Meet DoE's big winners in the race to cellulosic ethanol

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today it will invest up to $385-million in six biorefinery projects over the next four years -- one of them in Florida. 

Combined with the industry cost share, more than $1.2 billion will be invested in these six biorefineries, the DOE announced. Funding will begin this fiscal year and run through FY 2010.

The Florida plant, proposed by agricultural giant ALICO, will be in LaBelle, in Hendry County. Alico has proposed building a plant to produce 13.9-million gallons of ethanol a year and 6,255 kilowatts of electric power, as well as 8.8 tons of hydrogen and 50 tons of ammonia per day.  For feedstock, the plant will use 770 tons per day of yard, wood, and vegetative wastes and eventually "energycane."

Also intriguing was another proposal, this one from a California company called Bluefire Ethanol, which creates ethanol from landfill trash -- which, as one advocate pointed out, is converting society's least-wanted commodity into one of its most needed. The process could be used at the more than 1,600 landfills nationwide.

Other winners are Iogen, of Canada, Abengoa Bioenergy of St Louis, Missouri, Broin Companies of South Dakota, and Range Fuels (formely Kergy) of Colorado and California (click here for a previous post on Range Fuels proposed wood chip plant in Georgia).

Iogen is partnering with Shell is on track to build a plant near Idaho Falls that will produce 18 million gallons of ethanol annually. The plant will use 700 tons per day of agricultural residues including wheat straw, barley straw, corn stover, switchgrass, and rice straw as feedstocks.

When fully operational, the six biorefineries are expected to produce more than 130 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year.  President Bush has set a goal of making cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive with gasoline by 2012.

“Ultimately, success in producing inexpensive cellulosic ethanol could be a key to eliminating our nation’s addiction to oil," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said in a news release.

Click here for a link to the DOE release and background information on the companies.

Click here for a March 1 story in the New York Times.

- Craig Pittman and David Adams

Green building on Florida's Gulf Coast

Earlier this month the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the US Green Building Council held the second annual Smart, Sustainable Tampa Bay event in the Clearwater/Largo area, which like the inaugural one last year was sold out on both days.  The concept of the event is to inform about the beneficial effects that green building design, construction and operation has on human health, productivity, the environment, and profitability.... or people, profits, and planet.

There were about two hundred attendees from Hillsborough, Manatee, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, including City and County elected officials and staff, commercial real estate developers, architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, consultants and students. The event brought prominent speakers about sustainability and associated building practices from Florida, Ohio, Texas, California, Oregon, and Vancouver, Canada.  The speakers were Linda Chapin, Director, Metropolitan Center for Regional Studies University of Central Florida; Rob Bennett who has recently joined the Clinton Foundation's Climate Initiative Large Cities Project; Michelle Kaufmann, Principal Architect, MKD; Bob Moroz and Joe Kuspan who are working on the Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, TX, which will be the world's first Platinum LEED^® rated hospital; Paul Richardson, V.P. and Legal Counsel of Renewal Partners and Bahar Armaghani from the University of Florida, Facilities Planning and Construction Department.

Linda Chapin presented a study undertaken by the University of Pennsylvania Department of Regional and City Planning about the future of the seven county region of Central Florida.  The study paints two starkly different pictures of how the region will look in 2050.  While the current growth pattern would lead to a future of endless traffic, roads and houses, the study proposes an alternate solution that would conserve environmentally sensitive land and create higher density residential areas around light and high speed rail.

Rob Bennett spoke about his work in Vancouver, Canada and Portland, Oregon. In Vancouver he was involved with planning a downtown, waterfront 70 acre site which is being constructed to green building standards and will be used initially as the Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Olympics, then as a residential community.  During his tenure in Portland he was Programs and Policy Manager at the city's Office of Sustainable Development.

Michelle Kaufmann's presentation was titled "Prefab Green", which showed how her firm is leading the way in making it easy to go green for residences.  She included strategies for designers and clients to reduce waste, minimize energy use and maximize resource efficiencies.  One of her firm's designs, the Glidehouse, is currently on display at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.  The presentation by Bob Moroz and Joe Kuspan about the Dell Children's Medical Center covered the entire design process for the project, including the early business decision to only include good design practices that met the owner's ROI criteria.  Some sustainable features that have been incorporated into the project include reuse of materials from the original airport runways; electricity production on site via a natural gas cogeneration plant, which will also provide chilled water for air-conditioning and steam for hospital use and extensive use of daylighting throughout the facility.  They mentioned that due to the design features of the hospital, unlike other healthcare facilities owned by the client where it is a challenge to recruit staff, there is a waiting list to work at this facility.  It is scheduled for opening in July 2007.

Paul Richardson's presentation included the socially and environmentally responsible companies that Renewal Partners invests in as a seed capital company and his involvement with the Great Bear Rainforest (GBR).  The GBR is the world's largest coastal, temperate rainforest and occupies 21 million acres.  Mr. Richardson's work has entailed the creation of new organizations and funding mechanisms that will be part of the largest integrated conservation program in North American history.

Bahar Armaghani discussed the 18 LEED^® projects that she is the coordinator for at the University of Florida.  All the speakers provided a wealth of information and attendees had the opportunity to ask questions during the presentations and breaks between sessions. Planning for next year's event will be starting in the next few weeks.

Why Build Green ?

Although automobiles come to mind when green house gases and global warming are mentioned in conversations, most people do not realize that in the U.S., residential and commercial buildings account for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, they account for 36% of total energy use, 65% of electrical consumption, 30% of raw material use, 30% of waste output, and 12% of potable water use annually according to the U.S. DOE Energy Information Administration.  These numbers make it evident that even a small change in the design and construction of buildings can have a significant effect on the use of finite and diminishing resources of the planet.

