EESI - BCO 43

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Feature Article

Biobased Home Heating Solutions

As fossil fuel prices and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise this winter, so too does the use of biobased home heating fuels. Firewood, of course, has been a traditional biobased source of heat throughout history, but residents of cold-climate states are increasingly turning to more efficient and environmentally-friendly options such as home heating oil/biodiesel blends, wood pellets and bricks, and corn.

Bioheat®, a blend of number 2 heating oil and up to 20% biodiesel, can be used in an existing home heating oil system without modifications. Derived from plant oils or animal fats, biodiesel reduces sulfur oxide and carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional oil. Recent articles have highlighted several companies in New England communities whose Bioheat business is booming. New Hampshire-based Simply Green, which started business last spring, reports an average of three to five new customers per day. Massachusetts-based Mass Biofuel has seen the demand for Bioheat increase by about 400 customers in the last three years. “Biofuel makes people talk and it kind of bonds people because it’s more for a cause than just heating your home,” said Elizabeth Warren of Mass Biofuel.

Residents without a home heating oil system have cost effective options for bioenergy as well. Using a pellet stove or a fireplace with a special insert, wood pellets made from compressed sawdust, wood waste, and forest thinnings are an economical way to heat a home. A product called BioBricks™ compresses the same material into a larger piece that can be burned like conventional firewood, but produces twice the heat energy per unit of volume. Connecticut-based BioPellet, LLC has been producing BioBricks for two years, and is now looking to take advantage of the growing demand by adding two more production plants near the extensive forest resources of Maine. “I sold 600 tons in Maine last year, out of the blue,” said Tom Engel, the founder of BioPellet. “It was a third of my sales in 2006.” Mr. Engel is currently in negotiations with two mills in the state, which could supply a total of 120 tons per day of wood waste.

In addition to wood, corn is also a popular heat source in Midwestern states. Corn’s price has gone up this year, but it has the advantage of producing heat for a longer period of time than wood pellets, meaning residents don’t need to stock the stove as often. One Minnesota-based company, Eagle Bio-fuels, has combined the inexpensiveness of wood pellets with the long-burning quality of the dried corn. The company offers various ratios of pellet/corn blends to meet a variety of residential heating needs. Even with the higher price of corn, “there’s definitely savings” compared to some other heating fuels, said Eagle Bio-fuels Co-owner Sue Kruger.

In the November Short Term Energy Outlook produced by Energy Information Administration (EIA), average U.S. residential heating oil prices (including taxes) are projected to be 8% higher in 2007 compared to 2006; residential propane prices should increase 9% overall, while residential natural gas prices are expected to decrease 4% in 2007 before increasing again in 2008. Further adding to the cost of home heating is the fact that the EIA expects this winter to be 4% colder than last year’s winter, although temperatures will still be 2% warmer than the 30-year average.

Various pieces of pending legislation may give the biobased residential heating market an additional boost in the near future. The state of Massachusetts is considering a bill that would require home heating oil to be composed of at least 2% biofuels by 2010 and 5% by 2013 (see State Initiative Updates below). On the federal level, the Senate farm bill S. 2302 includes $25 million in grants for competitive research, technology development, and technology application in the use of renewable woody biomass for energy (Section 9012). And U.S. Representative John Salazar (D-CO) recently introduced legislation that would give up to a $500 tax credit for replacing certain wood stoves with cleaner-burning wood stoves or with stoves that burn pellets or corn (see Federal Initiative Updates below).

Sources: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/GJNEWS_01/711260059
http://www.biodiesel.org/markets/hom/faqs.asp
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN0235378020071203?
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071202/NEWS/712020353/-1/NEWS09&sfad=1
http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/burningFuel.html
http://business.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=147415&ac=PHbiz
http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/295577183735042.bsp
http://www.pelletheat.org/3/residential/burningFuel.html
www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/presentations/2007/winterfuels2007/
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html

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Federal Initiatives Updates

New Legislation

S. 2306 – Renewable Fuels Strategy Act of 2007
November 5, Senator Dorgan (D-ND) introduced S. 2306 to encourage and facilitate the use of renewable fuel in the United States. The bill would prohibit restrictions on the installation and advertisement of alternative fuel pumps by gas station franchisees, establish a grant program for renewable fuel infrastructure corridors, and require that at least 50% of cars produced in 2012 be flex-fuel vehicles, with an increase to 80% in 2015. Cosponsors of S. 2306 are Senators Lugar (R-IN), Cantwell (D-WA), Craig (R-ID), Johnson (D-SD), McCaskill (D-MO), and Klobuchar (D-MN). The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

