Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loophole Act, that contained a one year retroactive extension of the biodiesel tax credit. The bill, which just yesterday appeared to be stalled till after the Memorial Day recess, passed by a vote of 215-204.
The Senate is expected to consider the bill after the recess.
May 28, 2010
May 27, 2010
Vote on Biodiesel Tax Credit Delayed
The vote on the bill containing the biodiesel tax credit and other agricultural related issues has been delayed till after the Memorial Day recess. The biodiesel tax credit expired at the beginning of the year and the biodiesel industry has been pushing lawmakers to reinstate the credit before going on recess.
Source : Hoosier Ag Today
Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Blue Dog Coalition co-chairwoman, said Thursday that given the timetable the House is on - they’ll have to grapple with the tax extenders measure after Memorial Day. Herseth Sandlin says part of the problem is leadership was shy of the votes needed to pass the bill.
Source : Hoosier Ag Today
Study Finds That Ethanol Production Methods Have Become More Efficient
A new University of Illinois at Chicago study of facilities that produce most of the nation's ethanol found that the energy needed to make a gallon of the corn-based fuel decreased on average by about 30 percent within the past decade.
Steffen Mueller, principal research economist at UIC's Energy Resources Center, surveyed the nation's 150 "dry mill" ethanol plants -- the type that produce about 85 percent of the ethanol for energy use -- between November 2009 and January 2010.
The findings may prove useful to state and federal energy policy makers studying the pros and cons of fuels based on their "full life-cycle" -- the total energy needed to create a fuel compared to its energy output, the greenhouse gases emitted during production, the water used in production, and other factors.
"Policy makers rightfully pay attention to life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuels," said Mueller. "Biofuel refineries, including corn ethanol plants, are in a rapid innovation phase."
He said his survey shows that adoption of new technologies reduces energy production needs.
"The challenge for policy makers will be to keep up with these developments so that regulations are meaningful and reflect state-of-the-art industry practices," he said.
Mueller received 90 responses -- about 60 percent of the plants contacted. But those responding produce about 66 percent of the 35 billion or so liters of ethanol distilled yearly in the U.S.
Mueller said the high response should provide a sound statistical basis for policy makers, environmental groups, and researchers who will help design new energy-efficient and eco-friendly fuel production methods.
Mueller found plants use 28 percent less thermal energy -- mostly natural gas, but some coal, biomass and landfill gas -- and 32 percent less electricity to turn corn into ethanol. The savings may be due to more efficient equipment being used by new plants and older ones undergoing energy efficiency retrofits, he said.
The 24-question survey was developed with ethanol industry input. Senior or operations plant managers at all 150 U.S. dry mill plants operating during 2008 were contacted. The web-based survey was created by the University of Illinois Survey Research Laboratory, which also collected the data.
Mueller's findings were compared to the last comprehensive survey taken in 2001, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since that time there has been a nearly 10-fold increase in the number of U.S. ethanol plants.
The findings are published online in the May 15 issue of Biotechnology Letters. The study was funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.
Source : University of Illinois at Chicago
Steffen Mueller, principal research economist at UIC's Energy Resources Center, surveyed the nation's 150 "dry mill" ethanol plants -- the type that produce about 85 percent of the ethanol for energy use -- between November 2009 and January 2010.
The findings may prove useful to state and federal energy policy makers studying the pros and cons of fuels based on their "full life-cycle" -- the total energy needed to create a fuel compared to its energy output, the greenhouse gases emitted during production, the water used in production, and other factors.
"Policy makers rightfully pay attention to life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of fuels," said Mueller. "Biofuel refineries, including corn ethanol plants, are in a rapid innovation phase."
He said his survey shows that adoption of new technologies reduces energy production needs.
"The challenge for policy makers will be to keep up with these developments so that regulations are meaningful and reflect state-of-the-art industry practices," he said.