An organization, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has been promoting the design, construction, and operation of green buildings since 1993.  The USGBC?  It is a diverse, non-profit membership based organization, with members and volunteer leaders that are from all the stakeholders in the building and design industries, such as Architects, Building Owners, Code Officials, Contractors, Engineers, Interior Designers and Planners.  The organization currently has over 6,500 member companies and organizations.

In order to define and measure what constitutes a green building, the organization developed the LEED^® standard, an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  The standard has five environmental categories which are Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality.  A sixth category, Innovation and Design cover areas not covered by the other categories.  There are pre-requisites that have to be met, plus other criteria which have a point score that will define the level of green building certification. The levels are certified, silver, gold, and platinum.  There are currently 10 certified buildings in Florida, with another 133 projects planned.

Click here for information about the Central FL study.

Click here for information about the 2010 Olympic Village.

Click here for information about MKD's prefabricated green designs.

Click here for information about the Dell Children's Medical Center of Texas.

Click here for information about Renewal Partners sustainable business model.

Click here for information about the local Chapter of USGBC.

Al Gore, not green enough for some

Here's a less enthusiastic take on Al Gore's Oscar night. It's from Rona Fried of Sustainablebusiness.com. Rona provides us with regular tips and comments about investing in green technology.

Rona writes:

Al Gores's film, "An Inconvenient Truth" won Academy Awards for best documentary and best song. That's great.

Gore said he hopes the visibility will encourage millions more people to watch the film.

He also announced that for the first time, the Academy Awards are "green." The audience paused as they waited to hear what being "green" meant.

Instead of taking the obvious opportunity to educate the billion or so people watching from around the world on what being green means - by showing examples of greening the Oscars - he and Leonardo DiCaprio simply asked people to live greener and to visit the Academy's website for ideas.

The Oscar ballots were made from partially recycled paper; organic produce was served at the Governor's Ball; there were measures to reduce energy use and increased recycling; rides in hybrids for stars and presenters; meals for the hundreds of crew and cast members were served on reusable plates and biodegradable dishware; and leftover food was donated to a local shelter.

To us greenies, this doesn't make an event green, but it's a start. But to the huge audience watching it would have been a tangible, concrete introduction to what kinds of things people do when they live green.

Instead of showing fun, instructive graphics of Academy staff discussing and implementing the above features, vague, guilt-provoking words about what people should do scrolled over the huge black screen as the Inconvenient Truth theme song played.

What a missed opportunity!

Rona Fried, Ph.D. is Editor & Publisher of Progressive Investor, and President of SustainableBusiness.com
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com
631-423-3277

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- David Adams

Florida media waking up to energy debate.

Florida's media has been slow to wake up to the call for action on global climate change. Our paper, the St Petersburg Times, has perhaps been the most forward thinking, though we have yet to issue much in the way of editorial opinion on the subject.
However, I believe the St Petersburg Times is the only paper in the state to host a blog on alternative energy.

But recent articles in the Tallahassee Democrat and the Florida Times Union in Jacksonville, suggest  others are also beginning to pay the issue more attention.
In an editorial, the Jacksonville paper issued a call for greater emphasis on conservation, construction of clean coal plants using the latest advanced technology, new, safer nuclear power plants, and increased development of renewable resources such as ethanol.

Click here for the latest editorial in the Florida Times Union.

- David Adams

Two Oscars for 'An Inconvenient Truth.' Will Al Gore run in 2008?

Okay, so Al Gore had a great night at the Oscars and his climate change movie An Inconvenient Truth came away with two statues.
But before anyone gets too carried away, Al Gore is not going to run for president in 2008. At least that's what everyone close to him says.

That said, there is no question that Gore is on an incredible roll. His film was expected to win best documentary, but the film's best song award for 'I Need to Wake Up,' was a surprise (click here to listen to the song.)
In speech after speech he was showered with praise. Singer Melissa Etheridge credited him with inspiring her song, and then actor Leonardo DiCaprio, Gore's strongest supporter in Hollywood, spoke in reverential terms of the former vice-president's 30-year battle to raise awareness about global climate change. "I'm very proud to be standing next to such an inspirational leader in the fight against global warming. You are a true champion for the cause, Mr. Gore."

It was the kind of rock star treatment politicians can only dream of. Furthermore, Gore's grace and composure can only have won him more fans. He looks and sounds ever so presidential these days!

Director Davis Guggenheim handed Gore the Oscar and told the audience the movie was made "because we were moved to act by this man".

"My fellow Americans, people all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis," Gore said holding the Oscar on stage. "It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue. We have everything we need to get started with the possible exception of the will to act. That's a renewable resource. Let's renew it.".

His Oscar success came after a surprise appearance at the Grammys earlier this month to present the award for best Rock Album to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

In an effort to deliver his message to an even wider audience Gore has also announced a series of concerts "bigger than Live Aid" planned for July. The event is being dubbed 'Live Earth.'

He's also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

So, it's not surprising that some fans and Democratic party staffers are discussing a presidential bid. There are already several Gore 2008 websites, as well as an online petition. If he doesn't decide soon experts say it may be too late. Some say Gore doesn't need to worry about that. He has the advantage of huge name recognition and his image is being boosted all the time by his appearances at major events covered on prime time TV. Appearing at the Oscars is the kind of publicity money can't buy.

Even so, those close to him say he's having so much success as a full-time environmentalist that he feels he can do more good this way than being politically straight-jacketed in the White House. As he says in his film, he feels he failed as a politician in getting his global warming message out. He also stated clearly when announcing the July concerts that he would not be running. Of course he wouldn't be the first politician to change his mind!

