Laura L. Barnes: Biofuels

[Biofuels] Turning Grass into Gas

Tue, 23 May 2006 20:32:58 GMT

Via sustainablog:

After searching, I found that Treehugger had touched on Canadian company Iogen last summer, but this article from National Geographic News was the first I'd heard of them, and I think they're onto something. Iogen is in the ethanol business, but not the corn-based kind that only US politicians and corn farmers seem to love unconditionally. Rather, they've developed a process that "brews" wastes from plant farming into ethanol:

"Essentially we start with a bale of wheat straw, add enzymes to convert the straw into sugar, and then let fermentation and distillation make the sugar into ethanol."

What's more, producing ethanol with this process creates a byproduct called lignin, a mix of polymers found naturally in woody plants that binds plant fibers together.
The lignin extracted from farm waste can be burned like coal to power the ethanol production facility, according to Iogen.
"Almost a quarter of plant fiber is lignin, which can be extracted to run the boiler," Easterly, the energy consultant, said.

Hosein Shapouri of the U.S. Department of Agriculture says that such factories wouldn't need energy from fossil fuels to run the plant.
"[They] can even produce extra electricity that can be sent to the public power grid," Shapouri said. "These plants will be self-sufficient."
And farmers operating near the plants will be offered a new source of income for their previously discarded agricultural waste.

Now that's the way to produce ethanol. We'd still provide a benefit to farmers, and wouldn't have to limit that benefit to one kind of farmer. And the waste itself provides the source of the fuel as well as the source of energy to create that fuel -- I'm also guessing the carbon emissions from burning lignin would be much lower than fossil fuels. The only problem Iogen has had is investor reluctance to fund the first commercial-scale plant (everyone wants to fund the second plant, after they work out the bugs in the first one). That's changed now, as Goldman Sachs has thrown $30 million into the pot. Somebody please tell our Midwestern politicians about this so we can avoid the pitfalls of corn-based ethanol -- this looks like a true win-win.

By the way, if you're interested in more details of the crop wastes to fuel industry, make sure to check out C. Scott Miller's Bioconversion Blog -- that's his thing, and he's definitely got his finger on the pulse... [sustainablog]

[Biodiesel] House Democrats Take a Stand for U.S. Biodiesel

Mon, 22 May 2006 20:54:23 GMT

In response to public demand for new direction and leadership to meet the energy needs of America's families, Democrats in the House of Representatives announced a plan to invest in America, grow our energy and establish energy independence. "This plan is homegrown and American-owned," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman James E. Clyburn. The plan, developed by the Rural Working Group, details the opportunities. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

[Biodiesel] Biodiesel Made from Algae in Sewerage Ponds

Mon, 22 May 2006 20:51:07 GMT

Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation has produced its first sample of homegrown biodiesel fuel using algae sourced from sewerage ponds in its region of New Zealand. In what could be the first such sample of biodiesel in the world, the breakthrough came after Aquaflow undertook a pilot project to extract algae from its excess pond discharge. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

[Ethanol] New York State Backs Cellulosic Ethanol

Wed, 17 May 2006 19:49:58 GMT

A $20 million program in the New York state budget is slotted for the development of a cellulosic ethanol pilot facility in New York State, Governor George E. Pataki announced, renewing his call for the adoption of his energy independence plan to reduce U.S. dependence on imported energy by boosting the production of clean, renewable fuels. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

[Biodiesel] Chevron Invests in 100 mgy Galveston Bay Biodiesel

Wed, 17 May 2006 19:46:48 GMT

Chevron, through its subsidiary, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), has taken an equity position in Galveston Bay Biodiesel LP (GBB). The Houston-based company is constructing a biodiesel production and distribution facility in Galveston, Texas, said to have the potential to produce 100 million gallons per year (mgy) of clean-burning renewable fuel -- an amount that more than doubles this country's current production volume of biodiesel. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2006. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

[Ethanol] America and Brazil Intersect on Ethanol

Wed, 17 May 2006 19:36:59 GMT

The United States and Brazil share many things: a hemisphere, a dedication to promoting democracy and human rights and the vigor that comes from being multiethnic societies. Those of us who have long wished that these two important countries of the Americas would establish a true partnership have seen encouraging signs recently. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

