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March 30, 2006
NW Energy Angels gets noticed
The NW Energy Angel network which I started is getting some notice: Northwest Energy News Analysis: Angels help launch energy start-ups. Companies have been funded and investors are getting educated. Next meeting is April 27. E-mail me if you are a qualified investor and want to come.
Posted by Martin at 9:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 28, 2006
Guiness Atkinson releases report on Alternative Energy and launches Alt Energy mutual fund
While a bit of a marketing brochure for their new fund, the newly released alterevolutionweb.pdf report from GA is pretty good reading. High level view of energy demand over the next 20 years across sectors and the alternatives including share, growth rates, etc.
Posted by Martin at 10:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Richard Lugar speaks out on Oil dependence
Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and no wimp, gave a major speech on energy independence at the Brookings Institute on March 13. Read the entire text. This is not your father's Republican. Some tasty tidbits:
"...energy is the albatross of U.S. national security."
"...oil will become an even stronger magnet for conflict and threats of military action, than it already is."
"Americans paid 17 percent more for energy in 2005 than in the previous year. That increase accounted for 40 percent of the rise in the consumer price index. Last November, we spent more than $24 billion on oil imports, accounting for more than a third of our trade deficit."
Of course Lugar used the event to announce a new bill. A senator can't stand to point out a problem without a solution of his own making close at hand. His "Energy Diplomacy and Security Act" Basically he wants an alliance of oil consuming nations to band together against OPEC. Good luck pal. Lugar also talks about the Obama-Lugar bill (talk about the pot calling the kettle black) which creates an alternative diesel standard and incentives for FFV. I like the second one. Good to see a cooalition of the willing on this one.
Posted by Martin at 10:30 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 27, 2006
Neander diesel super bike delayed
I have my order in for the:Neander - Motors - Dieselmotor. A superbike in the line of the Audi V12 that won Sebring. Was supposed to go over to Spain next month to test ride it, but they e-mailed saying the test rides are delayed. I hope this isn't another Indian story of a bike that never runs. I NEED this bike!
Posted by Martin at 10:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Your next car should be a diesel
With an Audi V12 diesel winning Sebring: Remaking Diesel's Image a Lap at a Time - New York Times look for many more clean performance oriented diesel automobiles to hit the American market this year.
I am currently driving a VW Beetle which has been chipped to go faster. Have run it on 100% biodiesel from day 1 and never had any problems. Hopefully Mercedes will have some interesting cars next year. Can't wait!
Posted by Martin at 9:51 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 26, 2006
Watch CNN Presents: We were warned - tomorrow's Oil Crisis
I am watching now. Every American needs to watch this. A little hyped up by the media as you would expect, but not too bad. Go get the video from CNN.com or your favorite video sharing application
We were warned.Created in consultation with Set America Free, the television special "CNN Presents: We Were Warned - Tomorrow's Oil Crisis" was a real reminder of how close we are to the iceberg. What started as a severe Katrina like hurricane that wiped out Houston became a nightmare scenario in which terrorists attacked oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia sending the oil market into turmoil. In this powerful program CNN Presents showed a hypothetical scenario of severe disruption to the global oil market, interviewed international security and energy experts like Jim Woolsey and Matt Simmons about the vulnerability to disruption, and explored the potential of alternative fuels and conservation strategies. "In the long war of the 21 century we've got to be more resilient than we are now or we will suffer a knock out because of the fragility of our energy infrastructure," Woolsey said. "If you don't worry about oil interruption you're living in some sort of a fool's paradise." This statement was aired only two weeks after two suicide bombers drove their explosive laden cars into the world's largest processing facility Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia. The two cars "could have caused more loss of life and economic devastation than the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001," wrote Gal Luft in the Washington Post. A statement issued by Al Qaeda after the attack promises that the economic Jihad on which they embarked is still in its infancy: "There are more like them who are racing toward martyrdom and eager to fight the enemies of God, the Jews, the crusaders and their stooges, the renegade rulers of Arab countries. You will see things that will make you happy, God willing."