If you live in the Miami area Gore will be giving his global warming presentation at the University of Miami on Wednesday Feb 28. (Click here for details) He is going to be back in town April 19 for a Green Forum.

Click here for more news on the July event.

- David Adams

The Texas coal debate takes major new turn.

In a dramatic turn-around, a large Texas power utility, the TXU Corporation, could abandon massive plans to increase its portfolio of "dirty" coal-fired plants. This would represent a major victory for environmentalists who have opposed the coal plans in Texas, long considered one of the country's least environment-friendly states.

TXU could drop 8 of the 11 plants it was planning to build under a proposed $45 billion buyout deal by a team of private equity firms, according to a front page New York Times story today. To make up for the ditched coal plants the company is said to be examining ways to expand in cleaner forms of energy.

The deal seems to have been brokered by Goldman Sachs, fast emerging as one of the most visionary Wall St firms when it comes to adjusting toa new business climate developing in response to concerns over global climate change.

Click here to read the New York Times story.

Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska goes Green .... whatever next!

Republican Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska has long been a staunch defender of drilling for oil in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. But lately he's been making strange noises. Friends and foes are asking if he has gone green.

Could Senator Stevens getting religion mark a real turnabout in Congress over global climate change? (photo left, Stevens with Vice President Cheney, and below with baby Giant Panda, Tai Shan)

"Stevens' about-face marks an important turning point in the national debate on global warming," writes St Petersburg Times Washington correspondent, Bill Adair. Last month, Stevens introduced a fuel economy bill, which would raise the national standard to 40 miles per gallon from its current level of 27.5 by 2017.

If you have a hard time believing it you should read today's feature article on Stevens in the St Petersburg Times.

Click here to read Adair's story.

- David Adams

Oscars go Green

It's Oscar time folks, and there's good news this year. Hollywood is of course rolling out the usual RED carpet at the 79th annual Academy Awards ... but this year a fair number of the stars will be arriving in GREEN - green cars that is!

As the most-watched celeb event of the year there is no better way of publicizing alternative energy technology. So hats off to Hollywood this year.
Hopefully the TV commentators will take notice of this and drool over the vehicles the actors pull up in, as well as the usual focus on fashion.

The star in green terms is Leonardo DiCaprio, closely followed by Orlando Bloom. DiCaprio showed up at the Global Green USA Pre-Oscar party in a hybrid Toyota Prius instead of the usual black stretch limo. So too did his party co-host Penelope Cruz, as well as Joshua Jackson, Diane Kruger, and Orlando Bloom, to name just a few.

Bloom is apparently building a green home in the Uk, with solar panels etc. (So too is Prince William, my wife reliably informs me).

Founded by Diane Meyer Simon in 1993, Global Green USA is the American affiliate of Green Cross International founded by Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
The group is behind the "Red Carpet Green Cars" campaign to help educate Americans about high mileage, fuel-efficient, low emission vehicles.

"If we could make hybrid cars sexy and show how fun they are to drive, more people would desire these vehicles and demonstrate to our leaders in Washington that people want to drive fuel-efficient vehicles. By arriving at our event or the Oscars in a 'green' car a celebrity helps communicate that message," says Global Green's Matt Petersen.

The Los Angeles company, Ecolimo, (slogan: 'Green Cars for Green People') will be ferrying celebrities to and from a number of award shows this year in a variety of alternatively-powered vehicles ranging from a Toyota Prius and a Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Vehicle to a Ford Excursion Turbo Diesel and a Mercedes E320 CDI, both of which are Bio-Diesel powered.

Chevy Chase apparently bought his wife a Prius for Valentine's Day.

Learn more about green cars and the technology behind them at Yahoo! Autos Green Center.

- David Adams

Plug-in Hybrids at the White House

President Bush was at it again this morning, reiterating his new-found advocacy for biofuels.

This is turning out to be a seminal week at the White House as the president deepens his commitment to an alternative energy future with biofuels replacing oil. I can vouch for this personally as I was at the White House on Tuesday to interview Allan Hubbard, the head of the president's National Economic Council (more on that later.)

As I have said before, critics will say this is too little too late. Some will also allege that the president's backing for biofuels may have more to do with concern over his legacy and the bungled war in Iraq, than any profound commitment to alternative energy. Whatever you chose to believe, it should be recognized that the president's words on this subject carry enormous weight and represent a huge step forward for the United States - and the rest of the world.

Click here for video of Bush inspecting two plug-in hybrids.

Here is the transcript:

THE PRESIDENT:  Listen, I just had a fascinating discussion.  First, I'm dealing with some entrepreneurs, people who believe that there is a market developing for automobiles that will use high technology batteries to -- for people to be able to motor back and forth from work.

I also met with some of our scientists who are working on new battery technology.  I also met with people that are working to help us develop a fuel industry that will be able to have ethanol derived from produce other than corn.  In other words, I'm talking with people on the leading edge of change.  And the reason why I've asked them to come in to see me is because I want to make sure that the goal I set by reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent over a 10-year period is a realistic goal.  I know it's a necessary goal:  it's necessary for national security purposes; it's necessary for economic security purposes; and it's necessary in order to be good stewards of the environment.

My question is, is a practical goal, can we achieve that goal.  And the answer is, absolutely.  Now, it's going to require continued federal research dollars, and I call upon the Congress to fully fund my request for alternative sources of energy.  It's going to require collaboration between the public sector and the private sector.  It's going to require making sure our smartest scientists understand that this is a national priority.  But I firmly believe that the goal I laid out, that Americans will use 20 percent less gasoline over the next 10 years is going to be achieved, and here's living proof of how we're going to get there.