S. 2355 – Climate Change Adaptation Act
November 14, Senator Cantwell (D-WA) introduced S. 2355 to amend the National Climate Program Act to enhance the ability of the United States to develop and implement climate change adaptation programs and policies, and for other purposes. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R. 4193 – A bill to extend the 2002 Farm Bill
November 15, Rep. Moran (R-KS) and 26 cosponsors introduced H.R. 4193 to provide for an automatic one-year extension of the authorizations of appropriations and direct spending programs of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and for other purposes. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

H.R. 4226 – Climate Stewardship and Economic Security Act of 2007
November 15, Reps. Gilchrest (R-MD) and Olver (D-MA) introduced H.R. 4226 to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances that will limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances, and for other purposes. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and to the House Committees on Science and Technology, Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. This bill is similar in scope and design to S.2191, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.

H.R. 4244 - Clean Stove Act of 2007
November 15, Reps. Salazar (D-CO), Michaud (D-ME), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Kind (D-WI), and Udall (D-CO) introduced H.R. 4244 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit for qualified expenditures paid or incurred to replace certain wood stoves with wood stoves that meet the requirements set forth in the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters issued by the Environmental Protection Agency or with pellet or corn burning stoves. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Department of Energy to Explore Use of E12 and Higher Ethanol Blends

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will work with the Environmental Protection Agency and others to test E12 (12% ethanol, 88% gasoline), E15 and eventually E20 ethanol blends for use in U.S. cars. Ethanol is commonly blended into U.S. gasoline as a substitute for the oxygenate MTBE, but only up to 10%. E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is also sold in the United States, but can only be used in specially designed “flex-fuel” vehicles. DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner said that maximizing the use of ethanol blended gasoline is a priority, especially in the Southeast where current regulations limit the use of the biofuel. “I think you’ll see substantial progress on issues of alleviating blend walls of E10 and potentially other blends in the next 36 to 48 months,” said Assistant Secretary Karsner, adding that all gasoline in Brazil is blended with a minimum of 22% ethanol.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/articlePrint?articleId=USN1251713020071113

Senate Farm Bill Passed

December 14, after a protracted struggle, the U.S. Senate finally passed the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R.2419) by a vote of 79 to 14. During debate, 12 amendments to the bill were considered. None passed. Among these failed attempts were amendments by Senator Lugar (R-IN) and Senator Dorgan (D-ND), both seeking to reform agricultural payments by replacing subsidies with crop insurance and fixing income caps on payment eligibility, respectively. As in the 2002 farm bill, the newly passed legislation includes a separate energy title, Title IX - Energy. Among the new programs established under this title, there is a payment program for producers of advanced biofuels, two programs to develop use of renewable woody biomass, and authority for a series of regional biomass crop experiments. A program with which EESI has been closely involved is the Biomass Crop Transition Assistance program. This program provides technical and cost-share assistance to farmers wishing to transition from a traditional crop to an energy crop ($130M in FY08), as well as assistance for the storage, handling, and transport of renewable biomass and assistance for forest biomass planning ($10M/yr for FY08-FY11). Also included among these new programs is authorization for a number of studies, including one on life-cycle emissions analysis for biofuels and an investigation into infrastructure needs. Title IX also reauthorizes a number of existing programs, such as the biomass research and development program, a program for federal procurement of biobased products, and an assistance program for biorefineries and repowering projects.

In Title XII - Tax and Trade Provisions, there are a number of provisions to promote the use of bioenergy, including a producer credit for cellulosic biofuels; a credit extension for small producers of ethanol; a two-year extension of the ethanol tariff; and a modified extension of the production credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel products. Unfortunately, this title also contains an alternative fuels credit for coal-to-liquids fuels, assuming that effective carbon capture and sequestration is successfully demonstrated.
The farm bill is now headed to a Senate-House conference to work out the differences between the two versions of H.R. 2419. After the bill is conferenced and (hopefully) signed into law, it will be essential to follow the appropriations process to ensure that funding is provided to implement these important new programs.