Posted by Martin at 3:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 23, 2006
Peak Oil links
If you want to know the future, click here:
>>WARNING: THIS IS THE RED PILL<<
Starter links:
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net
http://www.dieoff.org (founder Jay Hanson offers the most comprehensive and informed analysis of the human condition, IMO)
http://www.peakoil.net/
http://www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk/
http://www.oilempire.us/peakoil.html -You're really not going to like this.
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/
News sites:
http://www.energybulletin.net
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/BreakingNews.html
http://www.globalpublicmedia.com/
http://www.drydipstick.com
http://www.petropulse.com/
Activism:
http://oilawareness.meetup.com/
http://www.peakoilaction.org/
My favorite Peak Oil blog:
http://jameshowardkunstler.typepad.com/clusterfuck_nation/
Great video to show your friends:
http://www.endofsuburbia.com/
HUGE collection of links:
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Links.html
Posted by Martin at 8:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 22, 2006
Who says American's wont' buy diesel?
This just in: Green Car Congress: US Diesel Liberty Sales Double That of Original Plan. I drove the car pre-release. Kinda small for my tastes, but pretty peppy and GREAT mileage vs the gas. They sold 100% more than their plan and I bet they could have sold 500% of plan if the vehicles had been avaiable. I know of people waiting for them. Expect to see way more Jeep models in Diesel and more promotion of the diesel option in coming months.
Posted by Martin at 6:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
CarTalk guys admit error on biodiesel
The Car Talk guys die a mea culpa last week after receiving a deluge of mails noting how badly they botched their advice on biodiesel. They admitted that they were basically mixing up running a diesel engine on Waste Vegetable oil with biodiesel. WVO requires a car upgrade, new tank, heaters, degrades your engine,e tc. Biodiesel is totally compatible and requires no change of the car. When making biodiesel, we take out all the heavy stuff from veg oil and add in methanol to make it burn easier and cleaner. I was one of the "600" who wrote to correct them. While it is good to hear them admit the mistake, it also shows how much public education we need to do as an industry. When even the Car Talk guys get it messed up, you got a way to go.
Posted by Martin at 5:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 21, 2006
Fuel cell/turbine combo shows promise
While at first look this: Hybrid FuelCell MicroTurbine Energy System - EnergyVortex announcement looks like another PR plug for two failing technologies, there is more if you think deeper. One big ineffeciency of fuel cells is all the waste heat. An issue for turbines is their effeciency and cost of fuel. What if you could take a waste product and turn the turbine? Turns out you can at 56% effeciency. Staggering in today's energy generation market. Look for more combination technology devices like this.
Posted by Martin at 1:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 20, 2006
Another one bites the dust
Another WD2000 (200gig WD Caviar IDE drive) bit the dust about three months ago. I only today got around to replacing it. Bought the Sony Viao about two years ago and installed the drive in late 2004. About three months ago the Sony stopped booting. I thought that the boot drive had taken a dump so I bought a new 100Gig drive and put it on the side of my desk to install and rebuild the system when I had a minute. Today when I turned it on, I decided to check the boot sequence to see which drive was in fact failing. The BIOS went through, found an error on the second drive and then Windows started to boot, so I figured out it was not the boot drive (oops). Unplug the WD 2000 and reboot. No problem machine boots fine. Yank out the old WD 2000, connect the new Maxtor ultra ATA /133 to the Promise IDE card and off you go. Over to Windows hardware utiltiy to partition the drive and format it and an hour later I am storing stuff on it. No drivers to install. And the Promise card worked seamlessly from the Western Digital to the Maxtor. Love it. Sometimes those "big" projects you have been putting off are really simple....
Posted by Martin at 11:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New Biodiesel blog
My friend Eric Bowen has started a biodiesel blog: All Things Biodiesel. An investor and project finance view of things. Eric also attends probably all the important biodiesel finance events and will post about them. He is also very involved with E2 and the SF Biofuels project in Berkley. I have enjoyed reading.
Posted by Martin at 9:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
chart of WW oil demand 2000-2006
Ever wonder what it has been, who produces it, how it is growing? These are actual figures.