So I want to thank my fellow citizens for joining us.  We've got a Nobel Prize winner, we've got all kinds of Ph.D.s, a couple of history majors.  But what we're talking about is practical and necessary for the country.  So thanks for coming.  Americans ought to feel optimistic about our future.  We're going to be driving our cars using all kinds of different fuels other than gasoline, and using batteries that will be able to be recharged in vehicles that don't have to look like golf carts.

Thank you.

Click here for more information at the White House website.

- David Adams

The president is "passionate" about biofuels!

The president visited one of the world's top enzyme companies, Novozymes, in North Carolina today.
That may not sound like big news. Until you realize that enzymes are one of the keys to unlocking ethanol from plant matter to create an alternative fuel for our cars - in much the same way as yeast is used to ferment beer.

Below you will find a link to the president's public appearance alongside a panel of biofuels experts. I encourage you to read it. It provides a fascinating insight into how the president has gotten his head around the biofuels concept. This is huge news for the alternative energy industry. President Bush has found a subject which it seems to me he truly understands. As environmentalists might say, "He gets it."

His question and answer session with the panel is truly remarkable. It was a sort of biofuels masterclass. As moderator, the president displayed an astonishing command of the subject. At one point talking about ethanol he makes this revealing statement: "I am passionate on the subject."

Some critics will question why more government money wasn't put into this sooner. Some allege that the Bush administration in its early years actually cut funding for alternative energy research, and put too much money into far-off hydrogen fuel cell technology. The record is not altogether clear and I don't have all the figures (*see below).

Others will say that the president is less motivated by global climate change, and that his current advocacy of ethanol is more to do with reducing our dependence on 'hostile' foreign oil. The important thing is that serious money is now going into biofuels, and the president is putting his political capital firmly behind it.

Next month he travels to Brazil, pursuing his biofuels agenda to new heights.

* The New York Times has some useful numbers in today's paper. Click here.
 

Click here for a link to the White House transcript and other background material.

Click here for the White House 'Fact Sheet' on the role of enzyme technology in increasing biofuels production.

- David Adams

Florida announces first winners of renewable energy grants

The state of Florida announced it's first ever grants for renewable energy technologies today, worth a total of $15 million.

The grants are designed to foster research and development into the next generation of alternative energy for the state. It's hoped they will stimulate investment in new energy sources, such as ethanol, biodiesel and biomass energy, while also encouraging consumers to use them.

The grant program was established through the 2006 Florida Energy Act. The funds were awarded to eight organizations with at least $5 million to support bioenergy projects and $10 million for projects that generate or utilize other renewable energy resources, including hydrogen, biomass and solar energy. The eight grant recipients were selected from among 183 grant proposals seeking nearly $215 million in grant funding .

“This is a major step forward in Florida’s effort to establish a meaningful renewable energy industry,” said Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. “We hope to build on this first step with the help and support of our industry, our colleagues at DEP, the legislature and Governor Crist.”

Earlier this month, Governor Crist recommended a record $68.25 million to encourage investment in alternative energy technologies, including $40 million in alternative energy incentive funding, $15 million to continue the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, $2.5 million for the Solar Energy Rebate Program and almost $1 million to promote energy efficiency.

Click here to see the list of Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program recipients for 2007.
Among them you will find Citrus Energy LLC, a cellulosic ethanol company which I featured in a blog post last Nov 4.

Another winner is an intriguing $1 million grant for a joint project between Florida International University and Florida Crystals Corporation to develop cellulosic ethanol technology. The grant, the product of a unique partnership between FIU-ARC and FCC, will identify a pretreatment process that can cost-effectively convert sugarcane bagasse to ethanol. The study will also determine the feasibility of using Florida bagasse as a feedstock for a future large-scale bioenergy plant in Florida. The grant will be matched by FCC, the largest sugar producer in the United States.

- David Adams

The Climate Debate. Stern takes on his US critics.

The UK's climate change adviser, Sir Nicholas Stern, is bringing his message to the United States. He was invited this week to debate at Yale University with his critics.
Wednesday's New York Times carries a good account of the debate.

(for those who missed it, A commission led by Stern released a 700-page report in October calling for “urgent action” against global warming to prevent economic damage that could rival that of the world wars and the Great Depression. The Stern Review has become a major landmark in encouraging business leaders to take climate change more seriously. Some economists say Stern has exaggerated the dangers of global warming.)

Click here to read the NYT story with links to video of the debate.

Click here to read an excellent overview in the New York Review of Books.

- David Adams

The Texas Coal Rush

Energy companies are planning to build 150 new coal-fired power plants in the next few years. Do you sense an environmental battle looming?

Texas power utilities have already announced they want to build 16 new coal-fired power plants. Governor Rick Perry wants to fast-track the plan. That's sparked an environmental battle pitting the governor against environmentalists. Some 100 business leaders, calling themselves Texas Business for Clear Air, have also come out against coal, saying they worry it could hurt economic development due to the health costs of increased emissions, as well as penalties for failing to meet federal clean air laws.

(Photo: Protesters rally outside the Texas State Capitol. (David Burnstein, KUT)

Florida is also be gearing up for a war over coal. Environmentalists are rallying against FPL's  proposal to build a huge new coal-fired plant in central Florida. (I have just began exploring this subject and hope to be writing more in the near future.)

At the heart of the debate are the pros of cons of several different coal technologies, some deemed to cleaner and more efficient than others. The debate principally revolves around the merits of  gasification coal technology (known as IGCC, or 'Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle'), and pulverized coal, and its wonderfully-named new efficient  "ultra supercritical" technology.  Both claim to be able to sequester carbon emissions and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But IGCC plants are more expensive and have a less proven record of reliability in larger scale power plants.