[Biodiesel] Chevron Takes 22% Stake in Texas Biodiesel Company

Mon, 15 May 2006 18:57:52 GMT

Chevron Corporation, through its subsidiary, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), has invested in a Texas-based company that is building a biodiesel plant that will have the potential to produce up to 100 million gallons per year. [Green Car Congress]

[Schools] Going for the Gold with Green Technology

Fri, 12 May 2006 18:02:39 GMT

Students from Appalachian State University drove from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., in a bus entirely powered by biodiesel fuel made from recycled cooking oil. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor students are "growing" materials for construction of buildings, both to use natural fibers and to encourage a new market for agriculture. These were just two of the winning projects at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) awards ceremony.

"P3 releases the power of the possible to advance sustainable solutions to environmental challenges," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "I am pleased that our nation's future leaders are answering President Bush's call to deliver environmental and economic results by expanding technology and innovation."

This national competition, sponsored by EPA's Office of Research and Development, enables college students to research, develop and design scientific, technical, and policy solutions to sustainability challenges. Sustainable solutions are environmentally friendly, efficiently use natural resources and are economically competitive. The P3 award includes funding up to $75,000 that gives the students an opportunity to further develop their designs and move them to the marketplace.

Winners of this year's awards and their projects are:

Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C. - Closing the Biodiesel Loop: community based production of ASTM D6751-03 standard fuel from local waste vegetable oil;
Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. - Sustainable Water Systems in Honduras - a simple method to remove inorganic arsenic from groundwater sources;
Portland State University, Portland, Ore. - WISE, an interactive website for educators and students on a holistic (whole systems) approach to sustainable development guided by the WISE owl;
Stanford University, Stanford, Calif. - The Green Dorm: design and construction of a sustainable facility for residential, laboratory and commons space;
University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Mass. - Cancer treatment drugs from green tea - novel used non-toxic enzymes to extract poly(catechins) with promising anti-tumor activity; and
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.: Growing Alternative Sustainable Buildings from natural fiber, biodegradable or recyclable materials.

The P3 Award competition was held at EPA's first National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The students exhibited their design projects while companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies exhibited their commercially successful sustainable technologies. Support for the competition includes more than 45 partners in the federal government, industry and scientific and professional societies.

More information about the P3 Award competition
http://www.epa.gov/P3

P3 award winners and their projects
http://www.epa.gov/p3/06winners

EPA's sustainability research program
http://www.epa.gov/sustainability

[Biodiesel] Country's largest biodiesel plant planned in Grays Harbor

Fri, 12 May 2006 17:40:20 GMT

A $40 million biodiesel facility, which would be the largest in the United States, is being planned on land owned by the Port of Grays Harbor (WA) between Aberdeen and Hoquiam. [Source: Puget Sound Business Journal, 5/8/06]

[Biofuels] Beans means oil crisis relief

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 19:57:57 GMT

Forget ethanol fuel blends from sugar, tomorrow's cars could be full of beans, according to University of Queensland legume biotechnology expert Professor Peter Gresshoff. [Physics Org]

[Energy policy] Bush’s Earth Day Message: Hydrogen, Plug-Ins and Ethanol

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:29:02 GMT

President Bush chose the California Fuel Cell partnership as the venue for an Earth Day address on advanced transportation, during which he emphasized hydrogen as the future solution, but referenced hybrids, plug-in hybrids and ethanol as being important transition technologies. [Green Car Congress]

[Environmental policy] State of the State Addresses Include Many Environment - Energy Initiatives

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:11:35 GMT

In the 2006 round of annual "State of the State" speeches, a number of state governors announced initiatives concerning the environment and energy that they hope to implement in the coming year. Below are some examples:

California: Governor Schwarzenegger acknowledged that traffic and congestion in California have led to poor air quality and medical problems. He said that air quality improvement should be one of the measures the state invests in over the next 10 years, calling for clean air to be part of the critical infrastructure of California.

Connecticut: Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell called for the creation of a new state Department of Energy, to examine and confront future energy issues. The Department would be designed to act as a liaison between state and local governments, be the state’s voice on energy at federal proceedings, promote new and energy efficient technologies, and create a state-wide energy policy. Ms. Rell also called for the extension of the current sales tax exemption for energy-efficient products and restoration of the state’s $12 million Energy Conservation and Load Management Fund.

