by Bruce Goodman 

One of three new federal bio-energy research hubs to work out the science of converting plant matter (other than corn) into fuel to replace gasoline is being funded through a five-year, $50 million federal grant.  Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin will combine efforts to host the research center.  The other two bio-energy research hubs will be at national laboratories that are part of the DOE.  All the bioenergy centers will focus on turning common grasses, wood chips or other plant material into ethanol.

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by Bruce Goodman

The Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth is producing a monthly 30-minute TV show designed to provide information about the latest initiatives and activities in state government related to renewable energy, green jobs, energy efficiency, and advanced energy technologies. Michigan’s Energy Future Today is hosted by DELEG Deputy Director Liesl Eichler Clark and can be seen on more than 80 cable stations around the state. The July 2009 episode featuring advances in solar energy was selected for an award from the 31st Annual Telly Awards, a national program recognizing outstanding achievement in the TV, commercial, and video industry. See http://michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-51651-233579–,00.html

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by Bruce Goodman

Biofuels are defined as solid, liquid or gaseous fuels derived from relatively recently dead biological material. They are distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material. Theoretically, biofuels can be produced from any biological carbon source. Various plants and plant-derived materials are used as feedstock for biofuels manufacturing. The two most common types of grain derived biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. On the horizon is the era of advanced biofuels—cellulosic ethanol, biomass-based diesel, biobutanol, bio-oil, green gasoline and biobased jet fuel.

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by Bruce Goodman

Biomass power technologies include direct firing, cofiring, gasification, anaerobic digestion and other technologies. Although many current biomass power plants are small, industrial cogeneration or heating applications, utility-scale plants with capacities in excess of 80 megawatts have been commissioned. In the United States, biomass power plants currently represent 11,000 megawatts of capacity, the second largest amount of renewable energy in the nation.  Michigan has a number of wood fired electric generating facilties, some operating for more than 20 years.  In addition it has two major waste to energy projects fired with municipal solid waste. 

Interest in biomass power is on the rise. Although the primary driver to consider biomass power has been its potential to lower heating and power production costs, the anticipation of global carbon markets and renewable power mandates is spurring a new wave of investment in this sector. Perhaps most critical to this new interest is that these facilities can generate electricity at any time (24/7), unlike some of the current most popular renewable sources of energy.

In addition biofuels plants are becoming true biorefineries, incorporating the production of fuels, chemicals and power at a single location.

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by Bruce Goodman

Michigan Tech University has determined that camelina, a weed from the mustard family, can be used to make a jet biofuel that produces 80 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum jet fuel. Camelina has naturally high oil content, is drought tolerant, can be grown on marginal land, and requires less fertilizers and herbicides than food crops. It has been tested in a jet fuel blend comprised primarily of camelina by Japan Airlines. A 40,000 gallon order was recently placed on behalf of the U.S. Navy to be used in its testing program of alternative fuels to meet the goals of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Now the U.S. Air Force has contracted for 100,000 gallons of HRJ-8 for 2009-2010, most of which will be produced in Montana.  If a sucessful fuel crop, and if grown on marginal land, this would be a good example of a biofuel that avoids the food or fuel question.

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 by Bruce Goodman

The increase in corn prices brought about by the rush to corn ethanol production was a valuable lesson last year. Now with gasoline prices down, and many corn ethanol plants mothballed, there is time to consider the interplay of food crops and fuel crops. Targeting research and development efforts on crops that do not have much presence on dinner tables seems like a wise policy. Using corn, soybeans and other food crops for fuel instead of food does not seem to be a good idea. The potential for partial solutions such as camelina-based jet fuel and rutabagas for biodiesel are intriguing, but even these approaches have risks. Dedicating acreage to produce fuel crops means it is unavailable for food crops. So a second imperative would be to grow fuel crops on land that is less desirable—find crops that are drought resistant and require less fertilizer/herbicides. But despite noble policy pronouncements, in the end the marketplace will dictate what growers plant each spring.

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by Bruce Goodman

While most of the alternative energy stimulus discussion has been focused on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, there are very similar benefits in Title IX of the Farm Bill (Sections 9004-9012). Michigan farmers and other interested suppliers need to pay attention to this unique opportunity to advance the alternative effort. There are many promising provisions, for example:

• Repower Assistance Program – payments to encourage biorefineries;
• Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels – payments to support advanced biofuels, meaning renewable biomass other than corn-kernel starch;
• Rural Energy for America Program – promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy development for agricultural producers and rural small business with grants and loan guarantees [applications are due July 31];
• Biomass Research and Development Initiative – competitive grants, contracts and financial assistance for research on biofuels and biobased products;
• Biomass Crop Assistance – support to establish and produce crops for conversion to bioenergy; and
• Forest Biomass for Energy – funds to the Forest Service for research and development on forest biomass for energy

See http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/id/EnergyFactSheet.pdf for additional summary information.

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