Mueller received 90 responses -- about 60 percent of the plants contacted. But those responding produce about 66 percent of the 35 billion or so liters of ethanol distilled yearly in the U.S.
Mueller said the high response should provide a sound statistical basis for policy makers, environmental groups, and researchers who will help design new energy-efficient and eco-friendly fuel production methods.
Mueller found plants use 28 percent less thermal energy -- mostly natural gas, but some coal, biomass and landfill gas -- and 32 percent less electricity to turn corn into ethanol. The savings may be due to more efficient equipment being used by new plants and older ones undergoing energy efficiency retrofits, he said.
The 24-question survey was developed with ethanol industry input. Senior or operations plant managers at all 150 U.S. dry mill plants operating during 2008 were contacted. The web-based survey was created by the University of Illinois Survey Research Laboratory, which also collected the data.
Mueller's findings were compared to the last comprehensive survey taken in 2001, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since that time there has been a nearly 10-fold increase in the number of U.S. ethanol plants.
The findings are published online in the May 15 issue of Biotechnology Letters. The study was funded by the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.
Source : University of Illinois at Chicago
First Ever Economic Assessment of Canadian Renewable Fuel Plants Released
The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association today released the first-ever comprehensive third party economic impact assessment of renewable fuels investments in Canada. The assessment conducted by econometric firm Doyletech Corporation, concluded that, “the grand total of the annual positive economic impact of renewable fuels is $2.013 billion.”
The report studied 28 ethanol and biodiesel plants across Canada and added that there were major benefits from renewable fuels in “rural re-vitalization, increased oil exports from western Canada, industrial development, and valuable options for re-balancing fuel “mix”.”
The economic impact of the construction phase of renewable fuels plant was assessed to include:
• A total direct investment of $2.326 billion.
• The total net economic activity of $2.949 billion, including $100.2 million to municipal governments, $492.1 million to provincial governments, and $679.9 million to the federal government.
• And the creation of 14,177 direct and indirect jobs during the respective construction periods.
The economic impact of operating the 28 Canadian renewable fuels plants was assessed to include:
• The production of a total of 2.25 billion litres of renewable fuels annually.
• A net annual economic benefit of $1.473 billion to the Canadian economy across Canada, including $14.1 million to municipal governments, $108.8 million to provincial governments, and $111.8 million to the federal government.
• The creation of a net 1,038 direct and indirect jobs annually.
• An estimated annual benefit of $540 million in additional oil exports that are possible because of western Canada biofuels production (using value of CDN $80/barrel).
• The grand total of the annual positive economic impact of renewable fuels is accordingly $2.013 billion.
“Even making allowance for the opportunity costs of alternate investments, and the opportunity costs of alternate feedstock sales, renewable fuels plants in Canada represent a positive net economic benefit,” the report concludes.
Source : Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA)
The report studied 28 ethanol and biodiesel plants across Canada and added that there were major benefits from renewable fuels in “rural re-vitalization, increased oil exports from western Canada, industrial development, and valuable options for re-balancing fuel “mix”.”
The economic impact of the construction phase of renewable fuels plant was assessed to include:
• A total direct investment of $2.326 billion.
• The total net economic activity of $2.949 billion, including $100.2 million to municipal governments, $492.1 million to provincial governments, and $679.9 million to the federal government.
• And the creation of 14,177 direct and indirect jobs during the respective construction periods.
The economic impact of operating the 28 Canadian renewable fuels plants was assessed to include:
• The production of a total of 2.25 billion litres of renewable fuels annually.
• A net annual economic benefit of $1.473 billion to the Canadian economy across Canada, including $14.1 million to municipal governments, $108.8 million to provincial governments, and $111.8 million to the federal government.
• The creation of a net 1,038 direct and indirect jobs annually.
• An estimated annual benefit of $540 million in additional oil exports that are possible because of western Canada biofuels production (using value of CDN $80/barrel).
• The grand total of the annual positive economic impact of renewable fuels is accordingly $2.013 billion.