Posted by Martin at 8:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
two events at the end of last month that affected oil
From a newsletter I receive:
However, in the second half of the month the price strengthened again, climbing 6.5% over two weeks. This was triggered primarily by events which threatened the supply of oil:
1. On February 17 th, Nigerian rebels declared “total war” on foreign oil companies in the country. They attacked the Royal Dutch Shell offshore export platform at Forcados, taking nine hostages and causing a fire. The port was closed and 20% of Nigerian oil production (c. 450, 000 barrels) was shut in.
2. On February 24 th, two attempted suicide bombs were foiled at Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia. The Abqaiq processing facility handles 2/3 of the country’s oil, approximately 7% of world supply. Security forces later shot five members of Al-Qaeda, two of whom were suspected to have been involved in the foiled suicide bombings. WTI rose $3.97 (6.8%) on the 24 th.
Lets see, a "total war" on foreign oil companies. The broken piece of machinery here in america didn't even make the list. You think this "total war" will end anytime soon? Just starting reading "See No Evil" from Robert Baer, the book Syriana was made off of. Already read "Sleeping with the Devil". The attack on Feb. 24 in Saudi Arabia is pretty much exactly the attack Baer laid out in the first chapter of Sleeping with the Devil. They are testing the defenses.
Posted by Martin at 8:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Trying Ecto again
It has been awhile since I played with blog tools. I use w.bloggar on my laptop. I tried ecto once, but didn't like it any better than the free w.bloggar. Ecto is now a 21 day trial and costs $17.95 a copy, but has continued to receive good reviews, so I am trying it again, this time on my Mac Mini.
The thing looks like iTunes. Still getting used to the "mac thing". Bonus points on start-up for figuring out my mt.cgi location automagically and connecting to the server. I like the easy access to Amazon links. First cool feature: I went to a Safari window and found my old Ecto post link, copied it in the browser then came back to Ecto. In ecto, the edit menu has option to "create URL link with clipboard". Kabam there is the link in the post. Very cool. Would be nice if I could search for prior posts within ecto automagically to relink to, but that is a nit.
Still playing, haven't decided to buy, but so far so good. And it is on the MAC where it was designed for. That makes a huge difference.
Posted by Martin at 7:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
A story about "The Drowning Pool"
So I am working my way through the cache of Ross MacDonald novels I found in Brooklyn. The Drowning Pool was a pleasant surprise. While I was underwhelmed by the first MacDonald I read, this one kept me reading straight through. No wonder a band took the name also. Lew Archer is every bit the mature selfless stuborn high character detective you expect. And he takes his punches as well.
MacDonald creates great descriptions of his characters. Take this one:
“I looked at him, first at the steady black gun. He was slender and tall, pinched at the waist by overelaborate tailoring, heavily padded at the shoulders. The hair on top of his head was thick and black and glossy, but it didn’t match the gray hair over is ears. I said: “You’re showing a little middle-aged sag yourself.”
Read this one. I rank 4 of 5 stars.
Posted by Martin at 6:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The REAL disk hog
Ok,
I am sometimes a slow study, but I finally got a handle on why my 60gig HD was always so frick'n full. And why I kept having to delete 10MB applications to keep 200MB free on the disk. It was the ThinkPad auto Backup utility. It is set by default at the factory to make a COMPLETE copy of the C:\ drive ON the C:\drive. Basically forcing you into a software RAID configuration. Now I have a back-up utility that grabs my hard drive every night and copies it over my home LAN to my own RAID system. Also Windows is running it's own restart and recovery backup. So here is how the math was working. Base Windows, about 10gig. Windows was creating it's own back-up and using the .Cab files, double the 10 gig = 20gig. Then about 6 gig of other new applications and music, etc. = 26 gig. ThinkAdvantage was copying that whole partition on itself = 26x2= 52 gig. With windows overhead and a system partition, the 60 gig drive only had 52 gig of free space. Therefore my drive was CONSTANTLY full. And full with multiple copies of itself. Then my home back-up software was copying the whole 52mb (with three copies of windows already in there) over to my RAID system. Wow, no wonder the disks fill up so fast.
