National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition - FYI Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 15 December 17, 2001
In This Issue. . .
Celebration Ceremony Unveiled E85 Tank at Denver Refueling Station
For the third time during the 1st Session of the 107th Congress, a comprehensive National Energy Bill has been introduced. The “Energy Policy Act of 2002”, S1766, was introduced on December 5, 2001 through joint statements by Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Jeff Bingaman, (D-NM). Mr. Daschle is the Senate Majority Leader and Mr. Bingaman is the Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
This latest Senate
version of a National Energy Bill comes on the heels of the Bush
Administration’s publication of a “Report of the National Energy Policy
Development Group, May 2001”; introduction of a National Energy Strategy early
in this session by then Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Frank
Murkowski, (R-AK); and introduction of another energy bill by Senator Bingaman
when he became Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee upon the defection of
Senator Jeffords (I-VT) from the Republican Party. This is all on top of
the
approval of a major energy bill by the U.S. House of Representatives that was
passed on August 2, 2001 titled `Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001'
or the `SAFE Act of 2001'.
During the introduction of this latest version of a Senate Energy Bill, Senator Daschle indicated that he would schedule debate on the Senate floor for early February, 2002.
While again approaching 400 pages in length, the latest version does not address the following subjects that have proven to be contentious:
S1766 does propose the adoption of several issues that have not been addressed in pervious versions of an energy bill.
As indicated, Senator Daschle has tentatively established the first of February, 2002 to begin floor debate on S1766 and one can be certain that the debate will be long, contentious, and mired in amendments. If and when the Senate does pass an Energy Bill, the most difficult task may prove to be reconciliation with the House version. A copy of the Senate Energy Bill may be found at
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:1:./temp/~c107L4Un4r:e316:
The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition will be engaged in both the Senate debate and Conference debate to ensure that E85 maintains a prominent role as our nation begins to more seriously consider alternative fuels.
Governors’ Ethanol Coalition Meets
On December 11, 2001, the GEC held it’s final meeting of the year in Greensboro, North Carolina. Governor Mike Johanns, Nebraska, served as Chair of the GEC during 2001 and will be turning the leadership of the organization over to Governor Bob Holden, Missouri. Governor Holden’s representatives include Mr. Steve Mahfood, Director of the Dept. of Natural Resources, and Ms. Anita Randolf, Director of the State Energy Center. As of this time, the Vice-Chair for 2002 has not been selected.
The GEC heard an excellent update on the status of the Senate Energy Legislation from Eric Washburn whom is a member of Senator Daschle’s staff. Eric indicated that it was very likely the Senate Finance Committee would be considering a package of issues relating to tax incentives to assist in advancing national energy independence. Debate on a Senate Energy Bill is scheduled to begin in February of 2002.
The GEC also approved sending a letter to General Motors applauding the company for its support of the use of E85 as a form of alternative fuel. GM recently announced the production of an E85 pickup and E85 SUVs in the 5.3-liter engine during model year 2002.
Finally, the GEC directed the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition to participate with the U.S. Dept. of Energy in the upcoming “Future Truck” Program. This competition, among a number of colleges and universities across the nation, is intended to challenge future automotive engineers to design innovative technologies that reduce emissions, increase mileage, and maintain power. These student designs are incorporated on vehicles that have been donated by Ford Motor Company. For information regarding the Future Truck Program, see http://www.futuretruck.org/.
Silco Oil Company, Colorado Corn Growers Association and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition held a celebration unveiling a new E85 tank at Barn’s Conoco #11. The event took place on December 5, 2001 at the Conoco refueling site located at 295 South Broadway in Denver, Colorado.
The event featured many representatives from federal and state offices. Speakers at the ceremony included Deputy Commissioner Robert G. McLavey; President of Colorado Corn Growers Ron Bakel; Co-Owner of Silco Oil Company Scott Paulson; Program Manager of Denver Clean Cities Deborah Kielian; U.S. Department of Energy – Regional Office Ernie Oakes; and GSA Regional Fleet Manager, Rocky Mountain Region Cyndi Hanson. Representatives from Ford, DaimlerChrysler and GM were also present with E85 vehicles.
Deputy Commissioner McLavey and Scott Paulson both received plaques for their efforts.
Ron Bakel from the Colorado Corn Growers presented Deputy Commissioner McLavey with a plaque.
Phillip Lampert from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition presented Scott Paulson from Silco Oil with a plaque.
Ernie Oakes from the Department of Energy and Deborah Kielian from Denver Clean Cities both spoke at the event.
This E85 refueling site was funded in part through a grant provided by the Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation, Colorado Corn Growers, Silco Oil Company and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. This is the sixth E85 fueling site in Colorado.
The U.S. ethanol industry set an all-time monthly production record in October. According to data, the ethanol industry produced over 121,000 barrels per day (b/d) in October of this year. The previous all-time record was set in February of this year at 116,000 (b/d), and was tied this September, according to revised data released today. Production was up nearly 10 percent over last October when 111,000 (b/d) of ethanol were produced.
The ethanol industry is on pace to produce an annual record of 1.8 billion gallons in 2001. The ethanol industry will also set a new capacity expansion record this year. There are sixteen ethanol plants under construction totaling over 400 million gallons of annual capacity and 57 plants in operation. Dozens of additional plants are in varying stages of development.
President George W. Bush, in remarks made to Farm Journal's Sixth Annual Forum in Washington, DC, emphasized the importance of ethanol to national security, the environment and the farm economy. After praising farmers for representing and preserving the values of the United States, the president gave a strong endorsement of renewable fuels and encouraged the Senate to pass a national energy bill.