Click here for an excellent feature on the coal technology debate by Matthew Wald in the New York Times business section on Wednesday, as part of their ever-excellent 'The Energy Challenge' series.

Click here to listen to a radio report on Marketplace: 'Stopping the Texas Coal Rush.'

- David Adams

Where are the emissions coming from?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it's seeking public comment on a draft report that analyzes sources of greenhouse gas emissions. The report, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2005, will be open for public comment for 30 days after the Federal Register notice is published.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions at the national level and presents historical emissions from 1990 to 2005. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by "sinks," e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation, and soils.

Total emissions of the six main greenhouse gases in 2005 were equivalent to 7,262 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The draft report indicates that overall emissions have grown by 16 percent from 1990 to 2005, while the U.S. economy has grown by 55 percent over the same period.

Information on the draft 2007 report and how to submit public comments is online at: http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport07.html

After responding to public comments, EPA will submit, through the U.S. Department of State, the final inventory report to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, fulfilling its annual requirement as a party to this international treaty on climate change. The UNFCCC treaty, ratified by the United States in 1992, sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.

--Craig Pittman

Europe agrees to cut emissions by 20 per cent.

The European Union's environment ministers have agreed "in principle" to cut greenhouse emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020.

The ministers, meeting in Brussels, also agreed to seek a 30% cut worldwide if matched by other developed nations.

The proposals, outlined by the European Commission in January, are seen as a key measure to curb climate change.

The EU must still decide how to make cuts, allowing for a possible compromise with member states opposed to mandatory targets.

Click here to read more from the BBC.

- David Adams

Lesson in Civics.

Which Civic is for you?

One step ahead of the US auto-makers as ever, Honda is offering a new range of Civics in 2007. In addition to the gas-only and hybrid gas-electric versions, Honda's 2007 models offers a Civic that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).

The New York Times has compared three different options available:  the Civic EX (gasoline), the Civic Hybrid (gas/electric) and the Civic GX (natural gas). This offers a unique opportunity to compare the performance and economy of similar built cars. (in photo from top, the EX, the Hybrid and the GX)

The NYT notes that the Civic GX is the only regular production vehicle in the United States that uses natural gas. It is the cleanest internal-combustion car ever tested by the Environmental Protection Agency. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, an environmental advocacy group known as A.C.E.E.E., gives the GX its highest green score.

As for fuel economy:

- the EX gets a government rating of 30 miles a gallon in town, 40 on the highway
- the natural gas GX, has a gasoline-equivalent rating of 28/39.
- the Hybrid is rated 49 m.p.g. in town, 51 on the highway.

Click here to read what the NYT's Bob Knoll had to say about the comparative driving experience.

- David Adams

The earth may be warming but Al Gore gets cooler by the day! Will he announce a presidential bid?

Al Gore's star just seems to keep rising. After the launch last May of his hugely successful film, An Inconvenient Truth, he is in demand all over the planet.

He made a surprise appearance at the Grammys last weekend to present the award for best Rock Album to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Next weekend he will be at the Oscars where his film has earned two nominations and is favored to win the award for Best Documentary.

Now, in an effort to deliver his message to an even wider audience Gore has announced a series of concerts "bigger than Live Aid" planned for July. The event is being dubbed 'Live Earth.'

The 24-hour, star-studded event to promote global warming awareness is scheduled for July 7 and is  part of a campaign, 'Save Our Selves - The Campaign for a Climate in Crisis'. It will feature co-ordinated video, music and television events in seven cities including London, Washington DC, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Kyoto.

More than 100 performers are scheduled to appear including, the Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, John Mayer, Duran Duran, Korn, Pharrell, the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Some fans and Democratic party staffers are discussing a presidential bid. There are already several Gore 2008 websites, as well as an online petition. But, if he doesn't decide soon experts say it may be too late.

Most campaigns have already kicked off with an already crowded field of Democrats. Some election watchers say Gore will have to throw in his hat now to stand a chance. It takes time to build a campaign organization and major backers are weighing up their commitments to those already in the race. Those commitments tend to be firm until after the primaries.

On the other hand, some say Gore doesn't to build a campaign. He has the advantage of huge name recognition and his image is being boosted all the time by his appearances at major events covered on prime time TV. That's the kind of publicity money can't buy. Gore also still has a team of trusted advisers who have never left his side.

The big question may be whether he wants it badly enough. He's having so much success as a full-time environmentalist that he may feel he can do more good this way than being politically straight-jacketed in the White House. As he says in his film, he feels he failed as a politician in getting his global warming message out. (It should be noted that at the end of the SOS press conference he said he is NOT running.)

If you live in the Miami area Gore will be giving his global warming presentation at the University of Miami on Feb 28. (Click here for details) He is going to be back in town April 19 for a Green Forum.

Click here for more news on the July event.

- David Adams

From gas guzzling to water gulping. Ethanol's achilles heel?

It's an issue we haven't discussed much so far on this blog, but it's one that needs to be aired.
If Florida's first ethanol plant is built in Tampa it will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, writes St Petersburg Times reporter Steve Huettel. But "it will come at the expense of a scarce Florida resource: water."

The 50 million ethanol plant would consume up to 500,000 gallons of freshwater per day.

Huettel adds: "That would make it the city's fifth-largest water customer, bigger than Tampa General Hospital, the University of South Florida or Busch Gardens.

The plant would gulp more than six times as much water as Tampa's typical industrial customer and enough for nearly 1,500 homes based on average use."

Critics of ethanol have seized on this issue all over the country to rally opposition to proposed plant construction. Some of that criticism comes from fanatics who oppose ethanol at all cost. While their fears may be exaggerated, this issue clearly needs a closer look. What is the environmental impact of so much water use? How much water can be recycled?