So what did I do? I deleted the back up to local hard-disk in the ThinkAdvantage back-up configuration. Presto, 26 gig more space. I was thinking to disable their back-up all together since I have one at home, but instead added a back-up to a network drive in the office giving me TWO back-up utilities running on this drive. Never enough. Just started de-frag. Wow, what will I do with all the space!
Posted by Martin at 10:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 17, 2006
Energy Bulletin: update on alternative liquid fuels
The Energy Bulletin: Where do you get your energy from? Latest on alternative liquid fuels | EnergyBulletin.net | Peak Oil News Clearinghouse did a good article last year summarizing what is happening internationally and by car company to get ready for alternative liquid fuels. Good update.
Mostly Ethanol, but they note the international demand for biodiesel driven by higher diesel percentages internatinoally and RFS standards.
Posted by Martin at 2:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 15, 2006
Lots of biodiesel press, new survey shows broad support
Here is a pdf filewith some recent press. One of the more interesting articles talks about a new study of 1000 americans. Of those:
* 88% favor financial incentives such as tax breaks to encourage the use of renewable energy.
* 92% of Americans support the adoption of minimum federal standards for the use of renewable energy by corporations.
* 90% of survey participants support a national goal of having 25% of the nation's energy demand being met by renewable energy sources by the year 2025.
Posted by Martin at 1:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Propel BioFuels has new site
Propel Biofuels, a leading integrator and fleet implementer of biodiesel has launched a new site. Looking good guys!
Posted by Martin at 9:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
One FCC unit with 150,000 B/D capacity goes out and gas goes up $.10/gallon
This today from Opis. Remember we have not built a new refinery in America in 27 years. ANY disruption of refining capacity has a huge impact. Here is only a "rumor" of one piece of equipment at one refinery being broken and the wholesale price of unleaded goes up 10 cents. Ouch.
BULLISH HAT TRICK LEADING GASOLINE TO GAINS OF A DIME
There is a little more than a half-hour left in open outcry trading, but it appears as if the spring gasoline rally is well underway.
A combination of a technical breakout, reports of a downed FCC at the massive Hovensa refinery and for good measure cash market strength, particularly on the Gulf Coast and its adding up to gains of about a dime in April gasoline futures. April gasoline has traded up to $1.8475/gal and is right on the doorstep of that level at $1.845/gal.
The technical breakout should materialize into higher prices as it has been noted that the next significant resistance level is $1.96/gal. Trading sources also tell OPIS that a 150,000 b/d FCC unit at the 520,000 b/d Hovensa refinery will be down for about 10 days, with Hess yet to confirm the downtime. On the Gulf Coast, prompt cycle gasoline is now about 9.5cts over the screen and that has prices over the $1.90/gal mark and up more than 10cts today. L.A. CARBOB prices are over $2/gal today despire cash differentials dipping to as low as 21.5cts over the screen.
Crude oil has managed to shake off sellers and now April futures are up more than $1 and prices are just about $63/bbl. Based on the screen levels, the gasoline crack is now well over $14/bbl. Heating oil futures have also rallied in the last hour or so picking up about 7cts to $1.808/gal.
Posted by Martin at 9:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 13, 2006
Removing more software
I should really get a larger hard disk. Or maybe use a desktop instead of only my laptop. But alas maybe having a 40Gig drive is good for me. Forces me to make choices. Here are the cadidates going today:
AdAware Personal SE. 3.4mb Going with the Microsoft anti-spyware stuff. Microsoft isn't as good, but it is smaller.