Sources: Link to Senate Agriculture Committee Homepage
Link to EESI Release

Energy Bill Signed Into Law

On December 19, President Bush signed an Energy Bill containing important provisions for improving Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for the first time in 32 years, along with key provisions which create new efficiency standards for an array of consumer products from light bulbs to new buildings. The bill also substantially increases the Renewable Fuel Standard, calling for the production of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022— defined as fuels derived from renewable biomass that achieve at least a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to gasoline or diesel, as determined by a “cradle-to-grave” lifecycle analysis. Within the 36 billion gallon mandate, 21 billion gallons must come from advanced biofuels—those derived from biomass other than corn starch that achieve at least a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. There are further carve-outs within these 21 billion gallons for cellulosic biofuels and biomass-derived diesel fuels. The bill has passed the Senate on December 14.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050808-6.html
Link to EESI Release

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State Initiatives Updates

California Energy Commission Adopts Alternative Fuels Plan

On October 31, the California Energy Commission (CEC) unanimously approved a plan to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and its dependence on petroleum by increasing the use of biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, propane, renewable diesel, synthetic fuels, gas-to-liquid fuels, and coal-to-liquid fuels in the transportation sector. The Alternative Fuels Plan was mandated by Assembly Bill 1007 and recommends that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger set progressive targets for displacing petroleum-based fuels used by cars, trucks, construction vehicles and agriculture vehicles. “California should pursue a diversified portfolio of transportation fuels,” said CEC Vice Chairman James Boyd. “We can achieve our state’s goals of reducing petroleum dependence and of stimulating production of biofuels within California, using its waste streams while increasing our use of low carbon, alternative fuels.” Expressed on a gallon of gasoline equivalent basis, the recommended targets are 9% by 2012, 11% by 2017, and 26% by 2022.

The authors of the plan acknowledge that meeting these alternative fuel objectives alone will not be sufficient to meet Governor Schwarzenegger’s goal of reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels). Thus, the plan also outlines a “2050 Vision Statement” which includes strategies to develop plug-in hybrid technologies, expand the alternative fuel infrastructure, increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles, and reduce the number of miles traveled per capita.

The 107-page Alternative Fuels Plan can be found here: http://www.energy.ca.gov/2007publications/CEC-600-2007-011/CEC-600-2007-011-CMD.PDF (pdf format)

Source: http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases/2007_releases/2007-10-31_alternative_fuels_plan.html

Massachusetts Bill Pushes Cellulosic Ethanol and Biobased Home Heating Oil

A bill filed jointly by three Massachusetts state officials, Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, employs pioneering mandates and incentives to increase the use of biofuels in the state. The bill filed on November 6 would require all diesel and home heating oil sold statewide to be made from at least 2% biobased feedstocks in 2010 and 5% in 2013. Additionally, cellulosic ethanol would be made exempt from the state gasoline tax, an incentive that is projected to create 3,000 new jobs and add $320 million to the Massachusetts economy.

If the bill is passed, Massachusetts would be the first state to mandate biobased home heating oil and the first to provide a tax incentive for cellulosic ethanol, an advanced biofuel that has recently entered the commercialization phase and is considered to be more environmentally friendly than corn ethanol due to its higher net energy value and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. “It is exciting that we are able to produce advanced biofuels with what we have right here in Massachusetts,” said Senate President Murray. “With advanced biofuels coming from an array of new feedstocks, including agricultural waste, sustainable energy crops, algae, and even cranberry bog biomass, many companies in the Commonwealth are already developing these fuels.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA), who also expressed support for a strong federal Renewable Fuel Standard in the next Energy Bill, noted the multiple benefits of supporting the biofuel industry: “In Massachusetts alone, we spend more than $9 billion a year on petroleum, and it is very clear where most of those dollars are going… Developing cleaner fuels is not only important for our economy and our environment, it is critical for our national security.”

Some environmentalists, however, were disappointed in the bill because it does not include an emissions screen. “There should be a requirement that there be a net reduction of greenhouse gases,” said Samuel Krasnow of Environment Northeast.

Sources: Maguire, Ken. “Massachusetts Pushes Biofuel Standards.” The Washington Post 6 November 2007.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=pressreleases&agId=Agov3&prModName=gov3pressrelease&prFile=071105_biofuel_measures.xml
http://thehill.com/op-eds/ethanol-production-is-key-to-renewable-fuels-standard-2007-11-08.html

Missouri Life Science Trust Fund Supports Bioenergy Projects

The Missouri Life Sciences Research Board has selected ten biotech research projects and four commercial ventures to receive a total of $13.1 million in state funding. One project that will receive nearly $3 million is a biofuels research project led by Washington University in St. Louis. Another project approved to receive $1.14 million in funding is a collaboration between the Danforth Plant Science Center and an unidentified company to develop plastics from oilseeds.

The Missouri General Assembly mandated that the money in the Life Science Trust Fund, which was established by 2003 legislation, be used for animal health, plant science, or bioenergy technology projects. “We’re using state money to increase jobs and to increase opportunities for Missourians to participate in this high-growth, high-potential industry,” said Rob Monsees, Executive Director of the corporation administering the trust fund expenditure, Missouri Technology. “It bodes very well that we have a number of research projects which themselves hopefully can evolve into commercial ventures.”