“Even making allowance for the opportunity costs of alternate investments, and the opportunity costs of alternate feedstock sales, renewable fuels plants in Canada represent a positive net economic benefit,” the report concludes.
Source : Canadian Renewable Fuels Association (CRFA)
May 22, 2010
Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Announces Navy's First Landfill Gas Project
Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit of Chevron Corporation, and the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany announced on May 20, 2010 the start of construction for the Department of Navy's first landfill gas cogeneration project.
The project will produce 1.9 megawatts of renewable electric power and steam by burning landfill gas collected from a nearby landfill. Chevron Energy Solutions will also complete industrial lighting retrofits in 82 buildings and expand the existing energy management control system. When combined with the cogeneration project, these measures will reduce the base's purchase of utility power and reduce MCLB's carbon emissions by 19,300 tons annually, equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the road.
Chevron Energy Solutions developed and designed the project and will maintain the landfill gas-to-energy facility, pipeline and landfill gas processing equipment. The new facility will house a dual-fuel engine generator, a stack heat recovery steam generator and two dual-fuel boilers. The primary equipment can operate on landfill gas or natural gas, which provides energy security benefits. MCLB's use of renewable power will increase to 19 percent, which exceeds the EPAct of 2005 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandate of 7.5 percent renewable power use by 2013.
Dougherty County will extract and sell the landfill gas to MCLB from the Fleming/Gaissert Road Landfill, which receives approximately 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year. The biological decomposition of the waste generates landfill gas that is approximately 50 percent methane gas by volume.
The project is expected to be completed by April 2011.
The project will produce 1.9 megawatts of renewable electric power and steam by burning landfill gas collected from a nearby landfill. Chevron Energy Solutions will also complete industrial lighting retrofits in 82 buildings and expand the existing energy management control system. When combined with the cogeneration project, these measures will reduce the base's purchase of utility power and reduce MCLB's carbon emissions by 19,300 tons annually, equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the road.
Chevron Energy Solutions developed and designed the project and will maintain the landfill gas-to-energy facility, pipeline and landfill gas processing equipment. The new facility will house a dual-fuel engine generator, a stack heat recovery steam generator and two dual-fuel boilers. The primary equipment can operate on landfill gas or natural gas, which provides energy security benefits. MCLB's use of renewable power will increase to 19 percent, which exceeds the EPAct of 2005 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandate of 7.5 percent renewable power use by 2013.
Dougherty County will extract and sell the landfill gas to MCLB from the Fleming/Gaissert Road Landfill, which receives approximately 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year. The biological decomposition of the waste generates landfill gas that is approximately 50 percent methane gas by volume.
The project is expected to be completed by April 2011.
May 19, 2010
Study Results Of The Effects Of Ethanol On Classic Cars
In July 2008 Hagerty Insurance Agency initiated a study to determine the effects that gasoline blended with ethanol has on the fuel systems and engine components of classic automobiles. Hagerty Insurance, a major insurer of classic cars, enlisted Kettering University to carry out the study.
Somehow I missed when the study results were announced in September 2009 but since I have been following this since the beginning I wanted to make sure to post the results as well.
The study results were mostly positive.
Source : Hagerty Press Release
Somehow I missed when the study results were announced in September 2009 but since I have been following this since the beginning I wanted to make sure to post the results as well.
The study results were mostly positive.
To summarize, after 1,500 hours of testing (nearly twice the industry standard for such a test) fuel lines didn’t leak, carburetors didn’t disintegrate and fuel pumps did not fail. Although the study showed minor build up and corrosion in the carburetors and fuel pumps while using E10 as opposed to E0, the general consensus is that with minor updates and proper maintenance E10 will not prevent the ability to enjoy your collector car.