Georgia: In his budget plan, Governor Perdue included $2 million to promote and expand research on alternative fuel sources. He said Georgia’s position as a strong agricultural state will allow it to be a national leader in the development and production of bio-fuels. Mr. Perdue said that bio-fuels will be able to help the state meet its own energy needs, reduce its dependence on oil, and create a source of revenue.

Minnesota: Governor Pawlenty announced a new goal to have 25 percent of all of the state’s energy needs, including mobile, met by renewable sources by the year 2025. As a step toward that goal, he signed an executive order requiring state employees to put to use state-owned E85 (ethanol based) fuel vehicles. Mr. Pawlenty also called for E85 to be available at gas stations, as an alternative to one of the gasoline fuels.

New Mexico: Governor Richardson said the state would offer an advanced energy manufacturing tax credit to encourage cutting-edge energy technology firms to make New Mexico their home. He also said the state would create a land conservation fund to support open land, wildlife, and clean energy projects; establish a tax credit to expand solar energy development in homes and businesses; and create a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to manage the emerging growth of and market for renewable energy in New Mexico.

New York: New York Governor George Pataki called for New York to be the worldwide center for renewable energy research and product development. He proposed tax exemptions for renewable energy companies in the entire state of New York as a means of attracting industry leaders and researchers. The governor also announced his intention to propose a plan to jumpstart "a new era of statewide availability and use of renewable fuels," beginning with an initiative to make tax-free renewable fuels available at service stations all across the state. The plan would also establish refineries that make ethanol out of agricultural and wood products from New York farms and forests, help finance advanced clean coal power plants, and spur the development of efficient hybrid vehicles.

[Biodiesel] Biodiesel: The slippery facts.

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:48:18 GMT

Via Gristmill, 4/23/06:

Biodiesel -- the cleaner-burning vegetable-based oil that can be substituted for ordinary petroleum diesel -- is getting a lot of press these days. That's not too surprising: aternatives to oil tend to get a lot of attention when fuel prices are rising, which they're certainly doing right now.

Perhaps the biggest piece of recent policy news is Washington state's new renewable fuels standard, passed just last month, which mandates that 2 percent of the diesel sold in the state must be biodiesel by the end of 2008.

That got me thinking -- why just 2 percent? Couldn't we do better than that?

Well, maybe so. But perhaps not by a whole lot.

[Ethanol] GM Helps Michigan Develop 20 E85 Gas Stations

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:22:44 GMT

Even though research shows that many owners of flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), which total 1.5 million on the roads today, do not know that their vehicles are capable of using E85, there is progress in making the public aware through projects such as this collaboration between GM, the state of Michigan, Meijer and CleanFUEL USA. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/20/06]

[Clean energy] Ten Start-ups Vie for Clean Tech Energy Prizes

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:18:18 GMT

Ten start-up companies have made a compelling case to energy venture capitalists, CEOs, and industry experts that they have the right stuff to build new clean energy tech companies -- helping to create one of the fastest growing industry clusters in Massachusetts. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/20/06]

[Renewable energy] Big Oil Not Ready for Biodiesel, Willits, CA is Greener Than Ever

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:13:25 GMT

In this week's edition of "Inside Renewable Energy," Joel Glatz, who founded Frontier Energy of Maine four years ago, talks about the challenges and rewards of being in the biodiesel and bioheat business. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]

[Grants] Incremental Cost of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV)

Fri, 21 Apr 2006 16:10:13 GMT

Applications due June 8, 2006.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Office of FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies (OFCVT), is seeking applications for projects covering a range of commercial technology deployment and educational activities under the Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies Program.

Area of Interest 2: Incremental Cost of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV)
(DE-PS26-06NT42770-02)

This area of interest is for projects to support the incremental cost of new original equipment manufactured (OEM) highway-certified alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions compliant conversions of new and/or used conventional fuel vehicles (i.e., vehicles originally designed to operate using diesel or gasoline that are being retrofitted to operate on alternative fuels) that will result in large conventional fuel displacement.

