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Biofuels Digest Index falls 0.53 percent to 117.53 on agribusiness weakness despite broader biofuels advance

The Biofuels Digest Index™ (BDI), a basket of public biofuels stocks, fell 0.53 percent to close at 117.53 as weakness in larger caps overshadowed a broader advance.  For the day, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) fell 0.75 percent to close at $42.38.

Among ethanol stocks VeraSun Energy (VSE) gained 2.10 percent to close at $7.77, while Pacific Ethanol (PEIX) lost 1.09 percent a week before dismal quarterly earnings are expected. Along small caps, Nova Biosource Fuels (NBF) gained 9.42 percent, to $1.51. Overall, advances led declines 6 to 1.

BioTrucker Fuel Card debuts, gives truckers cash prices on biodiesel at 149 truck stops; seen as critical new promotion tool for biodiesel retailers

The National Biodiesel Foundation announced the BioTrucker Fuel Card, which gives the cash price (or a discount of up to $0.02) and a waiver on fuel transaction fees at 149 truck stops around the country that sell biodiesel.

Sweden’s Svenska Statoil increases E85 sales 180 percent in February

In Sweden, Svenska Statoil said that E85 sales increased 180 percent in February over the corresponding period in 2007, to 1.26 million gallons. Sales increased by 4 percent over January 2008. The company operates 280 ethanol stations in Sweden, offering E5 and E85 blends.

California city ratifies Mayors’ Climate Change pact; pledges sustainable buildings, biofuel conversion, energy efficiency and recycling drives

In California, Pacifica ratified the US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. The agreement, developed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, includes commitments by US cities and towns to: measure carbon footprints, set emission reduction targets, promote energy efficiency, promote sustainable building practices, increase fuel efficiency in municipal fleets and convert diesel vehicles to biodiesel, and increase recycling rates.

Canada’s Student Transportation to convert 235 buses to biodiesel

In Canada, Student Transportation of Canada will convert 235 of its 1,000 school bus fleet of 1,000 buses to biodiesel. The blend ratio was not disclosed but the company said it expected to generate emission reductions of up to 40 percent from the conversion. STC is the fourth-largest school bus fleet in North America with a total fleet of 5,000 buses and school vehicles in the US and Canada.

Canadian cellulosic ethanol developer Woodside Biofuels garners first institutional investor

In Canada,  Investeco Capital said that they would invest in cellulosic ethanol producer Woodland Biofuels of Ontario. Investeco said that Woodside’s Catalyzed Pressure Reduction technology have it a material advantage over other cellulosic ethanol producers as well as first-generation biofuels. Woodside recently received $9.8 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada towards the cost of its demonstration plant, but Investeco’s capital infusion was not disclosed.

Orion Ethanol acquires site from Dimmitt Ethanol; will convert old mill to multi-fuel and power complex

In Kansas, Orion Ethanol acquired a Texas wet milling plant from Dimmitt Ethanol. The purchase price was $2.5 million. Orion plans to convert the facility to ethanol production, with a total cost of the project estimated at $66 million, compared to more than $130 million for construction of a new dry milling ethanol facility. Orion’s project includes the construction of 60 Mgy of ethanol capacity, a 10 Mgy edible oil extraction plant, a 10 Mgy cellulosic ethanol plant, a 12 Mgy biodiesel facility, and up to 75 MW in wind and methane capacity.

Today in Biofuels: Landmark study re-models soot impact in climate change, rivals carbon; Germans ethanol industry calls for protection against Brazil; Wisconsin goes 25 x 25

Top Story:

US researchers have remodeled soot emissions, concluding that soot causes nearly 60 percent of the global warming impact of CO2, and because soot has a shorter lifecycle than carbon emissions (that can last for up to 100 years), tackling soot offers a “faster win” against climate change than carbon strategies. The article, in Nature Geoscience, concluded that previous soot models had not previously accounted for the absorption of reflected sunlight. In possible confirmation of the data, significantly higher soot concentrations are found in the Arctic than Antarctic, and observations in the northern polar region show higher ice-melting rates not previously explained by the carbon emission model of climate change.

“Between 25% and 35% of black carbon in the global atmosphere comes from China and India, emitted from the burning of wood and cow dung in household cooking and through the use of coal to heat homes. Countries in Europe and elsewhere that rely heavily on diesel fuel for transportation also contribute large amounts,” commented nature.com on the sources of soot emissions.