Source : Hagerty Press Release
May 14, 2010
Spoetzl Brewery selects EPS for new $3 Million Biogas Facility
EPS Corp announces that the company was selected to develop a $3 million state of the art biogas generation and wastewater treatment facility at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas. Scheduled for completion in early 2011, this renewable energy plant is designed to enable the brewery to reduce its carbon emissions by over 500 metric tons per year, while also eliminating 85% of the treatable waste components in the brewery’s wastewater.
“This new biogas generation and waste treatment facility is a win-win commitment for Spoetzl and the Shiner community”
Using a highly efficient waste treatment process, called anaerobic digestion, the new facility will enable Spoetzl to convert the waste products from its brewing processes into naturally produced methane gas which will be used to fuel the boilers that create steam and hot water needed for beer production. As a result, Spoetzl should be able to reduce its natural gas consumption by over 95,000 therms per year, in addition to significantly reducing carbon emissions. And by eliminating most of the treatable waste components in the wastewater, this process should reduce the amount of electrical energy required for processing at the city wastewater treatment plant.
This new renewable energy and waste treatment plant represents the latest step in Spoetzl’s drive to reduce the overall environmental impact of its brewing operations. In 2009, the company teamed up with EPS Corp to implement a full range of energy conservation initiatives, such as automating its refrigeration controls, installing high efficiency boilers and lighting systems, and altering the sequencing of its air compressors. These combined efforts significantly lowered Spoetzl’s electrical and natural gas usage, leading to a 24% reduction in the brewery’s carbon emissions from energy usage.
“This new biogas generation and waste treatment facility is a win-win commitment for Spoetzl and the Shiner community,” said Jaime Jurado, Director of Brewing Operations. “In addition to further reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions, it eliminates much of the waste from the wastewater right at our facility, reducing the town’s energy burden on the municipal wastewater treatment facility and at the same time feeding biogas to our biogas-compatible boiler.”
“We’re very pleased to be selected by Spoetzl for this important sustainability project,” said Jay Zoellner, the Chief Executive Officer of EPS Corp. “This renewable energy initiative, along with the energy efficiency projects Spoetzl had us implement last year, demonstrates their commitment to sustainability within the brewing industry. We’re very happy to be helping.”
Source : Press Release
“This new biogas generation and waste treatment facility is a win-win commitment for Spoetzl and the Shiner community”
Using a highly efficient waste treatment process, called anaerobic digestion, the new facility will enable Spoetzl to convert the waste products from its brewing processes into naturally produced methane gas which will be used to fuel the boilers that create steam and hot water needed for beer production. As a result, Spoetzl should be able to reduce its natural gas consumption by over 95,000 therms per year, in addition to significantly reducing carbon emissions. And by eliminating most of the treatable waste components in the wastewater, this process should reduce the amount of electrical energy required for processing at the city wastewater treatment plant.
This new renewable energy and waste treatment plant represents the latest step in Spoetzl’s drive to reduce the overall environmental impact of its brewing operations. In 2009, the company teamed up with EPS Corp to implement a full range of energy conservation initiatives, such as automating its refrigeration controls, installing high efficiency boilers and lighting systems, and altering the sequencing of its air compressors. These combined efforts significantly lowered Spoetzl’s electrical and natural gas usage, leading to a 24% reduction in the brewery’s carbon emissions from energy usage.
“This new biogas generation and waste treatment facility is a win-win commitment for Spoetzl and the Shiner community,” said Jaime Jurado, Director of Brewing Operations. “In addition to further reducing our energy consumption and carbon emissions, it eliminates much of the waste from the wastewater right at our facility, reducing the town’s energy burden on the municipal wastewater treatment facility and at the same time feeding biogas to our biogas-compatible boiler.”
“We’re very pleased to be selected by Spoetzl for this important sustainability project,” said Jay Zoellner, the Chief Executive Officer of EPS Corp. “This renewable energy initiative, along with the energy efficiency projects Spoetzl had us implement last year, demonstrates their commitment to sustainability within the brewing industry. We’re very happy to be helping.”