[Ethanol production] Marketing a by-product of ethanol

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:06:45 GMT

As more ethanol is produced as fuel for cars and trucks, the distillers are looking for ways to make money on some of the by-products of the process. [Source: Great Lakes Radio Consortium, 4/17/06]

[Grants] Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:05:21 GMT

Applications due June 16, 2006.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals to fund projects within the Region 5 states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, that will demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions as part of the Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative. The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative is a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies, along with communities, non-profit organizations and private companies working together to reduce emissions from diesel engines in the Midwest.

[Grants] Region 5 Clean School Bus USA

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:03:40 GMT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals from Local and Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments, local and state governments, and non-profit organizations for retrofit and/or replacement projects that reduce pollution from school buses within the Region 5 states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, through the use of EPA verified or certified and/or California Air Resources Board verified pollution reduction technologies. There is a 5% cost-share required for these projects.

The closing date for applicants to submit proposals under the Clean School Bus program is June 16, 2006. Proposals submitted via electronic-mail (e-mail) or through grants.gov must be received by the closing date and time (6 pm Central).

[Biofuels] U.S. Dairy Uses Renewable Energy from Manure

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:27:35 GMT

Green Valley Dairy in Krakow, Wisconsin, generates approximately four million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy a year, using manure from 2,500 head of cattle. That is enough to power about 400 average Wisconsin homes for one year. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/13/06]

[Biodiesel] Biodiesel Blog Turned Book Wins Acclaim for North Carolina Environmentalist

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:09:09 GMT

There are those who cook with gas, and those who make gas with what they cook. Lyle Estill is among the latter. Estill, of Moncure, has turned a blog about making biodiesel fuel from used cooking oil into a book -- "Biodiesel Power" (New Society Publishers) -- that narrowly missed winning the nonfiction category of the inaugural Lulu Blooker Prize (http://www.lulublookerprize.com), the first literary award for "blooks," or books based on blogs. [Source: PRNewswire, 4/11/06]

[Energy policy] New Job to Focus on Biomass Technology in Indiana

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 20:39:17 GMT

The person who gets appointed to a new position funded jointly by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and the Office of Energy and Defense Development (OED) will focus on biomass technologies to advance the state's already aggressive pilot bioenergy projects. Indiana also plans to develop more biofuel-production facilities. [Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 4/7/06]

[Schools] Microbes at the Gas Pump

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:51:59 GMT

Bacteria and other organisms can turn waste plant material into fuel for cars. Science News for Kids has the full story.

[Alternative fuels] Tools for Cleaning Up Illinois Diesel: Technology, Funding and Collaboration

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:50:39 GMT

Date: May 2, 2006
Location: BP Naperville Complex, Naperville, Illinois

On Tuesday, May 2, 2006, EPA Region 5’s Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative, in conjunction with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities Program, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago Area Clean Cities, Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, Caterpillar, International Truck and Engine Corporation., Engine Control Systems, and the Diesel Technology Forum, is pleased to present Tools for Cleaning up Illinois Diesel: Technology, Funding, and Collaboration a one-day event aimed at educating fleet managers on how to address current environmental and energy challenges by incorporating new technologies and alternative fuels into their operations. The event will be held at the BP Naperville Complex in Naperville, Illinois.

The conference will feature multiple panel discussions focusing on the various strategies, fuels and technologies available in the marketplace to assist private sector and municipal fleets in conserving fuel, decreasing emissions and saving money. There will be networking opportunities with technology vendors, government officials and fleet managers.

Featured speakers include:

Cheryl Newton, Deputy Director, Air and Radiation Division, USEPA, Region 5 - Overview of the Clean Air Act and the Importance of Voluntary Programs
Bob Schaefer, Regulatory Issues Manager for BP Global Fuels Technology -Transitioning to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel
Ken Katch, Director Emission Solutions, Caterpillar, Inc.- Retrofit Opportunities for Diesel-Powered Engines
Dr. Michael Walsh, Senior Vice President of the Chicago Climate Exchange- Innovative Market Opportunities to Reduce Air Pollution
Ed Arts of EcoTrans Technologies - Idle Reduction Technologies for Locomotives

Registration for this event is $40. Due to security restrictions, participants must register prior to the event. Space is limited, so please register early.