Sources: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/BC207524F4A1B2228625739A000EF71C
http://www.gov.mo.gov/cgi-bin/coranto/viewnews.cgi?id=EEAVyyuFpytJGZRWMx

Connecticut Joins EPA Green Power Partnership

The State of Connecticut has joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership, making it the second largest national purchaser of “green power” – including solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro – among state government partners. On November 19, Governor Jodi Rell announced that the state had increased its annual voluntary purchase of green power to nearly 84 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to 12 percent of Connecticut’s total annual electricity usage. In terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the EPA estimates that the state’s purchase of clean, renewable energy equates to removing more than 9,000 cars from the road.

Connecticut is the first New England state to join the Green Power Partnership. The purchase supports the state’s Energy Vision for a “Cleaner, Greener State” Initiative, the goals of which are to reduce the cost of energy for consumers and businesses, strengthen state energy policy, and reaffirm Connecticut’s position as a leader in renewable energy. “We have demonstrated that we can be environmentally responsible and fiscally responsible at the same time,” said Governor Rell. “Connecticut’s recent energy contracts achieved historic levels of green power and were accompanied by huge cost savings – a true win-win for our environment and our taxpayers.”

Source: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/fc44924f11bc093b852573980079fa34?

Minnesota Governor Introduces Forestry Subcabinet

Following the recommendation of the Forest Product Industry Competitiveness Task Force, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has announced the formation of a forestry subcabinet to address the challenges and opportunities related to forestry, including the growing industry of bioenergy. The subcabinet is composed of a variety of state agencies, including Iron Range Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and the departments of Natural Resources, Employment and Economic Development, Agriculture, and Commerce. “The primary forest products industry in Minnesota is vital to the state’s economy,” Governor Pawlenty said. “We need to ensure that our forest products industry remains competitive in a global marketplace as we seize the opportunity presented by biofuels and renewable energy.”

Source: http://www.grandmarais-mn.com/newsherald/?section_id=25&story_id=235748

Iowa Awards Grants for Alternative Fuels

The state of Iowa, through the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Board, awarded grants totaling $563,800 to 21 fuel retailers to encourage increased availability of biodiesel and E85 fuel. The grants will fund the installation of pumps, storage tanks, blending equipment, and other equipment necessary for transporting, storing, and dispensing these biofuels. "These awards to expand access to E-85 ethanol and biodiesel demonstrate our state's commitment to a greater use of renewable energy," said Mike Tramontina, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. "Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Iowa families to use renewable fuels, promote Iowa's renewable energy economy and reduce our reliance on foreign oil." Farm cooperatives in Sheldon, Harlan, Story City, Kelley, Spencer, Fort Atkinson and Dows, as well as Kum & Go convenience stores in Mason City, Ottumwa and Norwalk, were among the companies receiving grant money. The board plans on allocating $7.7 million in additional grants over the next two years, with a focus on increasing consumer availability of E85 and biodiesel.

Source: http://www.csdecisions.com/news/article/76439/iowa_awards_grants_for_alternative_fuels_.aspx

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Research and Technology Updates

Research Shows Some Ethanol Blends Get Higher Gas Mileage Than Gasoline

On December 5, a study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) was released which shows that certain ethanol blends actually provide better fuel economy than pure gasoline. Previously, ethanol blends were believed to get fewer miles per gallon because the fuel has a lower energy content, measured in British Thermal Units (Btu), than gasoline. However, the research conducted by the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center and the Minnesota Center for Automotive Research showed that ethanol’s Btu content was not a direct predictor of fuel economy.

Researchers put three standard vehicles and one flex-fuel vehicle designed to run on an 85% ethanol/15% gasoline blend, or E85, through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Highway Fuel Economy Test to examine various ratios of ethanol/gasoline blends. In the Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion, E30 (30% ethanol) offered 1% better fuel economy over gasoline; in the flex-fuel Chevy Impala, E20 provided 15% better fuel economy over gasoline. The non flex-fuel Impala did not improve its gas mileage with ethanol, but it did get better fuel economy than would have been predicted by a direct correlation with Btu content. All vehicles were from model year 2007.

“I am encouraged by the findings of this study, which should benefit the federal regulatory process for approving higher blends of ethanol,” said U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD). “Intermediate blends of ethanol will offer consumers more choices at the pump, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and benefit our domestic ethanol industry for years to come.”