Source : Press Release
May 12, 2010
Iran To Begin Production Of Ethanol
There are a couple of interesting articles in the news that Iran is set to begin production of ethanol. The first article talks about Iran's plans to produce ethanol from waste crops.
The second article is one that I read yesterday but is now only available by subscription but the title pretty much says it all.
Iran in search for E5 bio-gasoline
Iran is under a host of sanctions because of their nuclear program and is looking for ways to increase their energy security. Even though Iran has plenty of oil they don't have enough refining capacity to supply their needs for finished petroleum products. So they must import a portion of their gasoline and that is where sanctions could hurt them. The production of ethanol would add to their fuel supply and give them greater security against sanctions.
Every year we import about 60% of the petroleum we use and because of that we are vulnerable to the actions of other countries. If an oil rich country like Iran can see the value in ethanol for increasing their energy security why is it that some in this country can't?
Iran plans to produce bio-ethanol, an environment-friendly fuel that has the potential to provide impressive engine performance results.
An Iranian official has revealed that the oil ministry is to sign an accord in this regard with the Iranian association of ethanol producers.
“The project to produce bio-ethanol is to start in the next three months,” said the head of National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, Ali Ameri.
The second article is one that I read yesterday but is now only available by subscription but the title pretty much says it all.
Iran in search for E5 bio-gasoline
Iran is under a host of sanctions because of their nuclear program and is looking for ways to increase their energy security. Even though Iran has plenty of oil they don't have enough refining capacity to supply their needs for finished petroleum products. So they must import a portion of their gasoline and that is where sanctions could hurt them. The production of ethanol would add to their fuel supply and give them greater security against sanctions.
Every year we import about 60% of the petroleum we use and because of that we are vulnerable to the actions of other countries. If an oil rich country like Iran can see the value in ethanol for increasing their energy security why is it that some in this country can't?
May 08, 2010
Lamar to Retrofit Billboards Throughout Florida with Solar, Wind Power
Lamar Advertising Co., which operates more than 150 outdoor advertising companies in more than 40 states and Puerto Rico, has announced a multidimensional project to convert some 1,370 billboards throughout Florida to renewable energy. The $12.5-million project will place solar or wind power on billboards throughout the state, creating 1,370 individual renewable energy systems that return energy to the electrical grid.
"This represents the largest single deployment of distributed renewable energy devices in Florida history," said Robert B. Switzer, vice president of operations of Lamar Advertising. "With the completion of this historic project, we will be sending a clear message to millions of Florida residents and visitors every day that renewable energy works."
The project, set for completion by April 2012, will install a total of one Megawatt (1,000 kilowatts) of renewable energy generation in the form of solar or wind power on 1,370 separate billboard structures in eight markets from Pensacola to Daytona and Tallahassee to Fort Myers. The installations will be on billboards along interstates and major thoroughfares, giving the project the widest public exposure. The U.S. Department of Energy is providing a $2.5-million grant to the project through the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and the Governor's Energy Office, while Lamar is funding the remaining $10 million.
As part of its initiative, Lamar Advertising is sponsoring Renewable Florida, a Web-based clearinghouse to help Floridians find the easiest and most cost-efficient ways of maximizing renewable energy. To learn more, go to www.renewableflorida.org.
"Over the 20- to 25-year life span of the billboards converted to renewable energy, we will return an untold amount of renewable, emission-free energy to the power grid while demonstrating in a very graphic manner to the public the payoff that comes with renewable energy," Switzer said. "In the long run, this will mean significant savings for Lamar. The lifespan of these systems allows them to be amortized, giving us a very logical business rationale for incorporating systems such as these on a widespread basis."
For more information about the benefits of renewable energy, explore www.renewableflorida.org.
"This represents the largest single deployment of distributed renewable energy devices in Florida history," said Robert B. Switzer, vice president of operations of Lamar Advertising. "With the completion of this historic project, we will be sending a clear message to millions of Florida residents and visitors every day that renewable energy works."
