker. The
system uses innovative technology to maximize the warmth from
burning fuel. Moreover, it reduces air pollution by burning less
oxygen. Clean Wood Heat LLC, located in
Maine
, established this year by Federico and Baker, produced and sold 50
boilers and is planning on expanding.
Federico
came up with the idea of an improved boiler system. With the help of
Baker, his idea came to life with the first prototype boiler. The
system works by drawing down combustion gases and injecting air to
reignite them at very high temperatures (2,000 degrees). This
process is called wood gasification.
The company now has 16 employees. To meet expected demand,
they plan to hire up to 40 workers by next summer. Consequently, the
company is expecting to move to a larger building. By 2009, Federico
and Baker hope to be making 2,000 boilers a year and have more than
100 employees.
One of the positive outcomes would also be creating a
sustainable business in the papermaking community of
East Millinocket
, where thousands of jobs have in manufacturing business have been
lost making the residents looking for jobs.
Source: http://www.blackbearboilers.com/
Broin Companies to Build First Cellulosic Ethanol Facility
On November 20, Broin Companies
said it will convert Voyager Ethanol, a conventional corn dry mill
facility located in
Emmetsburg
,
Iowa
with a current capacity of 50 million gallons per year into a 125
million gallon per year commercial scale bio-refinery. This facility
will utilize advanced corn fractionation and lignocellulosic
conversion technologies to produce ethanol from corn fiber and corn
stover.
This project known as
LIBERTY
will cost over $200 million and will begin production in 2009.
LIBERTY, which stands for Launch of an Integrated Bio-refinery
with Eco-sustainable and Renewable Technologies
in Y2009, will produce 11 percent more ethanol from a bushel
of corn and 27 percent more ethanol from an acre of corn while using
83 percent less energy than needed to operate a corn-to-ethanol
plant and will create 100,000 tons of Dakota Gold Corn Germ
Dehydrated™ and 120,000 tons of Dakota Gold HP™ produced
annually as animal feed co-products.
Source: http://www.broin.com/Broin/Broin_PressReleaseViewer.aspx?prid=68
EERC
Receives a $5 M Grant to Research Bio-Jet Fuel
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the
University of North Dakota received a $5 million grant from the
Defense-Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S.
Department of Defense (DOD) to focus on development of a new
domestic bio-jet fuel for the
U.S.
military. The new biofuel will replace JP-8 petroleum-based fuel,
which is currently used to power the Boeing B-52 bomber, the Abrams
A1 Battle Tank, the Apache Helicopter, and others. The EERC fuel is
perfect for jets because of its use in extremely cold temperatures.
"One of the greatest challenges in our nation is energy
security for the
U.S.
military," said Gerald Groenewold, EERC Director. "This
award… will also expand the EERC's capabilities in tactical fuels
and allow us to demonstrate the effects of recently developed
technology to convert fuels made from indigenous resources that can
replace imported oil."
"Our whole approach with this project is to develop an
affordable new fuel that can be dropped in to replace the current
JP-8 fuel," concurred Ted Aulich, Senior Research Manager.
"This replacement will allow an easy transition from a
petroleum-based fuel to a 100% domestic renewable fuel."
Source: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46758
Ethanol Company Mascoma Gets $30 Million to Build Plants
Mascoma Corporation, a company that turns cellulosic biomass
into ethanol and is developing new ways of converting wood chips to
ethanol, announced its intention to build production plants in
New York
and a number of other states in the northeast
United States
. It raised $30 million in funding from General Catalyst Partners,
Khosla Ventures, Flagship Ventures, and other companies.
Mascoma Corporation was founded in 2006 to develop advanced
biomass technologies. Founders of Mascoma are Professor Lee Lynd at
Dartmouth
College
and
University
of
California Professor Charles Wyman
. Colin South, the President of Mascoma, emphasizes the importance
of developing cost-effective ways of producing cellulosic ethanol.
He said, "The technology to make ethanol from cellulose has
been around for many years. The question is can it be done cost
effectively."
Sources: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/11/cellulosic_etha.html
http://news.com.com/2061-11128_3-6139364.html
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