ethanol

The Department of Ag Wants Your Opinion

scleaver — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

This week, the Department of Agriculture is starting to make it easier to grow corn that’s genetically engineered to be used for ethanol, but safety advocates are concerned that some of that genetically engineered corn might end up in the food we eat as well as in gas tanks. The corn (developed by Syngenta Seeds, Inc) would be designed to produce an enzyme that makes it easier to convert into ethanol.

On one hand, the Department of Ag insists that there won’t be any environmental, food, or human safety concern with the corn. On the other, the Center for Food Safety argues that the gene in the corn could impact allergies in humans. “This is the first crop proposed for industrial use,” Bill Freese, science policy analyst for the Center for Food Safety, told the Associated Press, “and in a widely used food crop, we need to be extremely cautious.”

The good news, by 2009, the U.S. will be using at least 9 billion gallons of alternative fuel, thanks to new federal mandates. And, already, 30 percent of U.S. corn goes to producing ethanol.

As the The Detroit News and the AP reported, before it makes a final decision, the Department of Ag is asking for public comment. (Here’s more information from The Department of Agriculture about the request for comment.) Leave your comments before January 20, 2009 at Regulations.gov.

Image from the World Community Cookbook.

How to Make Ethanol in Your Own Backyard

khallgeisler — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If the idea of making your own fuel is appealing, and you have access to loads of sugar or sugary fruit, check out this backyard ethanol brewer. The MicroFueler from E-Fuel Corporation works pretty much like making wine in the garage or hooch in the tub, but instead produces 35 gallons of ethanol.

The unit, which is about as big as the refrigerator in a rented apartment, will retail for $9,995. That price doesn't include any federal, state, or local incentives you might be able to swing. The cost of the raw materials, the time-release yeast developed by the machine's inventor, and the electricity to power the process comes to about a dollar a gallon.

You can make it even cheaper if you do as MicroFueler investor Terry Quinn does and collect leftover alcohol from bars. Ask your local barkeep for the "Hairy Buffalo" or a "Turnpike" to get the slop after a night of pouring shots.

The only rules and regs that apply to homemade ethanol are being a property owner and agreeing to make your hopped-up hooch outside. There are rules against running vehicles on 100% ethanol, but the fuel you brew can be mixed with water or gasoline, just like E10 or E85.

Biofuels And Grocery Bills

scleaver — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In case you’re wondering exactly why and how food prices are going up (and, having just come back from the grocery store, I certainly am), The Agricultural Advocate posted an extensive blog about the what and why behind food prices using graphs, charts, and analysis of USDA data. The bottom line: biofuels and energy do matter. Not only are farmers growing more corn for biofuel, but they’re also planting fewer acres of other crops to make room for corn. Energy pops up throughout the Agricultural Advocate’s analysis, but it’s not the only factor.

So, next time you’re at the grocery store, here’s what you should know heading to the register:

The Bread Aisle

Wheat has doubled in price in the last few years, and the cost of bread has risen from $1.02 in 2001 to $1.32 in February 2008. But that 30-cent increase in price isn’t only about wheat prices (according to the Agricultural Advocate’s calculation, only six-cents can be attributed to wheat prices). The other 26-cents comes from the increase in the price of fuel when it comes to processing, packaging, and shipping the wheat to retailers. The message: buy local bread when you can to cut d own on some of those fuel costs.

The Meat Counter

In 2007, The Washington Post blamed the meat price ($10 per 100 pounds in a year) increase on corn (read the full article at The Ag Advocate post). But, farmers aren’t making bank on their meat products, according to the USDA monthly retail meat price tracking, nor are increased corn prices having a substantial impact on the cost of meat—most of the cost increase comes after the meat leaves the farm. Again, the increasing price of energy to move product from farm to processing plant, to store, and a vote for eating local meat.

The Dairy Case

The increase in milk prices prompts another economic lesson—supply and demand. As more people in developing countries rise into the middle class, they demand more milk. According to the International Herald Tribune, the average Chinese citizen drank two gallons of milk in 2000, now they drink more than six gallons each year. Add to that a decrease in supply because of a drought in Australia and other factors, and it’s a double whammy for milk prices.

So, it may not be biofuels that’s causing all of those high prices at your local Kroger, but one thing we can agree with is that increased food prices are here to stay. (Photo from the Europe food blog http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/.)