The project, set for completion by April 2012, will install a total of one Megawatt (1,000 kilowatts) of renewable energy generation in the form of solar or wind power on 1,370 separate billboard structures in eight markets from Pensacola to Daytona and Tallahassee to Fort Myers. The installations will be on billboards along interstates and major thoroughfares, giving the project the widest public exposure. The U.S. Department of Energy is providing a $2.5-million grant to the project through the Florida Energy and Climate Commission and the Governor's Energy Office, while Lamar is funding the remaining $10 million.
As part of its initiative, Lamar Advertising is sponsoring Renewable Florida, a Web-based clearinghouse to help Floridians find the easiest and most cost-efficient ways of maximizing renewable energy. To learn more, go to www.renewableflorida.org.
"Over the 20- to 25-year life span of the billboards converted to renewable energy, we will return an untold amount of renewable, emission-free energy to the power grid while demonstrating in a very graphic manner to the public the payoff that comes with renewable energy," Switzer said. "In the long run, this will mean significant savings for Lamar. The lifespan of these systems allows them to be amortized, giving us a very logical business rationale for incorporating systems such as these on a widespread basis."
For more information about the benefits of renewable energy, explore www.renewableflorida.org.
May 03, 2010
Micro Wind Turbines Spinning At Sam's Club In Palmdale
As part of a company commitment to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, Sam’s Club is the first retailer in the U.S. to install a significant number of micro wind turbines mounted on parking lot light poles to support the energy needs of its Palmdale, Calif., location. Construction is complete, and the 17 units are fully operational as of today.“Walmart and Sam’s Club are to be congratulated for taking on this major wind energy initiative and choosing the Palmdale store for their first wind installation,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “This kind of project, in addition to being good for the environment, helps reduce energy costs, which can be passed on to the consumer in the form of lower prices. This project is an outstanding example of the kind of sustainable practices the City of Palmdale is encouraging for the benefit of the environment and community as a whole.”
The Palmdale Sam’s Club was selected for the test project among all of the Walmart-owned properties in the U.S. because of the great wind resources in the area. The micro wind turbines at the Palmdale Sam’s Club are supplied by DeerPath Energy, a renewable energy company from Marblehead, MA, and are estimated to provide 76,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy annually – enough to power more than six average American homes for a year. The completion of this project adds to the company’s other renewable energy projects in the state, including solar installations at 28 Walmart and Sam’s Club sites and fuel cell installations at two Walmart stores in the state.
“We are thrilled to be the first to demonstrate micro wind turbines in a retail environment and pleased this project complements other wind and solar installations in California,” said Paul Stone, senior vice president, West Division, Sam’s Club. “This project required a lot of collaboration and we appreciate the City of Palmdale for their efforts throughout the process and construction.”
Wind power is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy since there are no greenhouse gas emissions or pollution associated with energy generation. Wind turbines rotate to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy.
“We are optimistic that this exciting micro wind turbine project at the Palmdale Sam’s Club and another pilot location will be successful and that the micro turbines will be installed, operated and maintained while helping to lower our operating costs,” said Kim Saylors-Laster, vice president, Energy at Walmart . “With each new project we learn more that can be applied to help us achieve our goal to be supplied by renewable energy.”
In early May, Walmart will celebrate the completion of a similar mirco wind turbine project at a new Walmart store in Worcester, Mass. Moving forward, Walmart plans to consider other locations for micro wind projects as well.
In addition to reducing energy use at its facilities, Sam’s Club is helping its members conserve energy and save money. In 2008, Sam’s Club converted nine locations in Southern California to include Home Efficiency Centers. These Centers provide a centralized location to showcase products that improve the efficiency of homes or businesses and include energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) and LED lighting, outdoor solar lighting, high performance furnace filters, high-efficiency toilets and water-saving showerheads. As a result of the success, these key items were rolled out to all clubs nationwide in spring of 2009. As of June 2009, sales of GE CFLs and LED lighting are expected to help Members save more than $360 million over the lifespan of the bulbs, while preventing approximately 5 billion pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere – equivalent to taking more than 430,000 cars off the road.
