That is what President Obama said in his speech at Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday. He stressed the need to fully embrace a clean energy future because “without a major change in our energy policy, our dependence on oil means that we will continue to send billions of dollars of our hard-earned wealth to other countries every month — including countries in dangerous and unstable regions. In other words, our continued dependence on fossil fuels will jeopardize our national security. It will smother our planet. And it will continue to put our economy and our environment at risk.”

However, the Renewable Fuels Association notes that environmental activists continue seeking to undermine the growth of biofuels as a way to displace fossil fuels by using unproven theories like Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) and Global Rebound Effect.

RFA points to a new paper published this week in Environmental Research Letters by the originator of the ILUC theory, environmental attorney Tim Searchinger, that suggests the climatic effects of using biomass for energy are no different than using fossil fuels. “By using Searchinger’s logic, a beverage can made from recycled aluminum is the same as a can made from aluminum that was just mined from the ground,” said RFA president Bob Dinneen. “That simply doesn’t make sense, nor does it do anything to break America’s addition to oil.”

According to RFA, the latest scientific evidence clearly shows ethanol production is both environmentally responsible as well as increasingly sustainable, and they are calling on California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) to keep its promise to use the “best available science” in reevaluating its Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS). RFA has written the board twice, urging the immediate adoption of new research from Purdue University that shows ARB overestimated corn ethanol’s potential land use effects by a factor of two. In a letter sent last week to the board, Dinneen expressed concern that ARB is “shirking its commitment to use the best available science and is taking the new Purdue results too lightly.” Adopting new scientific data from Purdue University would reduce corn ethanol’s potential indirect land use change (ILUC) penalty by 50 percent.

China signs aviation biofuels agreement with Boeing

An inked deal between China and the US-based aerospace firm Boeing will see China launch its first biofuel-powered flight later this year.
The agreement was signed following the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue meting at a ceremony that will see a venture between Boeing, Air China and oil company PetroChina. The project will use jatropha for the production of biofuels and this will be supplied by PetroChina.
Contributing to around 2% of harmful gases emitted worldwide, China has now become the top priority for major advancements in the aviation industry. The VP of Boeing’s research and technology department, China, Al Bryant explained that the US has successfully flown four test flights powered by biofuel and now attention has shifted to China because of its decision to speed up the process.
‘We believe in three to five years we should see a portion of fuel in commercial aviation (using biofuel) but a lot more has to be done,’ Bryant said. ‘We’ve proven it can be flown and it is a matter of scaling it up to make it financially viable.’
With a vision to replace a minimum of 15% conventional fuel with biofuels by the year 2020, China’s main feedstocks will include agricultural waste, cellulosic materials and energy crops, after the nation banned the use of corn and other first generation crops back in 2006 and halted all new licenses for bioethanol projects in 2007.

This venture will concentrate on using jatropha oil as a feedstock, and although we can’t exactly call this “biodiesel”, bio-jet fuel is very similar. At least I think it’s similar, set me straight if I am wrong. 

Environmental lobbyists file lawsuit against the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard

Green groups have said cutting US gas demand would have a rebound effect promoting fossil fuel use in other countries

Environmental lobbyists have filed a lawsuit in the US Court of Appeals against the Environmental Protection Agency’s handling of the revised Renewable Fuel Standard.

The Clean Air Task Force and Friends of the Earth have also petitioned the EPA directly, claiming that the agency has ignored requirements set by Congress to ensure US biofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to the fossil fuels they replace.

They are angry that the EPA has accepted use of all biofuels toward the Standard’s mandates, including corn ethanol.

The groups have also attacked the level of controls in place to ensure that biofuels used toward the supply mandates within the Standard do not threaten uncultivated land.

But the biofuels industry ridiculed the arguments of the environmental pressure groups today – particularly a further claim that increased US biofuels use would have a “rebound” effect in the rest of the world in the use of fossil fuels.

If you are interested in the politics of biofuel and biodiesel in particular, you’ll find this lawsuit reflects what many others have claimed, the EPA makes it too difficult for the industry to absorb all the petrol used to grow corn. My advice is to fill those tractors with B100 biodiesel made on and by your own farm. Then grow your corn.

Santa Cruz, CA: here’s a retailer specializing in B99 biodiesel

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What Do French Fries, Bio Diesel and Cars Have In Common ?

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SANTA CRUZ- Calif-Nestled in Santa Cruz on Ocean Street is the Green Station, a Biodiesel fueling station that specializes in B99 Biodiesel and Electric cars.The alternative fuel source is locally recycled, produced and sold by local people. The fuel is made from restaurant fryer oil collected from the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas and refined in a biodiesel plant in Gonzales.

The bio-diesel production starts from seeds oils of various vegetable species, after a process of extraction by pressure by solvent on the seeds reduced in fine powder. Some say that you can actually smell the scent of french fries in the car emmissions.

It costs roughly $.25 more per gallon and can be used on all vehicles that have a diesel motor with no or very little modification including engines from generators to cars, trucks, boats, buses and earth movers. Experts say Biodiesel lowers tailpipe emissions that can contribute to global warming, acid rain and many respiratory health problems.

I have been to the beautiful resort town of Santa Cruz, a place where many free-thinkers live, and I am glad to see someone has the guts to sell B99, almost pure biodiesel. Why not B100?

Obama specifically mentions “BIODIESEL” in a public address, finally

President Obama has used his trip to solar manufacturing plant built with federal stimulus money to make a push for alternative fuel sources.

KGO-TV in San Francisco reports that speaking at the Solyndra plant in Fremont, California, Obama made his case in a facility built with $535 million in federal loan guarantees, mindful that the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico could help him make the case for green fuels:

“When it’s completed in a few months, Solyndra expects to hire 1,000 workers to manufacture solar panels and sell them across America and around the world,” the president said.