CardScan 7.0.04 have the assistant doing that now. 94.5mb
EFax 4.0, 16mb, never used
Posted by Martin at 11:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
New Peak Oil site with lots of goodies
found this one this morning: Peak Oil: Life After the Oil Crash. Falls much more into the conspiracy side of the equation, but has alot of good research and some practical use items as well. Focused on what individuals can do/ will have to do, to deal with the impact of peaking oil.
this graph says it all
Posted by Martin at 7:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 12, 2006
Joining Industry Ventures as advisor
As if I didn't have enough to do, I am going to help a friend over at Industry Ventures source and review deals in the secondary venture capital market. I have been an investor at Industry Ventures since 1998 in their first incarnation as an early stage venture fund. The current focus is providing liquidity for limited partners in venture portfolios. Hans Swildens has been a good friend and a great guy to go surfing with down in San Francisco. They had a home run with their investment in Spedera (recently acquired by Akamai) and have been able to buy venture portfolios at a significant discount over the last couple of years. I believe the strategy still has legs as many corporates continue to change their venture strategy. I will help them evaluate portfolios and individual companies in those portfolios for current and future value.
Posted by Martin at 5:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Here is a good one...
Bill - Interested in doing a little quail hunting next weekend? Bring the wife!
Posted by Martin at 5:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
NW Biodiesel Network forum this Saturday
Stop by this Saturday the 18th for the 2006 NW Biodiesel Forum. A couple people from Seattle biodiesel will be presenting along with many regional leaders and politicians. Now that the RFS is all but certain to receive the governor's signature in the coming weeks, the forum is more timely than ever. We need to figure out how to implement and ramp up! My favorite part every year is the vehicles. The UniMog is the coolest. If you are in the area, it is a must see!
Posted by Martin at 5:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 10, 2006
Audi re-enters Le Mans with V12 Diesel
Audi is back with the R10 race car with a V12 diesel powerplant. Totally cool. They will win and then come to america and run on biodiesel. I can't wait to see the show. The V12 produces 650 hp.
Posted by Martin at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 9, 2006
Sign up for Initiative 937, Renewable Portfolio Standard
Here is the exact languange of I937 which is the Washington state Renewable Portfolio Standard. This is the initiative which would require the state electricity companies to provide a minimum of 15% of their electricity from renewable sources. Biodiesel burning in a diesel generator or CT turbine would qualify. This would mean a 500M gallon market for biodiesel. Awesome! Go to the campaign web site and sign up to help!
Posted by Martin at 4:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 8, 2006
Cool biodiesel tee-shirts
Over at Ask Me About My gas
Posted by Martin at 5:36 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
More where are your oil $$ going
Thanks JohnLu for the tip.
This one is absolutely verified true. Dubai (in the news alot lately) is also the home to the worlds largest indoor ski resort. Yes this in a country with an average tempretature outside of 120 F.
under construction
note the palm trees
Posted by Martin at 5:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
You gotta love the balls on Ann Coulter
She has a wit about her. In here exaggeration she shakes America by the shoulders and says "WAKE UP". I tend to agree that the Oscars this year was one huge display of how far out of touch with America Hollyweird is. This is not a value judgement by me on the films at all. In fact I tend to like art house films and am a HUGE fan of Syriana. Other than Syriana, I thought the crop of racist, sexist movies were not addressing the most important issues of the day. They are shocking, but not really important. I want to see more movies like Syriana.
From Ann's latest column:
In case you missed the Oscars last Sunday night, here are the highlights:
-- Best song went to a musical tribute to the overseers of human sex slaves, an occupation known as "pimping";
-- best picture went to a movie about racism in Los Angeles;
-- best supporting actor went to the movie about how oil companies murder people; and
-- best supporting actress went to the movie about how pharmaceutical companies murder people.
Curiously missing from Oscar night's festivities was any reference, even in passing, to the 150,000 brave Americans currently risking their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On behalf of red state America, let me be the first to say: "Screw you, Hollywood."