Click here to find out more in the St Pete Times.

Click here for NPR's series of ethanol including a look at the concerns of some environmentalists.

- David Adams

Is Florida going to be the next to 'go green?'

That's the subject of my article in the St Petersburg Times business section this morning.
The article looks at recent legislative activity in the state capital, Tallahassee, where powerful voices are calling for major energy reform. The new burning issue is how to reduce the state's dependence on foreign oil and the risks posed by climate change to the state's treasured environment.

Some of them are new voices, like Blake Casper, a biodiesel enthusiast who runs the state's largest McDonald's franchise (photographed standing with one of his biodiesel delivery trucks.)

Experts say the state could be on the verge of a major change in thinking, following the lead of states such as California and New York. Environmentalists are looking to Governor Charlie Crist for leadership. He got a visit last week from Terry Tamminen, climate change adviser to California's 'green' Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Tamminen (see photo) says Crist has the opportunity to take the lead in the south-east where efforts to deal with greenhouse gas emissions are behind the rest of the country.

Click here to read the story.

(Tomorrow I will post an interview with Tamminen, author of 'Lives per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction.')

- David Adams

New global warming agreement. Symbolic, but adds pressure

A group of global political leaders meeting in Washington say they have reached a new agreement on tackling climate change.
Delegates agreed that developing countries will have to face targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions as well as rich countries.
Of course the meeting has no official weight. But it's another symbolic signal of changing perceptions of climate chnage and the need to do something about it.

Among those taking part were US Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman.
"I am convinced that we have reached the tipping point and that the Congress of the United States will act, with the agreement of the administration," McCain told the forum.

Click here for a full report from the BBC.

-David Adams

Tampa Bay to get nation's largest biodiesel plant.

The Tampa Bay area is about to welcome it second biodesel plant, slated to become the largest in the nation. Pensacola-based Agri-Source Fuels LLC is hoping to start production later this year at a former Lykes Bros citrus plant at the Dade City Business Center.

The company says it will be using chicken fat (shipped from Georgia and alabama), cottonseed and palm oil (from South America) as its main primary materials. It plans to produce up to 125 million gallons of biodiesel a year!

That would make it far larger than the existing World Energy Altrnatives plant in Lakeland which currently produces 12 million gallons a year. Another plant is under construction in Kissimmee which will use recycled cooking oil.

Click here for a full story in the St Pete Times Business section.

- David Adams

Emissions reduction could be tougher than some have forecast.

A new study by the electric power industry is predicting lower likely emissions savings from new technology than climate change experts say is required to put a dent in global warming. However, the report says the US government's more modest projections can be attained and even improved upon. But substantial emissions reductions would take decades of investments and innovation.

It would take electric power companies about 20 years to get their emissions to below the levels of 1990, the report says. (click on graphic to enlarge) To put that in context, the Kyoto Protocol calls for emissions to be below 1990 levels by about 2010.

Click here for a report in the New York Times.

- David Adams

President Bush's latest word on biofuels.

President Bush was asked at the White House today whether he'd be able to work with the Democrats. In his answer, he cited several issues, including energy. He reiterated his hope that new cellulosic ethanol technology would take some of the the burden from corn-based ethanol which has led to increased corn prices.

Here's the text of what he said:

"Energy is an opportunity for us to work together.  We've done a lot of work in the past on promoting alterative sources of energy.  America has done more than any nation in the world in promoting alternatives and renewables, all aiming to make sure our economy grows, that we have energy independence, and that we're good stewards of the environment.  And I look forward to working with the Democrats on the Energy Independence Initiative I laid out. One such initiative was the mandatory fuel standards that relies upon alternative fuel to power automobiles.  Ethanol is the first and most notable place where we can start, but we also need to spend monies to develop technologies that will enable us to make energy out of products other than corn -- switchgrass or wood chips, for example. The problem with relying only on corn is that -- by the way, when the demand for corn stays high, the price tends to go up, and your hog farmer gets disgruntled with the alternative energy plan.  And, therefore, what's going to matter is that new technologies come online as quickly as possible to take the pressure off of corn ethanol, or corn, as a result of being used in ethanol, and we can work with Congress to do that.  That's an area we can work."

While the United States is catching up fast, some experts may question how much this nation has done to promote alternative energy in the past. Several European countries, especially Spain and Germany, have made great strides in solar and wind energy with limited resources. Brazil is the world leader in using ethanol as a transportation fuel. Some 80 per cent of new cars being sold in Brazil are equiped with flex-fuel engines that can run on gasoline or ethanol (or any blend of the two).

- David Adams

Global climate change? Some 'get it' and some don't.

In the debate over global warming some people 'get it,' some people 'don't get it,' and others are gradually 'getting there.'

Put Rex W. Tillerson, the new CEO at ExxonMobil in the 'don't get it' category.
In a speech yesterday Tillerson recognized that climate change did appear to pose a risk to society. That was a step forward from the company's previous CEO, Lee Raymond. But Tillerson went on to cast doubt on the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, confessing he hadn't bothered to read its report. He also admitted he didn't know much about ethanol, beyond its similarity to "moonshine."

"There is really nothing I see Exxon can bring to this," he said. "We don't see a direct role for ourselves."

Where did Exxon find this guy! (See his Exxon bio) His words appear to contradict Exxon's corporate slogan "Taking on the world's toughest energy challenges." not to mention a same-day entire page ad in the New York Times promoting Exxon's alternative energy strategies. (The ad is titled: 'lets talk about climate change,' and says ExxonMobil is "already taking steps to address the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in effective and meaningful ways.')