Producer News:

In Nebraska, E3 Biofuels said that the plant’s shutdown and bankruptcy filing was not the result of its pioneering methane digestion system that provides power to the plant, but in the 25 Mgy ethanol plant. The company’s conversion of manure to power had been considered a model of closed-loop, carbon-mitigating biofuel development. The company has not yet announced plans to resume operations.

In California, Kern County Supervisors approved the 55 Mgy Cilion corn ethanol plant proposed for Famoso. Groundwater usage and wastewater concerns had been considered in the environmental report on the plant, but ultimately the county board voted 4-1 in favor of the plant.

In Nebraska, U.S. Canadian Biofuels reached an agreement with Home Federal Savings Bank to release enough collateral to complete construction of the plant. Construction had shut down after an acquisition failed last month due to financing issues. The company has identified another undisclosed buyer, which required the company to complete construction. Under the agreement, US Canadian Biofuels will sell the plant before June 30.

International News:

In Mozambique, Galp Energia and Visabeira Moçambique signed an agreement to produce biofuels from crops such as jatropha planted on up to 150,000 hectares in Mozambique. The resulting oils would be processed either in Mozambique for the domestic market, or shipped to a Galp biodiesel plant in Portugal for the European market.

In the Philippines, senior legislator Roilo Golez called on President Arroyo to issue a moratorium on biofuel production, following China’s lead. Golez said that the diversion of food for fuel production “is bad policy in the face of the food crisis.”

In Germany, the CEO of the VDB, a biofuel trade association, has called on the German government to prevent cheap Brazilian ethanol from entering the German market, saying that German firms could not compete and that their existence was threatened. Germany mandates an E2 blend in all gasoline, but grain prices have made German ethanol uncompetitive with Brazil’s sugarcane-based product. According to the Guardian, Germany produced 310,000 tonnes of ethanol last year, down 10 percent from 2006.

Research News:

At the Chicago Board of Trade, corn prices rose 20 cents to $5.44 for the benchmark May contract Tuesday, while soybeans rose 50 cents to $13.07 per bushel. Speculation is rising as investors await a report from the USDA on annual planting acreage of corn, soybeans and wheat in the US. The weakening US dollar was blamed for the price increases.

In Wyoming, Jatropha Biofuels Technologies said that initial tests showed that its jatropha oil extraction process will produce more than 20 percent more oil over expeller technologies, and is more scalable. The technology uses high pressure gas to maximize extraction rates.

In Ohio, the Third Frontier Commission awarded more than $4 million in grants to six advanced biofuels projects in the state.

Policy and Policymakers:

In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle said that the state will award $150 million over 10 years from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund, to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy. The governor called for the state to generate 25 percent of its power and fuels from renewables by 2025.
Consumer and Fleet News:

Ohio State has converted its CABS buses to a B20 biodiesel blend as part of a campus-wide effort to “be greener”.

Financial News:

The Biofuels Digest Indexâ„¢ (BDI), a basket of public biofuels stocks, gained 2.07 percent to close at 118.18 as diversified agribusiness improved strongly. For the day, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) gained 2.18 percent to close at $41.79, while The Andersons (ANDE) was up 1.61 percent to finish at $44.21. Among ethanol stocks Verasun Energy (VSE) gained 3.96 percent to close at $7.61 as its merger with US BioEnergy (USBE) approaches completion this week. Overall, advances led declines 5 to 2.

Landmark study re-models soot impact in climate change, rivals carbon

US researchers have remodeled soot emissions, concluding that soot is causing nearly 60 percent of the global warming impact of CO2, and because soot has a shorter lifecycle than carbon emissions (that can last for up to 100 years), tackling soot offers a “faster win” against climate change than carbon strategies.

The article, in Nature Geoscience, concluded that previous soot models had not previously accounted for the absorption of reflected sunlight. In possible confirmation of the data, significantly higher soot concentrations are found in the Arctic than Antarctic, and observations in the northern polar region show higher ice-melting rates not previously explained by the carbon emission model of climate change.

“Between 25% and 35% of black carbon in the global atmosphere comes from China and India, emitted from the burning of wood and cow dung in household cooking and through the use of coal to heat homes. Countries in Europe and elsewhere that rely heavily on diesel fuel for transportation also contribute large amounts,” commented nature.com on the sources of soot emissions.

Philippine legislative leader calls for biofuels moratorium over food supply concerns

In the Philippines, senior legislator Roilo Golez called on President Arroyo to issue a moratorium on biofuel production, following China’s lead.  Golez said that the diversion of food for fuel production “is bad policy in the face of the food crisis.”

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