Corn-Based Ethanol Is Causing Hunger Around the World

scleaver — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

If you've noticed that food prices are rising every time you go to the grocery, you are not alone. It's happening around the world, resulting in serious shortages and social unrest. And some poeple are pointing the finger at something we heoped would solve some of our energy problems -- corn-based ethanol.

The Wall Street Journal just reported on this inflation of food prices (Food Inflation, Riots Spark Worries for World Leaders by Bob Davis and Douglas Belkin). Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, said that 33 countries are at risk of social unrest and upheaval because of the rising price of food staples like rice and beans. Already, there have been protests over rising food prices in Haiti, Cameroon, and Sengal, among other countries.

And people aren’t rioting over a small increase: according to the Journal, food prices have increased 83% in the last three years. Why are food prices rising so fast? U.S. policies emphasize and encourage corn-based ethanol and other biofuels and are using what could be food into energy instead.

It costs more to transport food and pay for energy overall. Countries that are developing rapidly (China) have ever higher demands for food (and, I’m sure, there’s no reduction in the demand for food from countries that are already highly developed, like the U.S.).

So far, there’s no consensus about how to approach the problem. Zoellick asked rich countries to add more money to the UN World Food Program, but so far has only received commitments for half of the $500 million that he wanted.

Some other possible solutions:

1. Working together: The U.S., Britain, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan got together last week to discuss the food problem and possible solutions, including trade, technology, and short-term aid for poorer countries.

2. Import and export policies: Fifty eight countries have adjusted their own trade policies (reducing food import tariffs whileincreasing export tariffs) to try and move to self sufficiency.The problem: export barriers increase food prices even more.

3. Cutting deals: Countries are cutting deals with other countries to share land or maximize exports. So far, China is working with New Zealand, Ukraine with Libya, Brazil with Egypt, and Uganda is working with India.

4. More, better subsidies: Zoellick wants to target food subsidies to better provide food for those in need, like giving food in exchange for work, or targeting school programs so kids can bring food home with them.

5. Develop new biofuels that use grass or agricultural waste, not corn or food, to produce energy. Whatever the causes or solutions, this issue isn’t going away, so get in on the discussion at the WSJ poll: Are you surprised by the prices you're paying for food lately?Photo credit: the Farm Policy Blog where you can learn more about corn policy.

Racing Green -- Corvettes Lead the Way with Ethanol

khallgeisler — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Saturday afternoon, April 5, 2008, Corvette Racing sent two bright yellow cars through the streets of St. Petersberg, Florida. The twin Vettes used the American Le Mans Series Acura Sports Car Challenge as the proving ground for a high-octane version of the 85% cellulosic ethanol fuel.

The source of the E85R fuel is waste wood, such as undergrowth and dead trees, collected from the Black Hills National Forest as part of a wildfire prevention program. The Corvette team is the first in its GT1 class to use the fuel. St. Pete is a short race, clocking in at just under two hours, which makes it a good place to test the new, greener go-juice.

Other ALMS teams filling up with E85R include the GT2-class Aston Martin from Drayson Barwell Motorsport and Intersport Racing's Lola B06/10. Catch all the E85R teams, along with everybody else running on E10 and diesel fuels, live on ABC at 1:30 EDT. Granted, you already have to like watching cars go fast to get in on this green action, but if you do, this is the series to watch this year.

In other racing news, the rumor mill has it that Toyota is working on a hybrid racer and Peugeot is possibly building a hybrid diesel. Both cars may or may not debut at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans in France next year.

Photo by Richard Prince.

High Octane Grass

mschrier — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:25:29 -0400

“Honey can you mow the lawn? I’m running low on fuel” Might not be as far away as one many think. Biology and engineering faculty at Rowan University have been working together for the past several years to produce ethanol. Items that have a high potential for use: corn stalks, leaves, and grass clippings.

One of the great things about the fuel sources is, this will help eliminate some waste also. All of the above mentioned possible fuel sources dominantly are just thrown out. While they are biodegradable, it still takes up room and releases fumes into the atmosphere.

Fast Green

khallgeisler — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Formula 1 president Max Mosely announced last week that the prestigious international racing series was going hybrid. Don’t worry, he didn’t really mean it.