The study also demonstrated that the three non-flex-fuel vehicles could operate on ethanol blends as high as E65 before engine fault codes were displayed and that nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and nonmethane organic gas emissions met or exceeded EPA requirements. Brian Jennings, Executive Vice President of ACE, stated that these initial findings make for “a compelling argument for more research on the promise of higher ethanol blends in gasoline.”

Sources: http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/Press_Release_12507-1.pdf (pdf format)
http://www.ethanol.org/pdf/contentmgmt/ACE_Optimal_Ethanol_Blend_Level_Study_final_12507.pdf

Union of Concerned Scientists Releases Biofuels Report

The Union of Concerned Scientist (UCS) has released a report comparing life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of various alternative fuels to those of conventional gasoline and diesel. The report shows that some alternative fuels may actually increase global warming pollution relative to petroleum based fuels: liquid coal by 83%, gasoline from tar sands by 14%, and corn ethanol produced in a coal-fired dry mill refinery and then transported across several states for consumption by 21%. However, switchgrass-based cellulosic ethanol and corn ethanol produced in a biomass-fired wet mill refinery reduce emissions by 88% and 53%, respectively.

UCS also analyzed three possible alternative fuel scenarios, with an assumption that 37 billion gallons of gasoline are displaced by alternative fuels, 25% of which are conventional biofuels like corn ethanol. If the remaining 75% of the alternative fuels were liquid coal, the increase in emissions would be equivalent to adding approximately 34 million cars to the road. If the remaining 75% were split evenly between advanced biofuels and liquid coal, it would be equivalent to removing 0.8 million cars from the road. Finally, if the remaining 75% of alternative fuels were made up entirely of advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol, it would be equivalent to removing approximately 35 million cars from the road.

Sources: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/vehicles_health/biofuels-low-carbon-diet.html
http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/when-carbon-counts-0079.html

Hollow Fiber Membrane to Increase Efficiency in Ethanol Dewatering

Quebec-based Vaperma, Inc. has developed a hollow fiber technology that increases the efficiency of the dehydration phase of ethanol production. The Siftek™ membrane dewaters the ethanol in one continuous process involving selective permeation of water vapor through 15,000 hollow polymer fibers; this process saves as much as 40 percent of the energy used by a distillation column and molecular sieve units in a conventional ethanol production plant. “This is a net savings of 1.7 cents per liter (7 cents a gallon) for the ethanol producer,” said Vaperma President and CEO Claude Letourneau. The Siftek membrane can be easily integrated into existing facilities and can be used with any biomass feedstock. Vaperma plans to bring the new technology to the commercial market in 2008.

Sources: http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3494
http://www.vaperma.com/technology/vaperma_development.php?lang=en

Ethanol By-Product Converted to Feed Pellets Without Binders

Dr. Kurt Rosentrater of the USDA Agricultural Research Service has found that dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), a coproduct of ethanol production, can be pelletized for livestock feed without the use of binders. Pelleting feed can reduce feed waste, dust generation and ingredient segregation, and may be one of the easiest ways to add value to DDGs according to Dr. Rosentrater. The agricultural and bioprocess engineer also stated that more research needs to be done to determine the ability to pellet DDGS from a variety of sources and ethanol plants, as well as feeding trials to examine the efficacy of DDGS pellets in various livestock diets.

Source: http://www.distillersgrainsquarterly.com/article.jsp?article_id=1212

Earless Variety Could Make Corn Ethanol More Efficient

Dr. Fred Below of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is working with tropical maize, which stores simple sugars in its stalk instead of growing ears like most U.S. corn varieties, for applications in the ethanol industry. “Corn is a short-day plant, so when we take corn that is adapted to the tropics and grow it here, it grows tall and lush,” said the professor of plant physiology. “Any good crop biologist would know this, but now with all the interest in biofuel crops, this biological nuance has value.” Like sugarcane, tropical maize could be made into ethanol with a much less energy-intensive process than that required by traditional corn, since it does not require the extra step of breaking the cornstarch into simple sugars before fermentation.

Tropical maize could be easily rotated with corn, as farmers can use the same harvesting equipment for both crops. Additionally, existing U.S. biorefineries would need few modifications to utilize the earless variety, according to Dr. Hans Blaschek of the Center for Advanced Bioenergy Research at the University of Illinois. Substituting corn with tropical maize would also reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizer, which can end up in agricultural run-off and harm aquatic ecosystems.

Source: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=66019

Syngenta Develops Corn with Enzyme Included

Syngenta Seeds, Inc. has developed a new corn seed that includes the amylase enzyme used in the dry grind ethanol production process. The new type of corn streamlines the current technique in which enzymes produced from microbes are added to ground corn and water before fermentation. “What we’ve done is to grow the enzyme in the corn. That will accelerate manufacturing by removing the need for enzyme deliveries to biofuel plants,” said Michael Pragnell, CEO of Syngenta. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved bulk trials for the new seed, and Syngenta hopes to bring it to market in time for the 2009 growing season.