During the pro-ethanol speech, President Bush stated, "I also want to improve our homeland security and our economy by having a national energy plan. I want to thank the Farm Journal Forum for emphasizing the importance of ethanol and biofuels. These fuels are gentle on the environment. They are fuels that can be renewed year after year, and fuels that can expand our farm economy. These fuels are made right here in America, so they can't be threatened by any foreign power."
President Bush continually reiterated his support for ethanol, adding, "Ethanol and biofuels are fuels of the future for this country. Since the beginning of my administration, I have strongly supported ethanol and biofuels. And the energy plan I sent to Congress back in the spring supports biofuels."
It is estimated that in 2001, ethanol production will use 675 million bushels of corn, producing nearly 1.8 billion gallons of the renewable fuel.
Michigan Ethanol, LLC began construction on their 40 million gallon per year ethanol facility in Caro, Michigan. The plant is being built by Broin and Associates, a South Dakota company that specializes in the design, engineering, construction and management of ethanol production facilities.
“As the ethanol industry expands to satisfy the increasing demand for clean burning, domestically produced fuel, we are fulfilling our company’s role to provide a consistent, reliable supply of ethanol to our customers across the United States,” said Jeff Broin, CEO of the Broin Companies.
Due to the end of the three-year Ethanol Vehicle Challenge (1998-2000), the University of Nebraska Lincoln-Ethanol Vehicle Team was in desperate need of another hands-on engineering project that stressed the use of 85% ethanol as a vehicle fuel. After a short brainstorming session, it was decided to convert a 1986 Chevrolet Corvette, which was donated to the University by General Motors in 1987, to a 1/4 –mile, E85-powered dragster. Although this engineering project is not part of a major competition, it allows the students involved to participate in another extracurricular hands-on learning experience without the continuing Ethanol Vehicle Challenge rules. Instead, students involved will turn to the 2001 NHRA rulebook for all the guidelines they must consider.
The vehicle, dubbed “The Cornvette,” will compete recreationally in the NHRA’s Celebrity Dream Series in the Central Division when complete. The Celebrity Dream Series is sponsored heavily by Wyoming Ethanol, who is currently working with the Department of Energy to promote different uses of ethanol, such as drag racing. Since this is UNL’s first experience with drag racing, Team Cornvette will partner up with Wyoming Ethanol and Dan Schwartzkohf in an effort to emphasize ethanol fuel use in platforms other than production vehicles.
The Cornvette will be powered by a LS1 derived engine which will include the 6.0-L aluminum Gen III block, LSI heads (aluminum) which have been ported, a GM Performance Parts LS1 ASA Hot Cam camshaft, custom Lunati pistons and connecting rods, and a Whipple supercharger. A custom intake manifold, which will connect the supercharger and a custom intercooler to the engine as well as allow for an increase in the number of fuel injectors, has been designed by the team and is waiting to be machined. The custom intercooler is being designed by Garrett Thermal Systems and will match specifications set forth by the team. All of these components when lumped together are expected to produce 800 horsepower, which should vault the Cornvette to a competitive 9-second ¼-mile time.
On June 21, 2001, the U.S. Department of Transportation published HM-215D, the latest in a =eries of regulation changes designed to keep the United States regulations similar to the United Nations (UN) recommendations for transport of hazardous materials. HM-215D was issued as a final rule with an effective date of October 1, 2001, however, compliance with the amendments adopted in this final rule is required beginning on October 1, 2002.
One of the changes brought about by this rule is that the entries for "Denatured Alcohol", the shipping name previously used for fuel alcohol, have been removed from the Hazardous Materials Table. Subsequently, shippers and carriers of fuel alcohol must find another suitable shipping name for E85.
In a letter issued to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards on November 30, 2001, the USDOT stated that in their opinion the appropriate shipping description for a mixture of 80% ethyl alcohol and 20% gasoline is “Flammable liquid, n.o.s. (Ethyl alcohol, gasoline)”, Hazardous Class 3, Identification Number UN 1993, Packing Group II. The required emergency response information would be Guide 128 from the Emergency Response Guidebook. The NEVC will be providing further guidance on this matter in the next issue of the FYI. Further information can be found on the Hazardous Materials website at http://hazmat.dot.gov.
January 6-7, 2002
Farm Bureau Showcase 2002 at the Reno Hilton Hotel in Reno, Nevada. Contact Marsha Purcell, Showcase Manager at (847) 685-8764 or at marshap@fb.org for questions.
January 9-12, 2002
PMAA Motor Fuels & Lubes Conference at the Camelback Inn Marriott resort, Golf Club & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. For registration or more information, visit http://pmaa.org/public/meet/.
February 21-23
Commodity Classic at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit www.commodityclassic.com to learn more.
February 27-March 1, 2002
7th Annual National Ethanol Conference: Policy and Marketing at Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California. For more information contact Fenella Furgerson at (719) 942-4353 or at fenella@bbiethanol.com. Also, visit http://www.bbiethanol.com/nce.
March 1-4, 2002
National Farmers Union Annual Meeting and 100th Anniversary in Irving, Texas. For registration or more information visit http://nfu.org/index.cfm?category=membership&title=convention
May 12-15, 2002
8th National Clean Cities Conference and Expo at the Myriad Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For more information, visit http://www.ccities.doe.gov/okconference.shtml
June 25-28, 2002
18th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Trade Show at the Crowne Plaza Springfield in Springfield, Illinois. For more information and to register, go to http://www.bbiethanol.com/few.
Please feel free to e-mail your story suggestions to us at info@e85fuel.com or call us anytime.
Phillip J. Lampert, Executive Director- info@e85.com
Michelle Saab, Director of Communications - info@e85.com
Randa Barker, Director of Administration - info@e85.com