The president also said that is only the beginning.

“And, that’s why I’m going to keep fighting to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation in Washington,” he said. “We’re going to try and get it done this year.”

He told the invited audience of Solyndra employees and public officials that the oil spill in the Gulf underscores the necessity of seeking alternative energy sources.

Obama promised to be behind efforts to cultivate solar, wind and biodiesel. That’s great! Let’s see if he follows through and lights that fire under Congress this week to finish the work on the federal $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive.

Yes, I agree 100% with the author of this article, we need some help from Obama in the biodiesel industry, and I hope we have some good news soon for all the workers regarding the tax credit.

First synthetic microbial cell has possible applications in biodiesel

The basic steps involved in Synthetic Genomic’s creation of a synthetic cell of bacteria. (image: nyt.com)

Dr. Craig Venter shook the scientific world and sparked a fresh debate over bio-ethics when he announced on Thursday that his team had successfully created the first synthetic cell. According to a New York Times report, scientists “synthesiz[ed] an entire bacterial genome and use it to take over a cell.”

In addition to its potential applications to manufacturing vaccines, cell synthesis technology can and will be used by Dr. Venter’s company, Synthetic Genomics, to improve biofuel production from algae. From the Times:

Synthetic Genomics has a contract from Exxon to generate biofuels from algae. Exxon is prepared to spend up to $600 million if all its milestones are met. Dr. Venter said he would try to build “an entire algae genome so we can vary the 50 to 60 different parameters for algae growth to make superproductive organisms.”

While producing biodiesel and other biofuels from algae has some drawbacks, it is widely regarded as the most promising feedstock for large-scale biofuel production due to its resilient and fast-growing nature. In February, the Department of Defense’s DARPA agency announced that it would soon produce bio-jet fuel from algae at the cost of just $3 per gallon. The synthetic cell advancement could lead to the synthesis of algae cells that produce more plant oils than nature-made algae, boosting the per-acre biofuel yield of the feedstock.

This could offer a new feedstock for both biodiesel and ethanol, but don’t look for results right away. Nature has provided many different biodiesel feedstocks, but science might eventually produce the best feedstock of all, a tailor-made microbe.

New Holland launches new YouTube site showing many products that run on biodiesel

Long-time supporter of biodiesel New Holland has launched a new YouTube site, featuring all things farming, including New Holland’s long line of farm implements that run on biodiesel … some of those up to B100 blends.

“Our YouTube channel creates an incredible opportunity to broadcast our brand and engage our audience with compelling content,” says New Holland’s North American Senior Director of Marketing David Greenberg. “We plan to keep adding new videos weekly that inform and entertain. We invite all viewers to subscribe to the channel and upload your agriculture, outdoor and farming related videos.”

There’s six different channels that feature a variety of showcase videos, including the world’s largest combine setting a Guinness World Record, product overviews, operating tips from equipment experts, and testimonials from those who use New Holland’s products.

Check it out here.

Biodiesel is really a fuel by and for farmers, and I think a biodiesel coop supplying fuel to the farms that grow the feedstock makes for a neat and tidy local trade circle that saves shipping of oil from who-knows-where.

Municipal sewage may be the most cost-effective biodiesel feedstock

A research paper published by the American Chemical Society indicates that biodiesel production from municipal sewage is tantalizingly close (within several pennies) of being profitable. Although kind of disgusting, few would argue there isn’t a tremendous, renewable supply of the stuff. Nor would they say that every municipality doesn’t already have its’ own sources.

One of the main issues with turning poop into fuel is simply how to make it cost effective. One might assume that with really what amounts to a surplus of raw material, that production costs shouldn’t be much of an issue. The paper cites $3.11 per gallon as the production cost for sewage to biodiesel conversion. To be competitive in the marketplace, the study authors say the cost must be the same as petroleum diesel. Their competitive diesel figure is $3 per gallon, so eleven cents isn’t a long way to go.

What makes sewage sludge so good for biodiesel production? Energy-containing lipids like monoglycerides, phospholipids, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and diglycerides are found in great quantities in it. Also, the microbes used in sewage treatment contain lipids that can yield from 7% to 36% oil. And it’s not just the quantity of lipids, it’s the type; the study authors say that the particular lipids found in sewage could produce a very high quality biodiesel.

The paper cites another study which found that if 50% of municipal wastewater treatment plants used lipid extraction, and chemical conversion, about 1.8 billion gallons of biodiesel could be produced annually.

I wouldn’t want to work there, but the idea is a good one, to move a waste product from the dump into the fuel tank. I am seeing more and more stories related to the concept. There certainly is no shortage of this feedstock.

Indiana: Imperial Petroleum purchases 100% of e-biofuels, LLC

EVANSVILLE, Ind., May 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Imperial Petroleum, Inc.  announced that it has closed the purchase of 100% of the stock of e-biofuels, LLC, a Middletown, Indiana biodiesel producer with a production capacity of 15 million gallons per year. Imperial paid 2.0 million shares of its common stock and issued Promissory Notes in an amount of $3.75 million to the owners of e-biofuels, LLC for 100% control of the company. E-biofuels has approximately $15 million in debt and payables. As a result of the purchase, e-biofuels is a 100% wholly-owned subsidiary of Imperial. The fiscal 2009 revenues of e-biofuels were approximately $20.0 million with a net loss of about $1.96 million on throughput volumes of 7 million gallons.

Look for more of these buyouts in the biodiesel industry as the larger producers buy up the smaller plants. In a way, this is sad to see, but some people are striking it rich, just like the dot.com days.