It turns out that in 2009, Formula 1 will allow racers to use something called KERS, or Kinetic Energy Recovery System. This is like the regenerative braking system used in a Prius, where the energy generated by slowing down the car will be electronically captured and stored in an on-board battery for later use. In both Formula 1 and street cars, it allows the car to go farther on a tank of gas, which would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from the tailpipe squeeze in a few extra laps between pit stops.

Regenerative braking works best when slowing cars that are running at high speeds, so Formula 1 seems like a good place to use the technology. The system is not the same as friction braking, where pads or shoes or the like stop the car by coming into contact with the rotors, which is what most cars on the road and the track have used for decades.

Formula 1 has also begun a Make Cars Green campaign, which is about as straightforward a name as you can get. The goal of the campaign is a little harder to pin down, though, as so far it seems to entail taking pictures of F1 drivers behind a banner that says “Make Cars Green.” Organizers say F1 is working with companies like Bridgestone tires to make the sport “more road-relevant and environmentally sustainable,” but it seems we’ll have to wait and see exactly how they plan to do that. Besides, of course, group photos.

American Le Mans, meanwhile, continues its commitment to alternative fuels, including clean diesel and ethanol blends. An Aston-Martin became the first GT-class car to run a race on E85R at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Motorsports Industry Association held a seminar at the Florida series opener on energy efficiency.

Are these efforts really green, though? Not so much. Most of the cars using ethanol blends in ALMS are using E10, which is only 10% ethanol. The other 90% is still gasoline. And depending on who you ask, ethanol may not be doing us any environmental or economic favors. As far as Formula 1’s foray into regenerative braking systems, anything is an improvement over what they’ve been doing. But it remains to be seen how much of a difference KERS will make, and what further initiatives will be part of the promised season-long roll-out of Make Cars Green.

In the meantime, check out some guilt-free fast cars at NEDRA’s web site.

Photo by ajimixx.

Biofuel Is Rubbish!

khallgeisler — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:59:33 -0400

A report released March 17 says that the solution to a home-grown biofuel industry in the Pacific Northwest may not rely on corn, oil-seed crops, or even timber waste. The solution may be in the trash bin.

The report, which has the sexy title, "Biofuels in Oregon and Washington: A Business Case Analysis of Opportunities and Challengies," made the front page of the Oregonian's Metro section Monday. According to the article, the biomass needed to create the cleaner-burning fuel, such as corn, isn't grown in the Northwest. Trucking it in would reduce the overall positive impact of making biofuel in the first place.

In order to keep the process local from start to finish, the report recommends looking into "non-traditional feedstocks, such as municipal waste," as well as investigatin new conversion tehcnologies that are currently being tested in Germany.

The article quotes Dennis Stiles, the report's lead author, as saying a commercial market for the fuel could be ten years off. This is just another example, along with EVs, hydrogen fuel cells, and hybrids, of the massive transportation paradigm shift that will take place in the next decade.

Photo by OldSarge.

RU Green

mschrier — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:36:55 -0400

Rowan University has a special program for the green effort,
ru Green. Some of the areas that Rowan is concentrating on is:

Buildings and Landscape- While Rowan is undergoing an
expansion, vegetation is not being disturbed unless necessary. All disturbed vegetation
is replaced somewhere else. One of the main areas that is aiding is the Green
House.

Power- Ready to open up this October will be the new steam power
plant. It is high efficiency and is flexible on the type of fuel used.

Bio-Fuel- Engineering majors have started a bio-ethanol
project. Recyclable material to be turned to ethanol is: corn stalks, grass
clippings, leaves, and old paper.

Rowan is just one of the University dedicated to a better
tomorrow.

Spring Green at Sebring

khallgeisler — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:16:39 -0500

If you're looking for a sign of spring but the weather won't cooperate and the crocuses aren't yet in bloom, look no further than the start of another race season in sunny Florida. Next week, the American Le Mans Series will run the Twelve Hours of Sebring with a green twist for 2008.

The series had earlier announced that it will allow E85R fuel on the track, and GM took them on up it by entering a flex-fuel Corvette in this year's series. In late February, Intersport Racing became on of the first teams in the series to run a car using the fuel on the track, in their Lola racer.

The organizers of ALMS have gone a step further: every one of the cars on the track in Sebring will be using one of three "green" fuels: clean diesel, E10, or E85. Ethanol has been getting a bit of a bad rap lately, but at least this is a step in the right direction.

Photo of Intersport Racing's Lola by John Thawley.