Sources: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7c5e83c6-907b-11dc-a6f2-0000779fd2ac.html
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~rdb/bnfm095.html
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol_production.html

Penn State Scientists Study Beetles for Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Dr. Kelli Hoover, Associate Professor of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, is leading research to determine the potential role of Asian Longhorned Beetles in the biofuel industry. The beetles, which measure 1 - 1.5 inches and have black shells with white specks, carry microbes in their guts that can break up lignin, the material that makes living trees hard. The cellulose left behind can be broken down further and then fermented into ethanol that has a higher net energy balance and reduces greenhouse gas emissions even more than does corn starch ethanol.

Asian Longhorned Beetles came to the United States in cargo shipments from China and were first discovered in New York in 1996. They can attack healthy maple, elm, willow, poplar and horse chestnut trees.

Sources: http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2007/11/01/beetles_to_be_used_for_biofuel.aspx
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol_research.html

One Biofuel's Waste is Another's Feedstock

Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to make ethanol from a by-product of biodiesel. The process developed by Dr. Ramon Gonzalez and research associate Syed Shams Yazdani uses E. Coli bacteria to convert glycerin, a viscous liquid found in animal fats and vegetable oils, into ethanol through anaerobic fermentation. This method is simpler than using corn or other biomass that must be broken down into sugars before fermentation. "In the case of glycerin, you don't need to do that preprocessing," said Dr. Gonzalez. "It removes the first and most difficult step in creating ethanol." The professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering also said that his method reduces the cost of ethanol production by about 40%.

The rapid expansion of the biodiesel industry has led to an oversupply of glycerin, currently used in products such as soap, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Last year biodiesel refineries produced 25 million gallons of the by-product; that number is projected to grow as high as 168 million gallons. However, that amount would still have a relatively small impact on the nearly 7 billion gallon per year ethanol industry, since it takes one gallon of glycerin to make one gallon of ethanol. “There’s not enough glycerin to produce all the ethanol we need,” Dr. Gonzalez stated. “It’s better as a solution for the biodiesel industry.”

Source: http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/news/2007/11/glycerin

Microbes to Produce Hydrogen from Cellulose

Dr. Bruce Logan and research associate Shaoan Cheng of Pennsylvania State University have developed a highly efficient hydrogen production method using microbial fuel cells. Bacteria in the cell consume acetic acid, the principal acid produced by fermentation of glucose of cellulose, and release protons and electrons, creating a small amount of electricity. With a bit of electricity added from an outside source, hydrogen gas is generated.

“This process produces 288 percent more energy in hydrogen than the electrical energy that is added to the process,” said Dr. Logan. Even when some hydrogen is reserved to provide energy for a sustainable, continuous operation, the technique still maintains a 144% net energy value. Compare this to water hydrolysis, an established method of producing hydrogen, which is only 50-70% efficient.

Dr. Logan also suggested that hydrogen derived from cellulose could be blended with natural gas for use in existing vehicles: “We drive a lot of vehicles on natural gas already. Natural gas is essentially methane. Methane burns fairly cleanly, but if we add hydrogen, it burns even more cleanly and works fine in existing natural gas combustion vehicles.”

Sources: http://www.psu.edu/ur/2007/biohydrogen.htm
http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/24429

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News Briefs

Colorado Mill to Turn Wildfire Fuel into Pellets for Home Heating

In northwestern Colorado, pine beetles have been eating their way through crowded, drought-weakened forests, leaving behind dead wood of little or no value to the timber industry. With no market for the small-diameter or diseased wood, forest managers have had no economically viable way to clear the material, leading to a dangerous build-up of fuel for wildfire. The state’s first wood pellet plant may change that.

Confluence Energy will open an $8 million plant in February, using the low-value woody biomass to produce up to 120,000 tons of pellets a year to be used in heating stoves in homes, schools and other buildings. “The dead and dying beetle kill was just piling up and was going to be a fire danger,” said Confluence Energy President Mark Mathis. “The community desperately needed to do something with this material.”

The new facility will also generate benefits for the community beyond wildfire mitigation: 40-50 jobs will be created in the mill and related logging and trucking industries, and local residents will have greater access to a clean-burning, inexpensive alternative to natural gas or propane heat.