It's worth remembering that Exxon is the world's largest publicly traded company.
If I were a shareholder I would dump my stock immediately and buy into BP or Shell, whose CEOs have developed far more nuanced approaches to renewable energy alternatives, while sticking by their core oil and gas business.
(See my Oct 7 blog posting on a Miami speech by Shell Oil's president, John Hofmeister.)

Compare Tillerson's words to those of Sir Nicholas Stern (climate change adviser to the British government) and Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy, who were both interviewed this morning on NPR.

Tillerson should take a peek at the Stern report which concluded that it would end up costing companies like Exxon far more if they ignored global warming than if they invested in new technology.

That's exactly what Rogers is doing at Duke Energy which is at the forefront of exploring clean coal technology to sequester CO2 emissions.

Click here for the New York Times report on Tillerson's speech, 'Exxon Chief Cautious Against Rapid Action to Cut Carbon Emissions.'

Click here for the NPR link to the Stern interview, and click here for the Rogers interview.

Click here for Exxon's website and click here for ExxposeExxon.com

- David Adams

Vilsack announces Energy Plan

Democratic party candidate for President, Tom Vilsack, has unveiled a radical energy campaign platform to reduce carbon emissions 75% by 2050 and make America energy independent by increased used of renewable biofuels.

In his speech the former Iowa Governor said he would work towards eliminating the use of fossil-based fuels by 2040.

Vilsack also declared that his would be the nation's first 'carbon neutral' presidential campaign. All the carbon emissions from his campaign travel and the electricity consumed by his campaign's offices will be offset by investments in Native Energy credits towards renewable energy projects.

His 7-point energy plan is about as radical as you are likely to see in the 2008 campaign. Only Denis Kucinich is likely to endorse anything as bold as this. For all their talk of energy security it's doubtful that Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama would advocate anything as bold as this.

So, if energy is what will determine your vote, Vilsack may be your candidate. There's no doubting his commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting green energy.

Here's Vilsack's seven points:

1. Adopt a low carbon fuel standard to require all fuel providers by 2010 to reduce the amount of carbon produced by their fuel at a rate of 1% a year for ten years.

2. Offer a new range of federal tax incentives, including a 25-cent per-gallon credit for the production of cellulosic ethanol from plant fiber.

3. Amend the Clean Air Act so that carbon emissions will be cut by 20% in each new coal plant built in the U.S after 2010.

4. Require that by 2020 all new power plants built in the United States be carbon-free.

5. Enact a new renewable fuel standard and ensure that vehicles are 50% more efficient so that by 2030 America will use 60 million gallons of renewable fuels. Require that 45 billion of the 60 billion gallons of renewable fuels be cellulosic ethanol, biobutanol or biodiesel.

6. Encourage technological developments and offer incentives so that by 2040 America's transportation system will be virtually petroleum-free.

7. Create a mandatory nationwide cap and trade program to limit emissions of greenhouse gases such that by 2050 America will achieve a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 levels.

Click here for an outline of the Vilsack Energy Security Agenda.

Click here for text of Vilsack's speech.

- David Adams

Brazil's ethanol potential.The new Saudi Arabia?

With the right investments, Brazil could replace 10 percent of the world's gasoline with sugarcane-based ethanol in 20 years, according to a new report.

Brazil is currently the world's top sugar producer and exporter. It is the world's No. 2 ethanol producer after recently being overtaken by the United States. Brazil also leads the world in its efforts to incorporate ethanol into its fuel supply under its National Alcohol Program. Ethanol, or 'alcool' as it is known, is widely available at pumps across the country, competing with conventional gasoline (which is blended with 20% ethanol). Most new Brazilian cars are equiped with 'flex-fuel' engines which can run on gasoline or ethanol, or any blend of the two.

The two year study at the University of Campinas was was commissioned by Brazil's Ministry of Science and Technology. It found that this goal could only be achieved with massive annual investments of $9.5 billion.

Critics doubt Brazil will be able to keep up with demand for ethanol due to lack of ports facilities and an outdated transport infrastructure.

Today, roughly 2% of the fuel used in the world's cars is ethanol, almost all produced in either Brazil or the US. But that demand is likely to grow fast.

Experts say Brazil could double its current ethanol production without increasing the area under cultivation through new technology allowing it to process sugar cane bagasse. That technology is only 2-3 years away from commercial viability, according to the state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR), or Petrobras.

About 20 percent of the new investment would be needed to invest in ethanol infrastructure such as warehouses, pipelines and port improvements. The rest would go to constructing new mills and purchasing industrial and agricultural equipment.

Brazil could potentially boost ethanol exports from roughly 900 million gallons last year to 53 billion gallons by 2025, the study said.

President Bush will visit Brazil in March to discuss international cooperation over efforts to create a global market for ethanol. While the two countries use different feedstocks (corn and sugar cane) and also have a major disparity in production costs president Bush and president Lula appear to share a common interest in turning ethanol into a vehicle for greater energy security, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissons.

It costs an average of $0.90 per gallon to produce ethanol in Brazil, while it costs between $1.10 to $1.40 per gallon to produce ethanol in the U.S., according to the Brazilian consulting firm, Datagro.

Brazilian ethanol can compete with gasoline as long as world oil prices are above $37-45 per barrel, according to experts. US corn-based ethanol production is economically viable with gasoline only when world oil prices are at $50-55 per barrel.

There are already signs of a growing ethanol trade. Last year the US imported 1.3 billion liters direct from Brazil, or 57% of Brazil's total ethanol exports, despite a hefty 54 cent-per-gallon tariff on direct ethanol imports. In addition, the US also bought just under 300 million liters duty-free via the Caribbean, under the Caribbean Basin Initiative.