Press Release
May 02, 2010
NASCAR Moving To E15 In 2011
According to FOX News, NASCAR will make the move to E15 beginning at the first race in 2011.
Hendrick Motorsports is already testing the fuel and Roush Yates engines will start development with E15 in the next few weeks. According to RYE co-owner Doug Yates, the conversion is important to the sport.
"Change is scary, but it's exciting as well," Yates said. "We have to keep up with the changes in the world to stay relevant. We need to be moving ahead."
One possible ethanol partner appears to be POET ethanol products of Wichita, Kan. POET gained attention last week when President Barack Obama visited the company's Macon, Mo. plant.
Full Article
Hendrick Motorsports is already testing the fuel and Roush Yates engines will start development with E15 in the next few weeks. According to RYE co-owner Doug Yates, the conversion is important to the sport.
"Change is scary, but it's exciting as well," Yates said. "We have to keep up with the changes in the world to stay relevant. We need to be moving ahead."
One possible ethanol partner appears to be POET ethanol products of Wichita, Kan. POET gained attention last week when President Barack Obama visited the company's Macon, Mo. plant.
Full Article
Purdue analysis cuts ethanol greenhouse gas emission estimates
Revisions to a Purdue University economic analysis have cut about 10 percent of the total emissions expected from an increase in corn ethanol production.
The findings, released in a report to the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, show that ethanol could be a somewhat better option than previously thought for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Wally Tyner, a Purdue agricultural economist and the report's lead author, said revisions to the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model better reflect market conditions and land productivity than a 2009 report that showed corn ethanol wouldn't significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions over gasoline.
"This is a new area. We haven't been faced with estimating land-use change related to biofuels ever before," Tyner said. "The difference between this report and previous reports is advances in science. With any issue, your first cut may not be the best, but when you get new data and new methods, you improve."
The report considers land-use changes when calculating total greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels based on the U.S. program to increase corn ethanol production to 15 billion gallons by 2015. Those changes include the emissions created by converting forest or pasture land to cropland. The new analysis predicts emissions related to land-use change at 35 percent lower than previous analyses.
Purdue economists ran three new simulations through the GTAP model. The first used 2001 economic data as a base; the second updated the data through 2006; and the third used the updated 2006 data and assumed growth in population and crop yield through 2015.
The 2009 report showed that total - including land-use change - carbon dioxide emissions per megajoule for ethanol would be 86.3 grams. The three simulations in the new report predict 84.4 grams, 81.1 grams and 77.5 grams, respectively.
The third simulation, which Tyner said is probably the most accurate, reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that would be emitted by about 10 percent. But he warned that the numbers are still uncertain because the model contains many complex relationships, covers the entire globe, and includes data and parameters from a diversity of resources.
The new GTAP simulations evaluated ethanol emissions based on several new assumptions:
* Marginal land conversion data changed. Previous reports estimated that marginal lands converted to corn production would be two-thirds as productive as prime land. The new simulations used data from another model to predict productivity for land being brought into cultivation by country and by agro-ecological zone.
Tyner said the change had a large effect on decreasing the number of hectares of land needed to produce 1,000 gallons of ethanol.
"In Brazil, in particular, the production of the land that would come into use is much better than two-thirds," Tyner said. "It's closer to one, or about as good as current land in use."
* About 60 million acres in the United States that had been converted from cropland to mostly pasture and some forest were re-evaluated. Tyner said that land would be more productive than other land considered marginal in the country.
* Energy sector demand and supply elasticities were revised. Tyner said new economic data has shown that consumers do not change consumption habits as drastically as once thought based on gasoline price changes.
"We were getting too large of a reaction in the model to price changes," Tyner said.