Sources: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6134125
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_5742931,00.html

Community College in North Carolina to Offer Biofuels Degree

Beginning in the fall of 2008, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) will be the first in its state to offer an associate degree in biofuels. The interdisciplinary "Alternative Energy Technology: Biofuels" program was recently approved by the North Carolina Community College System's Board of Trustees, and will include courses on biofuels analytics, biofuels waste management, electrical control systems, welding, and small business development. Graduates of the program will be prepared for a variety of positions within the ethanol and biodiesel industries. "Employment opportunities include, but are not limited to, plant technician, plant manager, lab technician, sales manager, process coordinator, or business owner," CCCC Biofuels Coordinator Andrew McMahan said, adding that the college will work with the North Carolina Biofuels Center to determine workforce training needs.

Source: http://www.cccc.edu/pr/93-October-2007/biofuels.html

New Holland Supports Use of Pure Biodiesel in Its Engines

On November 8, New Holland announced its support for the use of B100, or 100% biodiesel, in agricultural, utility and construction equipment with New Holland-manufactured diesel engines. New Holland has been working with Pennsylvania State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences to test unmodified tractors in real farm conditions. After nearly two years, the biodiesel-fueled tractors functioned as well as tractors running on conventional petroleum-based diesel, demonstrating that performance need not be sacrificed in the transition to biofuels. “If more businesses, farmers and heating-oil customers used biodiesel, it would improve air quality, reduce oil imports and give Pennsylvania’s soybean growers more outlets to sell their product,” said Penn State’s Farm Operations and Services Manager Glen Cauffman. “Now all university equipment uses biodiesel, and we expect other businesses in Pennsylvania to make the conversion after Penn State demonstrates the viability.”

Sources: http://www.newholland.com/na/news/releases/B100_07.html
http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/07June/Biofuel.htm

Colorado Residents Keep Leftover Cooking Oil Out of Drains, Donate to Biodiesel Producer

Ft. Collins, Loveland, Boulder and other Colorado cities provided collection sites for cooking oil leftover from the Thanksgiving holiday this year, which was then donated to biodiesel producer Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises. The program offered the double benefits of keeping the oil from clogging household drains and city sewer systems while also displacing petroleum in the production of transportation fuels. “It provides a feed stock for a fuel that is very good for the environment and also helps achieve energy independence which we think is a good thing,” said De Wayne Perry of Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises. The company also collects used cooking oil from restaurants and commercial food services providers throughout the year.

Sources: http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711220355
http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/Colorado.News.Loveland.2.553020.html
http://www.rmse.biz/rmse.htm#

Tetra Point Fuels to Begin Ethanol Production Using Expired Sugar-based Liquids

Tetra Point Fuels is scheduled to begin ethanol production in spring of 2008 at a new facility in Denton, TX. The Denton plant will produce ethanol from the sugar found in defective or expired beverages, such as juices, soda, or beer. The company plans to produce between 400 and 500 million gallons of ethanol in its first year. Orange juice is approximately 15% sugar which will convert to about 9% ethanol. To produce 400 million gallons of ethanol from orange juice, it would take more than 4.4 billion gallons of juice. In addition to ethanol, the plant will recycle plastics, produce organic fertilizer from spent yeast, and reuse steam heat in a closed-loop system between the distillery and the boiler. To cope with the large volume of wastewater that will be produced, Tetra Point Fuels is working with the University of North Texas environmental sciences department to design a wastewater treatment system using artificial wetlands and vegetation to remove high-concentration compounds and filter effluent. Says Mayor Perry McNeill, “Denton is working hard to be a green city and this is a perfect example.”

Source: http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/business/stories/drc_geiger_1125.39be69d1.html

Range Fuels Breaks Ground on Country’s First Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

In the heart of Georgia’s forests, Colorado-based Range Fuels, Inc. broke ground on the country’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant this November. The biorefinery will convert low-value wood and wood waste into 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually by the end of 2008. When production is ramped up to full capacity, Range Fuels hopes to supply 100 million gallons of the advanced biofuel per year.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue were on hand for the historic event. “It is significant that our state will be on the forefront of resolving (the) energy crisis,” said Governor Perdue. “Range Fuels represents a new future for our country. With Georgia’s vast, sustainable and renewable forests, we will lead the nation.” The facility will employ 70 people as well as provide a new market for foresters, whose livelihoods have been hampered by the decline of the logging, pulp and paper industries.

Source: Chapman, Dan. “From trees limbs to ethanol.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 6 November 2007.