Posted by Martin at 4:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
UBS creates Biofuels hedge index
For investors who just want to "play the biofuels uptick", UBS has created a weighted index of feedstocks used in biofuels. Corn, Sugar, Rapeseed, Soy, etc. It is weighted by their use in biofuels today. Launched in March, Will be re-weighted every six months as the mix of feedstocks changes over time. Today about 92% of the index is linked to Ethanol feedstocks, I expect this relative weight to change in biodiesel's favor over next three years. This index is an interesting way to play the increase demand driven by biofuels, although it is not a pure play. These commodities are driven by many things other than demand for biofuels, in fact I bet biofuels usage is a single digit consumption number on all these commodities. That means that you are buying risk from food demand, weather, and all sorts of other things beyond pure biofuels demand. But this is better than nothing. uns_diapason_biofuel_index.pdf
Posted by Martin at 1:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Jubak's Journal on oil economics
Jim Jubak has been on a tear lately about Oil and the economics thereof. In this latest column: MSN Money - Oil producers reach for more power - Jubak's Journal he talks about how the oil producing countries are moving up the value chain with the largest spending spree on refineries in modern history. $89B over next 10 years. There hasn't been a new refinery built in America in over 20 years and thanks to the environmentalist I doubt there will be. It looks like America will continue it's "the Saudi's have our oil and will take care of us" strategy while paying lip service to alternatives. Read Jubak to truly understand how the macro picture is shaping up and how America is totally without a meaningful strategy.
Posted by Martin at 11:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
the truth about Hybrids
I have been saying for quite some time that the reality of Hybrids does not live up to their hype. Now Consumer Reports confirms this. Over at TerraBlog from TerraPass | TerraPass: Fight global warming, promote alternative energy they did a further analysis. The premium for the hybrid drivetrain over the first five years of ownership is $3,700 to $13,300. ouch! Just buy a diesel which is less than a $1,000 premium and run biodiesel.
Posted by Martin at 9:10 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 7, 2006
Pleasant detective writing
I was in Brooklyn last week shopping in a used book store. They had a complete edition of all Raymond Chandler’s books! Wow, what a find. Right below them was a complete set of Ross MacDonald books. While a big fan of Chandler, I had heard of Ross MacDonald in the same breath but not read him. So I got that set too. I better take lots of plane rides. Finished this one first. Good hard boiled detective writing. Nothing special and memorable, but a good read. I would say I still prefer Chandler, but I will continue to read MacDonald. 3 or 5 stars.
Posted by Martin at 1:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 6, 2006
Washington post comments on oil vulnerability
Not just on the edges. The Washington Post :An Energy Pearl Harbor? printed a good article by Gal Luft a member of the Set America Free Coalition. Some interesting tidbits:
"In 2002, there were about 7 million barrels a day of spare production capacity, or about 10 percent of world consumption. Today, spare capacity amounts to about 1 million barrels a day, less than 2 percent of world consumption."
"Politically motivated attacks on oil pipelines in Iraq have kept more than 1 million barrels per day off the global oil market. Had this oil been in the market, the price per barrel would have been $10 to $15 lower, according to most energy analysts. For the United States, an importer of more than 11 million barrels a day, the terrorist premium alone costs $40 billion to $60 billion a year. Higher oil prices mean a transfer of wealth of historical proportions from oil-consuming countries -- primarily the United States -- to the Muslim world, where 70 percent of global oil reserves are concentrated. The windfall also benefits jihadists as petrodollars trickle their way through charities and government handouts to madrassas and mosques."
wow, America is paying a $40-$60B per year "terrorist premium" for oil just because of capacity not available in Iraq. And that doesn't count the actual money we are spending in Iraq itself to protect what little production there is. There has got to be a better way.
Posted by Martin at 9:22 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Climate Solutions Press relase on the RFS passing
For Immediate Release Contact: KC Golden 206 963-1953
March 6, 2006 Rich Feldman 206 441-4968
The legislative session began with Republicans and Democrats calling for new energy independence strategies. And with strong leadership from Governor Christine Gregoire and Representative Janea Holmquist (R-Moses Lake), they opened up a large new market for biofuels in Washington State.
Bi-partisan cooperation for a major new energy policy can be hard to come by. But concerns about volatile oil prices, a struggling farm economy, and global warming pollution from fossil fuels proved a potent combination. Legislators passed a major bill establishing market access for ethanol and biodiesel, and a variety of incentives for in-state fuel crops and production facilities.