* Factors affecting the livestock sector were re-evaluated. New simulations assumed that distillers' dried grains with solubles - an ethanol co-product used as livestock feed - would go primarily to dairy and cattle producers, mirroring actual usage.
The California Air Resources Board last year used GTAP predictions for ethanol emissions when drafting its low-carbon fuel standard, which aims to lower the state's transportation carbon emissions 10 percent by 2020. At that time, GTAP predictions using land-use changes showed that ethanol wouldn't significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over gasoline usage.
Tyner is a member of the California Air Resources Board Expert Working Group and said information from this report and other new data would be considered before that committee submits a final report to the board in December.
The Argonne National Laboratory was the major funder of the new study. Tyner said future simulations would add cellulosic biofuels to the analysis.
Full Report
The findings, released in a report to the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, show that ethanol could be a somewhat better option than previously thought for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Wally Tyner, a Purdue agricultural economist and the report's lead author, said revisions to the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model better reflect market conditions and land productivity than a 2009 report that showed corn ethanol wouldn't significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions over gasoline.
"This is a new area. We haven't been faced with estimating land-use change related to biofuels ever before," Tyner said. "The difference between this report and previous reports is advances in science. With any issue, your first cut may not be the best, but when you get new data and new methods, you improve."
The report considers land-use changes when calculating total greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels based on the U.S. program to increase corn ethanol production to 15 billion gallons by 2015. Those changes include the emissions created by converting forest or pasture land to cropland. The new analysis predicts emissions related to land-use change at 35 percent lower than previous analyses.
Purdue economists ran three new simulations through the GTAP model. The first used 2001 economic data as a base; the second updated the data through 2006; and the third used the updated 2006 data and assumed growth in population and crop yield through 2015.
The 2009 report showed that total - including land-use change - carbon dioxide emissions per megajoule for ethanol would be 86.3 grams. The three simulations in the new report predict 84.4 grams, 81.1 grams and 77.5 grams, respectively.
The third simulation, which Tyner said is probably the most accurate, reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that would be emitted by about 10 percent. But he warned that the numbers are still uncertain because the model contains many complex relationships, covers the entire globe, and includes data and parameters from a diversity of resources.
The new GTAP simulations evaluated ethanol emissions based on several new assumptions:
* Marginal land conversion data changed. Previous reports estimated that marginal lands converted to corn production would be two-thirds as productive as prime land. The new simulations used data from another model to predict productivity for land being brought into cultivation by country and by agro-ecological zone.
Tyner said the change had a large effect on decreasing the number of hectares of land needed to produce 1,000 gallons of ethanol.
"In Brazil, in particular, the production of the land that would come into use is much better than two-thirds," Tyner said. "It's closer to one, or about as good as current land in use."
* About 60 million acres in the United States that had been converted from cropland to mostly pasture and some forest were re-evaluated. Tyner said that land would be more productive than other land considered marginal in the country.
* Energy sector demand and supply elasticities were revised. Tyner said new economic data has shown that consumers do not change consumption habits as drastically as once thought based on gasoline price changes.
"We were getting too large of a reaction in the model to price changes," Tyner said.
* Factors affecting the livestock sector were re-evaluated. New simulations assumed that distillers' dried grains with solubles - an ethanol co-product used as livestock feed - would go primarily to dairy and cattle producers, mirroring actual usage.
The California Air Resources Board last year used GTAP predictions for ethanol emissions when drafting its low-carbon fuel standard, which aims to lower the state's transportation carbon emissions 10 percent by 2020. At that time, GTAP predictions using land-use changes showed that ethanol wouldn't significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions over gasoline usage.
Tyner is a member of the California Air Resources Board Expert Working Group and said information from this report and other new data would be considered before that committee submits a final report to the board in December.
The Argonne National Laboratory was the major funder of the new study. Tyner said future simulations would add cellulosic biofuels to the analysis.
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