Enzyme for Cellulosic Ethanol Production Goes on Sale

On October 15, Genencor announced the first enzyme commercially available for cellulosic ethanol production. Accellerase™ 1000 is a complex of enzymes optimized to break down the lignocellulose in sugarcane bagasse, corn stover and wood pulp into fermentable sugars. Until now, this step has been a major barrier to the commercialization of the advanced biofuel. “The biofuels industry is at an inflection point with the development of cellulosic ethanol plants at the pilot and demonstration scale,” said Genencor Vice President of Biorefinery Business Development. “Every biorefinery developer needs to know how enzymes will work in their system. This product aims to address that need and to start a dialogue with potential partners about customized solutions and supply at the industrial scale.”

Source: http://ethanolproducer.com/article.jsp?article_id=3447
http://www.genencor.com/cms/connect/genencor/media_relations/news/frontpage/gen_businessupdate_393_en.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol_research.html

Renewable Fuels Association Publishes Interactive Ethanol Webpage

The Renewable Fuels Association has updated its website to include a new interactive tool called ‘Answers About Ethanol’. The tool provides information on ethanol production and utilization, as well as predicted growth and future trends. The interactive feature also addresses a number of frequent ethanol concerns, including environmental impacts, correlation between ethanol and food prices, the near-term role of cellulosic ethanol, and other issues. The new webpage can be found here: http://www.ethanolrfa.org/resource/facts/answers/

American National Standards Institute Announces Sustainable Carpet Standard

The American National Standards Institute has approved a Sustainable Carpet Assessment Standard, giving the architects, designers, and end users a unified standard for environmentally preferred carpets. The voluntary standard, known as NSF 140-2007, was developed by consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders under the guidance of the non-profit NSF International. “We expect this highly anticipated standard will be widely adopted and referenced across building design, construction and operation industries as the standard of choice for green carpet,” said Jane Wilson, NSF Standards Director. “It is already serving as a model for other industry groups to follow.”

NSF 140-2007 is based on life cycle assessments, rating carpets in five major categories: public health and environment, energy and energy efficiency, biobased/recycled content materials, manufacturing, and reclamation/ end of life management. The first certified carpets are expected to hit the market by the second quarter of 2008.

Source: http://www.nsf.org/business/newsroom/press_releases/press_release.asp?p_id=15712

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Upcoming Events

Event	Date	Location	Further Information
8th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment	January 16-18	Washington, DC	http://ncseonline.org/2008conference/
2nd Annual Ethanol Finance Conference	January 23-24	New York, NY	http://www.euromoneyseminars.com/EventDetails/
Appalachian Regional Commission Conference	January 23-35	Rome, GA	http://www.cvrdc.org/ARCC/
National Biodiesel Conference & Expo	February 3-6	Orlando, FL	http://www.biodieselconference.org/2008/
POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels 2008	February 19-21	Las Vegas, NV	http://pgre08.events.pennnet.com/fl/index.cfm
ACEEE Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture	February 20-22	Des Moines, IA	http://www.aceee.org/conf/08ag/
Hybrid Truck & Alternative Fuels Summit	February 25	Atlanta, GA	http://www.ntea.com/im/wts/2008/se_hybrid_summit.asp
LEED AP Workshop - New Construction	February 25-26	Denver, CO	http://www.mcaa.org/education/mcaa/leed%2Dnc/
13th Annual National Ethanol Conference	February 25-27	Orlando, FL	http://www.ethanolrfa.org/industry/conference/
Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008)	March 4-6	Washington, DC	http://americanrenewables.org/
Conference on the Ecological Dimensions of Biofuels	March 10	Washington, DC	http://esa.org/biofuels/
World Biofuels Markets	March 12-14	Brussels, Belgium	http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/
Auto FutureTech Summit 2008	March 12-14	Vancouver, Canada	http://www.autofuturetech.com/
International Biomass ’08 Conference & Trade Show	April 15-17	Minneapolis, MN	https://www.biomassconference.com
Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo	May 11-14	Las Vegas, NV	http://www.afvi.org/NationalConference2008/
Smallwood 2008	May 13-15	Madison, WI	http://www.forestprod.org/conf2008.html
BioEnergy Conference & Exhibition 2008	June 3-5	Prince George, Canada	http://www.bioenergyconference.org/index.php

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Writers: Jetta L. Wong, Jesse Caputo, and Laura Parsons
Editor: Carol Werner

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The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a non-profit organization that works at the nexus of policy and innovation to promote environmentally sustainable societies. EESI was founded in 1984 by a bipartisan group of Congressional Members dedicated to finding environmental and energy solutions. EESI provides credible, timely information and innovative policy ideas through coalition building, media outreach, publications, briefings, workshops and task forces on the issues of energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation, smart growth, agriculture and global climate change. Carol Werner leads the EESI team as executive director.

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