These bills attracted unprecedented support from a politically diverse coalition that included farmers, organized labor, conservation groups, investors, entrepreneurs, and fuel producers and distributors. Supporters hailed it as a major victory for energy security, farming communities, good jobs, and environmental protection.
We are talking about economic development, revitalizing some of our agricultural communities, as well as cleaner air, said Representative Holmquist. This is a step in the right direction in breaking our addiction to foreign and domestic oil.
Representative Janea Holmquist was the prime sponsor in the house. Senator Marilyn Rasmussen was the prime sponsor in the senate, with leadership from Senator Eric Poulsen, chair of the Water, Energy and Environment committee.
This state has shown once again that economic prosperity, healthy communities, and conservation goals are not competitors. They are partners, said K.C. Golden, Policy Director for Climate Solutions, a regional group working to build the clean energy economy. The Legislature and the Governor have declared: Washington is open for clean energy business!
The renewable fuel standard is designed to increase biofuel use as the states capacity to grow and produce biofuels increases. It contains specific provisions for expanding the market over time as the local industry grows. The standards start at 2%, and ramps up to 5% for biodiesel and 10% for ethanol. State vehicles and vessels will use higher percentages of biodiesel.
The Washington State Apollo Alliance of Washington, supporting good jobs and energy independence, made the renewable fuel standard a priority this year. Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO President Rick Bender said the bill will create a stable, growing market for biofuels. Its the kind of strong, decisive, market-building policy that will get us moving toward a more secure energy future.
Washingtons environmental community made this bill one of four priorities for the session, as well. Agricultural interests are becoming increasingly focused on biofuels and renewable electricity as opportunities to diversify and strengthen Washingtons farm economy.
The time is now. The stars have aligned. There is no reason we cannot produce clean, alternative fuels, said Washington Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland, speaking to an overflow crowd in Spokane that gathered last week for the Harvesting Clean Energy conference.
Speaking at the same event, Washington Farm Bureau President Steve Appel said, We believe that biodiesel and other biofuels hold great promise for Americas energy future. And we hope to see Washingtons farmer play an important role in that future.
The renewable fuel standards will begin to take effect in 2008, after an advisory group helps the Department of Agriculture develop rules for implementation. Industry experts anticipate that the new fuel standards, one of the first in the nation, will attract substantial investment in growing biofuel feedstocks and producing the fuel.
The state has a huge potential to produce advanced biofuels, like ethanol from wheat straw, that can provide major reductions in fossil fuel use and global warming pollution in the future. Iogen, a Canadian firm, expects to be the first large producer of this fuel, called cellulosic ethanol and they see Northwest wheat straw as their feedstock-of-choice.
This new state biofuels standard makes Washington a leader in national efforts to meet the federal Energy Bill's new Renewable Fuels Standard of 7.5 billion gallons per year by 2012. State fuel standards build biofuels industries positioned to take advantage of guaranteed markets created by the federal standard, while states without such industry-building standards could be passed by in the race to grow biofuels markets.
The Northwest is positioning to become the leader in the biofuels industry. Montana already has a fuels standard. Idahos senate just passed an ethanol fuel standard. Oregons renewable fuels standard narrowly failed last year and Governor Kulongoski committed to increasing investment in biofuels in his annual state-of-the-state speech in late February. Minnesota and Hawaii are the only other states that have renewable fuels standards. Only Minnesota also calls for biodiesel in its mix.
ESSB 6508 Senate vote on Final Passage as Amended by the House3/6/2006Yeas: 29 Nays: 19 Absent: 1 Excused: 0Voting Yea: Senators Benton, Berkey, Brown, Doumit, Eide, Esser, Fairley, Finkbeiner, Franklin, Fraser, Hargrove, Jacobsen, Kastama, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Oke, Poulsen, Prentice, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Rockefeller, Schmidt, Shin, Spanel, Thibaudeau, and Weinstein. Voting Nay: Senators Benson, Brandland, Carrell, Delvin, Haugen, Hewitt, Honeyford, Johnson, McCaslin, Morton, Mulliken, Parlette, Pflug, Roach, Schoesler, Sheldon, Stevens, Swecker, and Zarelli. Absent: Senator Deccio. Excused:
Posted by Martin at 8:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
No rest for the weary
Well it looks like Washington state will pass a Renewable Fuel Standard and keep it's leadership position in biofuels. But don't get lazy yet, the next thing we need to do is pass the Energy Security Initiative. This is for the electricity generation side to mandate a 15% of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2020. This will spur all sorts of economic growth (including biofuels for electricity generation!) and keep Washington on the leading edge of energy independence. I mean really, why should we be sending all that money for oil and electricity out of state?