Brazil's state-owned oil firm Petrobras has already signed deals with Nigeria and Venezuela. India, Japan and Korea are also potential clients.

- David Adams

'E-Grass.' There's electricity in that grass!

Biomass Investment Group (BIG) Inc. of Gulf Breeze, Florida is working to create the first commercial power plant in the world to turn a giant bamboo-like reed into electricity.

The power plant and acreage for the crop, scientific name Arundo donax but dubbed e-grass, will be somewhere in south Florida. Its total output, 130 megawatts or enough to power about 83,000 homes, will be acquired by Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of North Carolina's Progress Energy.

BIG signed a 25-year purchase agreement with Progress Energy Florida last May when oil prices topped $70 a barrel. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the company said at the time that electricity from its e-grass would be 2 to 4 cents per kilowatt cheaper than conventional power from natural gas.

While much publicity has been given to turning grains like corn into ethanol for cars, the company will be the first to use biomass, plant matter grown for use as fuel, to generate electricity on a commercial scale.

But eight months after getting a buyer for its power in Florida, BIG is still at least two years from turning on lights. Though the company told prospective investors the company has several large tracts of land under consideration, it hasn't closed on a deal. It hopes to announce 15,000-acre site by the end of March.

Biomass can expect major opposition from environmentalists who say Arundo donax is an invasive nuisance, as well as a fire hazard.

Click here to read article by Kris Hundley in the St Petersburg Times.

Click here for a link to BIG's website.

- David Adams

The Little Ethanol Plant on the Prairie

Everyone seems to be writing stories these days about their epiphany on global warming and alternative energy solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (St Petersburg Times business editor Robert Trigaux had a good one, 'Green is the Color of Growth,' the other day).

The New York Times 'Week in Review' has a front page story today about how ethanol is changing 'life on the prairie.'

"With mom and pop in the biofuel biz, the depressed Farm Belt is in a swoon,' it says. The article highlights how the boom is being fueled less by major corporate investment as small farmers betting on the decentralization of the emerging new fuel market. This is one of the aspects of the biofuels boom that many people have failed to take on board. It is the key to understanding why biofuels could have a major role in the future.
As the NYT writes: "Though some big money is moving into corn and the leap to fuel from straw, the small producers can compete on price because they are so close to the product, at its creation and its end use, they say."

As the article says, "it is American fuel, for American drivers, from American crops."

The article has a good line on cellulosic ethanol (made from waste waste plant material such as grasses and wood chips), describing it as "the essential stuffing of the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz providing a sustainable economy."

Click here for the New York Times article.

- David Adams

International Builders Show: In search of new ideas.

James Culp, a valued reader of The Fueling Station sent us this report from the International Builders' Show in Orlando. James, who runs the Energy Program at Florida's Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA), was typically on the hunt for innovative energy-saving ideas. Here is what he found:

James writes:

"I must admit, the 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS), held 7 - 10 Feb at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida can best be described as overwhelming. As National Association of Home Builder's (NAHB) President David L. Pressly, Jr commented in the Presidents Message within the Exhibit Guide, "Prepare to be dazzled!" This year's exhibit hosts over 1,900 suppliers within 300 different industry categories on floor space exceeding one million square feet! Besides sponsoring the IBS, the NAHB is also the leadership behind the National Green Building Conference that will be held March 25-27, 2007 at the Adams Mark Hotel in St Louis, MO.  Needless to say, the magnitude of the show made the search for clean energy innovators a bit challenging. However, by the close of business on Friday, I had met professionals dispensing "green" advice, uploading "green" energy management software, selling "green" contractor's vehicles, blowing in "green" insulation, writing "green" mortgages, and generating "green" power...just to name a few. Hopefully, in next year's Exhibit Guide, the NAHB can include a "green" building category to help us with our search.

Our first energy innovator today is Michael Schildt at Marathon Engine Systems out of East Troy, WI. Their highly-efficient Ecopower micro-CHP is a Swiss-designed Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit that produces 4.7 kw of electricity with a combustion engine/generator and then harvests the waste heat off of the engine, generator, and exhaust system. This waste heat is sufficient to heat a normal-sized single family home or can be integrated into a hot water system. Michael not only builds the combustion engine component of the CHP unit, he has installed two units in his dad's basement in Wisconsin. He showed me pictures of the entire system on his pc. When his dad visits Florida for a couple of months each winter, he leaves one unit running to keep the pipes from freezing. The best part is he has a $350 check waiting on him for selling power back back into the grid of his local utility.

Thanks to all the extremely helpful folks from the Chrysler group who did a great job familiarizing me with their vehicles for contractors. I was glad to hear that "as of the 2007 Model Year, all Chrysler Group engines are B5 (5% biodiesel) compatible." Even more exciting, in their Cummins 5.9L and 6.7L engines for military and government fleet versions, you can use B20 without voiding your warranty. "Chrysler Group is working with industry partners to define and adopt consistent standards for biodiesel fuel content and quality," the company says. For the 2007 Model Year, B5 vehicles include the 3.0L V6 Grand Cherokee, the 5.9L I6 Ram 2500/3500 pick-ups, and the 6.7L I6 Ram 3500 Chassis/Cab and Ram 2500/3500 pick-ups (2007.5). In addition to the biodiesel vehicles offered by Chrysler, they also have a whole line of E85 Flex Fuel Vehicles as well. 

David Verbofsky, Manager of Learning at Alcoa Home Exteriors, Inc emphasized the importance of "superior energy performance" in the form of Structure EPS Premium Insulated Siding. This house siding is a step above standard insulated vinyl siding, and it adds an insulation factor of R-4 and leads to an average increase of 25% to your home's energy efficiency. Besides being "real insulation that's Energy Star qualified," EPS siding has ma