Posted by Martin at 8:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Washington will soon become a national leader in BioFuels
Moments ago, the Energy Security through Renewable Fuels law in Washington State passed it's final legislative hurdle. It is now ready for the governor's signature. She has said she will sign it. Before the end of the week Washington State will be the second state in the union to mandate the use of Biodiesel in it's fuel supply. This will require 2% biodiesel in diesel and 2% ethanol unleaded by Nov. 1 2008. In addition the law allows state agencies to meet the Ultra Low Sulfur diesel requirements by blending biodiesel and mandates by 2009 all state fleets to use 20% biodiesel. There are provisions for the biodiesel mandate to increase to 5% when there are enough feedstock crops in the state to provide 3% from in-state production. Congrats Washington for continuing to lead!
Posted by Martin at 7:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 5, 2006
Podcast of RFS fundraiser at my house
Behind on e-mails, but thanks for the link to this story: State Legislators Propose a Renewable Fuels Standard for Washington (Energy Priorities). The RFS is on track to be signed into law probably next week by the Governor. Go Bio!
Posted by Martin at 4:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 4, 2006
EPA releases RFS rules
The EPA: Renewable Fuel - OTAQ - EPA released guidelines for meeting the national RFS earlier this year. Some states, including Washington are implementing their own due to the lack of real enforcement in the Federal RFS. It is clear that the 2.78% RFS for 2006 will be totally met with current Ethanol production. See the EPA comment:
"In addition to meeting the need for clarity in the limited timeframe available, we believe that the collective approach to compliance for 2006 is reasonable given our expectation that the default standard will be met on a collective basis in 2006 even without imposition of any RFS obligations. Estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy project total ethanol production for 2006 to be above 4.0 billion gallons, which also meets the 2.78 percent default standard. The Renewable Fuel Association has also indicated that total ethanol production capacity already exceeds 4 billion gallons and that additional production capacity currently under construction exceeds 1.2 billion gallons. If the default standard is not met on a collective basis for 2006, a deficit carryover provision will allow for make-up of any shortfall by adjusting the applicable collective industry standard in 2007 commensurately."
It is also clear from this that they are looking at ethanol refining capacity and not really purchases. I doubt the national RFS will impact the Biodiesel business this year.
Posted by Martin at 1:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
EPA releases RFS rules
The EPA: Renewable Fuel - OTAQ - EPA released guidelines for meeting the national RFS earlier this year. Some states, including Washington are implementing their own due to the lack of real enforcement in the Federal RFS. It is clear that the 2.78% RFS for 2006 will be totally met with current Ethanol production. See the EPA comment:
"In addition to meeting the need for clarity in the limited timeframe available, we believe that the collective approach to compliance for 2006 is reasonable given our expectation that the default standard will be met on a collective basis in 2006 even without imposition of any RFS obligations. Estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy project total ethanol production for 2006 to be above 4.0 billion gallons, which also meets the 2.78 percent default standard. The Renewable Fuel Association has also indicated that total ethanol production capacity already exceeds 4 billion gallons and that additional production capacity currently under construction exceeds 1.2 billion gallons. If the default standard is not met on a collective basis for 2006, a deficit carryover provision will allow for make-up of any shortfall by adjusting the applicable collective industry standard in 2007 commensurately."
It is also clear from this that they are looking at ethanol refining capacity and not really purchases. I doubt the national RFS will impact the Biodiesel business this year.
Posted by Martin at 1:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack