For
Immediate Release: August 14, 2012
Contact: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov
Showing posts with label EPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EPA. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Hawaiian company recognized for first-of-its-kind achievement in protecting the environment
Press release:
HONOLULU--
U.S. EPA
Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld recognized Kuehnle AgroSystems today for
the company’s innovative work in producing algae for use in biofuels as part of
the Pacific Southwest region’s environmental awards program.
HONOLULU--
U.S. EPA
Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld recognized Kuehnle AgroSystems today for
the company’s innovative work in producing algae for use in biofuels as part of
the Pacific Southwest region’s environmental awards program.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
EPA Kicks Off Third Annual Energy Star National Building Competition
Press release:
Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Energy Star program. Over the past 20 years, with the help of Energy Star, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution. To date, more than 1.3 million new homes and nearly 18,500 buildings across all 50 states have earned EPA's Energy Star certification. The Energy Star label can be found on more than 65 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold over the last 20 years.
List of competitors, social media updates (#ESNBC), interactive map of buildings and photos of the competition: http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 25, 2012
EPA Kicks Off Third Annual Energy Star National Building Competition
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program launched the 2012 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings with a record 3,200 buildings across the country going head to head to improve energy efficiency, lower utility costs and protect health and the environment.
Commercial buildings in the U.S. are responsible for about 20 percent of the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually in energy bills. In 2011, the 245 participants saved $5.2 million on their utility bills and prevented nearly 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equal to the emissions from the electricity used by more than 3,600 homes a year. By improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, such as schools, offices, hospitals and retail stores, competitors will reduce energy waste and save on utility bills while protecting the environment and people’s health.
"This year the number of teams committing to increase energy efficiency through the Energy Star Battle of the Buildings is larger than ever before -- more than ten times as many as last year. We're expecting record energy savings as more and more buildings cut back on their energy use," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We wish the best to the thousands of teams competing, but we know the big winners will be the American people, who will benefit from the innovative ideas that emerge from the competition. As in years past, these ideas will translate into new ways we can all cut energy use, save money on our power bills, and reduce the carbon pollution that is changing our climate."
More than 30 different types of commercial buildings are facing off in this year’s National Building Competition, representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. The competitors range from a Kmart store on the island of St. Thomas to a crime lab in Phoenix to a federal office building in Nome, Alaska. The number of participants in the National Building Competition has jumped from 14 buildings in 2010, the competition’s first year, to 245 in 2011 to over 3,200 this year.
Competitors use EPA's Energy Star online tool, Portfolio Manager, to measure and track their buildings’ monthly energy consumption. Last year, the University of Central Florida won after cutting the energy use of an on-campus parking garage by more than 63 percent in just one year.
Throughout the year-long competition the public can keep track of the progress made by buildings on the web.
A list of buildings
leading the competition at the half-way point of the competition will be
released in Fall 2012. The winner along with top finalists in each building
category with the largest percentage reduction in energy use in 2012 as compared
to 2011 will be recognized in April 2013. Additionally, this year EPA’s WaterSense program, in
partnership with Energy Star, will recognize top water use reducers as a part of
the competition.EPA Kicks Off Third Annual Energy Star National Building Competition
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program launched the 2012 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings with a record 3,200 buildings across the country going head to head to improve energy efficiency, lower utility costs and protect health and the environment.
Commercial buildings in the U.S. are responsible for about 20 percent of the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually in energy bills. In 2011, the 245 participants saved $5.2 million on their utility bills and prevented nearly 30,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equal to the emissions from the electricity used by more than 3,600 homes a year. By improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, such as schools, offices, hospitals and retail stores, competitors will reduce energy waste and save on utility bills while protecting the environment and people’s health.
"This year the number of teams committing to increase energy efficiency through the Energy Star Battle of the Buildings is larger than ever before -- more than ten times as many as last year. We're expecting record energy savings as more and more buildings cut back on their energy use," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We wish the best to the thousands of teams competing, but we know the big winners will be the American people, who will benefit from the innovative ideas that emerge from the competition. As in years past, these ideas will translate into new ways we can all cut energy use, save money on our power bills, and reduce the carbon pollution that is changing our climate."
More than 30 different types of commercial buildings are facing off in this year’s National Building Competition, representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. The competitors range from a Kmart store on the island of St. Thomas to a crime lab in Phoenix to a federal office building in Nome, Alaska. The number of participants in the National Building Competition has jumped from 14 buildings in 2010, the competition’s first year, to 245 in 2011 to over 3,200 this year.
Competitors use EPA's Energy Star online tool, Portfolio Manager, to measure and track their buildings’ monthly energy consumption. Last year, the University of Central Florida won after cutting the energy use of an on-campus parking garage by more than 63 percent in just one year.
Throughout the year-long competition the public can keep track of the progress made by buildings on the web.
Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Energy Star program. Over the past 20 years, with the help of Energy Star, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution. To date, more than 1.3 million new homes and nearly 18,500 buildings across all 50 states have earned EPA's Energy Star certification. The Energy Star label can be found on more than 65 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold over the last 20 years.
List of competitors, social media updates (#ESNBC), interactive map of buildings and photos of the competition: http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings
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Friday, May 11, 2012
STATEMENT: Best Buy Recognized Among Nation’s Green Powered Organizations By U.S. EPA
News release from Best Buy:
| STATEMENT: Best Buy Recognized Among Nation’s Green Powered Organizations By U.S. EPA |
Best Buy reduces carbon emissons through renewable energy alternatives
MINNEAPOLIS, May 11, 2012 – Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) has been named to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) top 50 list of the largest green power purchasers. In 2011, Best Buy purchased nearly 119 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power – electricity generated from renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro – demonstrating a proactive choice to support renewable energy alternatives.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is a leading multi-channel global retailer and developer of technology products and services. Every day our employees - 167,000 strong - are committed to helping deliver the technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities.
|
A $50,000 EPA Environmental Education Grant Will Teach Students to Convert Cooking Oil to Fuel
A $50,000 EPA
Environmental Education Grant
Will Teach Students to
Convert Cooking Oil to
Fuel
(DALLAS – May 9, 2012) The Gulfsouth Youth Biodiesel
Project is training 70 out-of-school youths to collect and recycle used cooking
oil into biodiesel fuel. Operation REACH, Inc. is receiving $50,000 from the
Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Education Grants program to introduce
students to opportunities in the Green Collar workforce.
The participants will learn about diesel
engines and the process of converting used cooking oil and raw feedstock into
biodiesel fuel. Operation Reach has commitments from Zeon Global Energy and the
Goshen Energy Initiatives to employ graduates, and is partnering with several
local restaurants and industrial kitchens across Jefferson and Orleans parishes
to collect used cooking oil.
More information on the
EPA’s environmental education grant program is available at http://www.epa.gov/education/grants.html
More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at
http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html
# # #
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
U.S. EPA, Dept. of Energy Launch Innovative New Tools to Determine Solar, Wind Energy Potential on Contaminated Lands
For Immediate Release: April 25,
2012
Media Contact: Mary Simms, simms.mary@epa.gov, (415) 947-4270
Media Contact: Mary Simms, simms.mary@epa.gov, (415) 947-4270
U.S. EPA,
Dept. of Energy Launch Innovative New Tools to Determine Solar, Wind Energy
Potential on
Contaminated Lands
City of Richmond, Calif. is serving as a pilot community for development of the tools
City of Richmond, Calif. is serving as a pilot community for development of the tools
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have
developed and launched new tools designed to test underutilized sites and
contaminated land for solar and wind energy potential. The tools give local
communities and landowners ways to evaluate sites for renewable energy potential
without the need for technical expertise.
The alternative energy ‘decision trees,’ leverage NREL’s knowledge of
renewable energy technologies and EPA’s experience in returning contaminated
lands to productive use.The EPA estimates that nationwide there are approximately 490,000 sites and almost 15 million acres of potentially contaminated properties.
“Opportunities to install renewable energy systems on vacant properties can be found in every community," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Tapping sun and wind power at brownfield sites, rooftops, parking lots, and abandoned land could provide untapped gigawatts of clean energy.”
The City of Richmond, Calif. is serving as a pilot community for development of the tools.
“Developing more local renewables is among my top priorities,” said Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin. “We are extremely excited that the green, innovative City of Richmond, California is partnering with the EPA to help communities throughout the United States fully leverage technology to improve the environment, create local jobs and attract green companies.”
Positioning renewable energy on sites can increase economic value of the properties, provide a sustainable land reuse option, create local green jobs and provide clean energy for use on-site or for the utility grid. Using the decision trees, state and local governments, site owners and community members can help identify the most desirable sites for solar or wind installations from both a logistical and economic standpoint.
In addition to opportunities in cities, thousands of potentially contaminated acres in less populated areas across the country could be put to beneficial reuse with renewable energy.
The tools can be used to evaluate individual or multiple sites, such as brownfields, Superfund and other hazardous waste sites, abandoned parcels, landfills, parking lots, and commercial or industrial roofs, depending on the technology.
The tools and a podcast by the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response on the solar and wind decision trees are now available on EPA’s website at:
http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland
# # #
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Hundreds Learn About Biodigester Energy Options at a Wisconsin Seminar
Hundreds Learn About Biodigester Energy Options at a Wisconsin Seminar
Hundreds of people, over the web or in person, learned about the financing and technology ofanaerobic digester systems, the subject of a pair of webinars recently hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A broad spectrum of individuals participated including academics, farmers, and representatives of the environmental community.
Hundreds of people, over the web or in person, learned about the financing and technology ofanaerobic digester systems, the subject of a pair of webinars recently hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A broad spectrum of individuals participated including academics, farmers, and representatives of the environmental community.The webinars, addressing two critical issues in renewable energy production specifically anaerobic digesters, were part of the Renewable Energy Education Field Days Program. The program is a series of courses targeted to landowners, community leaders, and dairy farmers that focuses on the multiple issues involved in renewable energy production—from feedstock production and refinery conversion technologies to handling, storage, legal and financial issues. The programs provide information useful in deciding whether to implement renewable energy technology in their operation.
The first webinar, Financing a Anaerobic Digester System, showcased dairy farmers and community leaders who shared their first-hand experiences in financing, installing, and maintaining digester systems. Commercial and private lenders also spoke of their experiences in financing digester operations. Topics included return on investment, private funding, government/private partnership funding options, cost of construction, potential revenue generation streams, avoided environmental costs, tax incentives and cost of operation, including management and labor costs.
Technical Aspects of Anaerobic Digester Systems was the title of the second webinar. This session examined digester technologies–psychrophilic (covered lagoon), mesophilic (plug flow and completely mixed), and thermophilic (completely mixed). Farmer/operators discussed why they selected a specific technology for their operation, as well as their operational and management experiences with those technologies.
The webinars were organized in collaboration with Farm Foundation, USDA Rural Development, USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative of the University of Wisconsin.
The webinars originated from the Pyle Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
For more information about USDA’s energy programs, click here.
Monday, March 19, 2012
CA Technologies Named Official ENERGY STAR Provider Partner
CA Technologies Named Official ENERGY STAR® Service and Product Provider Partner
CA ecoSoftware Helps Customers Achieve Greater Energy Efficiency
ISLANDIA, N.Y., March, 19, 2012 – CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) today announced a commitment to promote energy efficiency and help protect the environment by becoming an official ENERGY STAR® Service and Product Provider Partner.“CA Technologies partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program is further validation of our commitment to help our customers improve their energy efficiency and performance,” said Terrence Clark, general manager, CA ecoSoftware, CA Technologies. “We believe that the organization-wide energy and sustainability management approach offered in our CA ecoSoftware solution will help to promote greater energy efficiency, while also helping companies to meet their financial and sustainability goals.”
ENERGY STAR Service and Product Provider partners are required to submit evidence of customer-related ENERGY STAR activity, which is then verified by the U.S. EPA.
CA ecoSoftware is a powerful and scalable energy and sustainability management solution designed to help organizations measure, report, and take action on energy, water, waste, and carbon. It helps organizations monitor energy across their enterprise, and more effectively manage energy and sustainability programs. The solution is comprised of three offerings:
- CA ecoGovernance: helps organizations measure, assess, and report environmental impact and performance, align energy and sustainability initiatives with business goals, and automate relevant processes across geographic and functional boundaries. It also offers a bi-directional integration capability with EPA Portfolio Manager.
- CA ecoMeter: an operational energy management product that helps organizations capture real-time information on energy and other variables in facilities and data centers, and then measure, trend, alert, and act to increase efficiency, enhance service availability and reduce costs.
- CA ecoDesktop: a PC power management solution that helps organizations identify savings opportunities and implement profiles that increase efficiency while addressing the requirements of end users for uninterrupted access to their systems. It also delivers reporting to help organizations demonstrate energy cost savings and reductions in carbon emissions.
For more information on CA ecoSoftware, visit:
Friday, March 16, 2012
News Release from GE Lighting - 7th Energy Star Award
16 March 2012
GE Lighting CEO Credits Customer Focus and Innovation for Seventh Consecutive ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award
EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio – March 16, 2012 – (NYSE:GE) – GE Lighting President & CEO Maryrose Sylvester accepted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award last night at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. It was the seventh consecutive year that GE’s appliances and lighting businesses were recognized with the honor.
"We're proud that GE Lighting has more than 500 ENERGY STAR®-qualified products which provide increased energy efficiency for our customers," says Sylvester. “Being recognized for sustained excellence shows the value of listening to customers, and points to our ability to swiftly put innovations born in GE labs into the hands of customers.”
GE was recognized for its support of the ENERGY STAR® program through a variety of initiatives, including training sales employees, retailers and distributors, promoting ENERGY STAR®-qualified products, and recycling at company locations.
GE Lighting offered a total of 501 ENERGY STAR®-qualified LED (light-emitting diode) and CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) products in 2011—more than at any point in its history and 29 percent more than in 2010. Approximately three-fourths of all GE Lighting CFL and LED products sold in the United States in 2011 were ENERGY STAR®-qualified.
GE Lighting was the first lighting manufacturer in the U.S. to receive ENERGY STAR® qualification for an omnidirectional LED bulb designed to replace a standard incandescent bulb. Other noteworthy energy-savings initiatives in 2011 included reducing 478,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas / CO2 emissions at GE facilities and illuminating the National Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., with thousands of GE-branded Color Effects®programmable, color-changing, ENERGY STAR®-qualified LED lights.
Learn more about the future of lighting and GE innovation atwww.gelighting.com, www.gelightingsolutions.com and by engaging with GE Lighting through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
EPA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Energy Star
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2012
EPA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Energy Star
Americans saved nearly $230 billion in two decades
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is kicking off the celebration of Energy Star's 20th anniversary by recognizing the 2012 Energy Star award winners for their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency. Over the past 20 years, with help from Energy Star partners, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution.
"As we celebrate 20 years of progress through the Energy Star program, EPA is proud to congratulate the 2012 Energy Star award winners," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Thanks to their innovative thinking and commitment to energy efficiency, these leaders are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our environment, our health and our future."
The 109 Energy Star award winners were chosen from nearly 20,000 partners from across the nation. Organizations are recognized in one of four Energy Star award categories: corporate commitment, sustained excellence, partner of the year, and excellence in delivering specific promotions.
Corporate Commitment: Sears Holdings Corporation is being recognized with the highest honor, the Energy Star corporate commitment award. This award is reserved for partners whose superior achievements in energy efficiency span the breadth of the Energy Star program.
Sustained Excellence: Fifty-seven sustained excellence winners continue to raise the bar across their respective industries for outstanding achievements in energy efficiency. A few of these winners include: Food Lion Family, Bloom, and Bottom Dollar Food; GE Appliances & Lighting; Gresham-Barlow School District; Hanesbrands Inc.; Nissan North America, Inc.; PepsiCo, Inc.; and Saint-Gobain.
Partner of the Year: Thirty-six organizations are receiving partner of the year awards for protecting the environment through energy efficient products, practices and services. These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, and provide efficient products and services to consumers within their community. A few of these winners include: Cleveland Clinic; Colgate-Palmolive Company; General Motors Company; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Staples, Inc.; and The Boeing Company.
Excellence: Fifteen organizations are recognized with an excellence award for advancing energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings and helping to expand the reach of the Energy Star program. A few of these winners include: Design Tech Homes; DIRECTV; Good Earth Lighting, Inc.; and Sharp Electronics Corporation.
Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program and its partners, saved approximately $23 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 41 million vehicles. To date, more than 1.3 million new homes and nearly 16,500 buildings across all 50 states have earned EPA's Energy Star certification. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold over the past 20 years.
Complete list of 2012 award winners: www.energystar.gov/awards
More information on Energy Star 20th Anniversary: www.energystar.gov/20th
March 15, 2012
EPA Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Energy Star
Americans saved nearly $230 billion in two decades
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is kicking off the celebration of Energy Star's 20th anniversary by recognizing the 2012 Energy Star award winners for their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency. Over the past 20 years, with help from Energy Star partners, American families and businesses have saved about $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution.
"As we celebrate 20 years of progress through the Energy Star program, EPA is proud to congratulate the 2012 Energy Star award winners," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Thanks to their innovative thinking and commitment to energy efficiency, these leaders are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our environment, our health and our future."
The 109 Energy Star award winners were chosen from nearly 20,000 partners from across the nation. Organizations are recognized in one of four Energy Star award categories: corporate commitment, sustained excellence, partner of the year, and excellence in delivering specific promotions.
Corporate Commitment: Sears Holdings Corporation is being recognized with the highest honor, the Energy Star corporate commitment award. This award is reserved for partners whose superior achievements in energy efficiency span the breadth of the Energy Star program.
Sustained Excellence: Fifty-seven sustained excellence winners continue to raise the bar across their respective industries for outstanding achievements in energy efficiency. A few of these winners include: Food Lion Family, Bloom, and Bottom Dollar Food; GE Appliances & Lighting; Gresham-Barlow School District; Hanesbrands Inc.; Nissan North America, Inc.; PepsiCo, Inc.; and Saint-Gobain.
Partner of the Year: Thirty-six organizations are receiving partner of the year awards for protecting the environment through energy efficient products, practices and services. These organizations promote Energy Star products and practices in their own operations, and provide efficient products and services to consumers within their community. A few of these winners include: Cleveland Clinic; Colgate-Palmolive Company; General Motors Company; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Staples, Inc.; and The Boeing Company.
Excellence: Fifteen organizations are recognized with an excellence award for advancing energy-efficient products, homes, or buildings and helping to expand the reach of the Energy Star program. A few of these winners include: Design Tech Homes; DIRECTV; Good Earth Lighting, Inc.; and Sharp Electronics Corporation.
Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the Energy Star program and its partners, saved approximately $23 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 41 million vehicles. To date, more than 1.3 million new homes and nearly 16,500 buildings across all 50 states have earned EPA's Energy Star certification. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold over the past 20 years.
Complete list of 2012 award winners: www.energystar.gov/awards
More information on Energy Star 20th Anniversary: www.energystar.gov/20th
Thursday, February 23, 2012
News Release from EPA, Region 6
DFW Airport Partners with EPA to Save Energy and Resources
(DALLAS – February 22, 2012) Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport has entered into a Sustainability Partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Officials from DFW Airport and the EPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding during a ceremony at the airport this morning. The airport’s objective is to extend its leadership role in sustainable, cost-effective business practices by making a voluntary commitment to further reduce its resource and energy usage under its Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP).
“Sustainability has landed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and the airport is leading the way with this commitment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz. “Minimizing energy and resource use through smart and sustainable business practices creates jobs and provides for healthier places to work and live.”
DFW International Airport is the world’s eighth busiest airport with 57 million passengers per year. The airport’s Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) currently underway is a $1.9 billion, seven-year project to renew the airport’s four original passenger terminals. The project will add approximately 2,000 jobs during the course of design and construction.
“Our airport has long demonstrated an industry-leading commitment to sustainability, including more than a decade of investment in enterprise-wide sustainable practices ranging from alternative fuel vehicle fleets to responsible management of emissions, water and energy,” said Jeffrey P. Fegan, CEO of DFW Airport. “This new partnership with the EPA will formalize our efforts and allow us to share our lessons learned as more airports and public organizations adopt sustainability initiatives across all phases of their operations.”
As part of the Sustainability Partnership Memorandum of Understanding the airport’s ongoing TRIP program will:
- Reduce energy consumption by ten percent and water consumption by 25 percent from a pre-project baseline.
- Optimize materials management through recycling and reuse, conserve resources, and prevent pollution by implementing cost effective environmental and business practices.
- Provide annual data documenting water, energy, and materials management impacts to the EPA.
EPA Region 6 will:
- Provide support to help reduce the airport’s environmental footprint.
- Establish a single point of contact to discuss sustainable strategies.
- Provide tools to quantify economic and environmental benefits.
The TRIP renewal project has completed demolition of Terminal A Phase I (there are three phases for this terminal) and Terminals B, C and E will also be renovated in a multi-phased approach. Through the first phase, demolition procedures from Terminal A have already recycled 600 tons of materials, keeping them from landfills and lowering costs by $332,000. In all, an estimated 1,500 tons of materials will be recycled from Terminal A alone when complete, with similar efforts anticipated at the other three terminals.
Many other sustainable initiatives are paying dividends in the TRIP program and other renewal projects undertaken by the airport:
- Restroom upgrades already saving 5.5 million gallons of water per month thanks to the implementation of new plumbing fixtures that are compatible with the EPA’s WaterSense program.
- Planned lighting upgrades will reduce energy consumption by 20 percent.
- Installation of more efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems will further reduce energy consumption by an anticipated 35 percent in the original four terminal buildings.
- Floor tile will be replaced by Terrazo flooring made of aggregate such as stone, recycled glass, or plastic, and bound by cement or epoxy.
- During the TRIP project, an innovative use of technology is being incorporated using wirelessly-connected iPads for work crews to view architectural and technical drawings, giving them updated plans while saving millions on paper, printing and storage.
More information about DFW International Airport is available at http://www.dfwairport.com/index.php
More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html
EPA audio file is available at http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/feb2012.html
# # #
News Release from EPA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEFebruary 22, 2012
Energy Star Leaders Achieve President Obama’s Energy Efficiency Goal for Buildings
EPA’s Energy Star provides model for superior building energy performance and savings
WASHINGTON –The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that nearly half of the organizations recognized as Energy Star Leaders have improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more. Last year, President Obama announced a nationwide call to action to improve the energy performance in buildings across the nation by 20 percent by 2020. EPA’s Energy Star program has helped these 90 leading organizations achieve the President’s goal by providing them with a proven energy management strategy, which includes a focus on ongoing performance measurement and whole-building improvement. Energy Star Leaders have cumulatively saved more than $150 million on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity use of nearly 95,000 homes.
“Making our buildings more energy efficient is one of the most effective ways for American businesses, government and other organizations to save money and reduce the pollution going into the air we breathe,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “With help from EPA’s Energy Star program, these leaders are benefitting their bottom lines while protecting our health and the environment.”
Energy Star Leaders must meet one of two energy efficiency improvement milestones. The first milestone requires a 10 percent improvement in energy performance across their entire building portfolio, and subsequent recognition is given for each 10 percent improvement thereafter. The second milestone, known as “top performer,” requires the buildings in an organization’s portfolio, to perform on average in the top 25 percent of similar buildings nationwide. To be eligible for Energy Star Leaders recognition, organizations are required to track and submit energy performance data for all buildings and fuel sources through EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool.
In the past year, EPA also recognized Decatur County Community Schools in Indiana as the first Energy Star Leader to improve energy efficiency across their building portfolio by 60 percent. The complete list of Energy Star Leaders has grown to more than 200 organizations, including school districts, national retailers, commercial real estate companies, healthcare systems, supermarket operators and hotel managers that have achieved energy efficiency improvements across more than 11,400 buildings covering nearly 730 million square feet in the United States.
With help from EPA’s Energy Star program, thousands of businesses and organizations are improving the energy efficiency of the places where we work, play and learn and are saving billions of dollars while preventing millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere each year.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Rise of Landfill Gas to Energy
The following is an excerpt of an article with the above title in the January 2012 issue of Waste Age magazine:
Landfill gas (LFG) provides power for one million homes and heat for 737,000 homes across the country. It provides 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and 102 billion cu. ft of LFG for direct use by industry. It contributes to the nation’s supply of natural gas and clean-burning fuel for vehicles.
The environmental benefits of these LFG uses are huge. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the use of LFG reduced the consumption of oil in the United States by about 229 million barrels of oil last year.
Using LFG also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. EPA says that landfills rank as the third-largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States. Among greenhouse gases, methane, the fuel component of LFG, is one of the most potent. For instance, it is 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide.
The EPA also estimates that a typical LFG energy project collects and uses 60 to 90 percent of the methane emitted by a landfill.
Thanks to the environmental benefits of putting LFG to use, landfill-gas-to-energy has begun to emerge as a renewable energy industry.
Consider the landfill-gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project at the Newton County Landfill in Brook, Ind., for example. There, LFG is helping to manufacture egg cartons.
One of the largest landfills in the country, Newton County, owned by Phoenix-based Republic Services, Inc., receives nearly 2.7 million tons of trash per year. Recently, the landfill began sending LFG to the neighboring Newton County Renewable Energy Park through a 2,500-foot pipeline.
At the industrial park, Canadian firm Urban Forestf Recyclers Inc. (UFR) of Swift Current, Sask., manufactures packaging, such as egg cartons, from recycled fiber. The process blends mixed newsprint and cardboard into a slurry that is poured into molds. The LFG fuels the system of blowers used to dry the molds.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
WM Named EPA LMOP Industry Partner of the Year
Sometimes propaganda can have informational value. News release from Waste Management:
Waste Management Named EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program Industry Partner of the Year
North America's largest landfill gas-to-energy owner and operator recognized for leadership in waste-based renewable energy development
Houston — January 18, 2012 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has named Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) its 2011 Industry Partner of the Year for leadership in developing waste-based renewable energy. Waste Management is the largest landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) developer and operator in North America and is continuing to expand its roster of energy facilities. This year’s awards were presented earlier today at the 15th Annual LMOP Partner and Project of the Year Awards Ceremony in Baltimore, MD.
To view a short video explaining how landfills can power homes, college campuses and more, visit the WM video- Landfill Power: Turning Gas into Energy.
In 2011, WM commissioned nine LFGTE facilities with a collective capacity of 29.5 MW, bringing the number of LFGTE facilities to 133 active projects in North America. In total, these facilities produced the equivalent of 617 MW of power – enough to power 473,000 homes, and offset the consumption of over 2.4 million tons of coal. Waste Management plans to commission four additional projects in the first quarter of 2012 and is working on at least eight additional projects through its dedicated in-house project development team, which works on both WM-owned sites and those owned by municipalities and industry partners.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a leading partner in this sector by the EPA, and a testament to the hard work of our team over the last several years,” said Paul Pabor, vice president of renewable energy at Waste Management. “Waste Management developed much of the technology still in use today, and continues to find new ways to capture resources in waste. We’re looking forward to continued innovation, creating electricity, generating renewable fuels and powering local businesses with the resources at our disposal.”
Waste Management was active in two projects that won 2010 Project of the Year. The first, the University of New Hampshire EcoLineTM project, brought gas from Waste Management’s Turnkey Landfill through a 12-mile pipe, supplying 85 percent of the campus’s heat and electricity needs. The second, at the Altamont Landfill Resource and Recovery Facility in Livermore, CA, consisted of a partnership with Linde North America. There, the companies produce up to 13,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from landfill gas every day to fuel hundreds of WM fleet vehicles. The Altamont project is the largest landfill gas-to-LNG project in the world.
Landfill gas, generated by the natural breakdown of organic materials in a landfill, contains large amounts of methane that can be collected to generate electricity, power local businesses or be turned into transportation fuel. A successful program can turn a modern landfill from a mere disposal site to a source of clean, renewable energy to power homes and fuel vehicles.
Waste Management is continually exploring new technologies and services to generate renewable energy from waste. LFGTE complements the company’s other waste services in the areas of recycling, landfill operations and waste-based energy technology. LFGTE projects also contribute to one of Waste Management’s sustainability goals, doubling energy generation by 2020 to power the equivalent of 2 million homes.
EPA’s LMOP has assisted with more than 500 LFG energy projects over the past 16 years. The United States currently has about 575 operational LFG energy projects which annually supply more than 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and ~102 billion cubic feet of LFG to direct-use applications. There is still significant potential for expansion of the technology; LMOP has identified over 500 landfills that could provide an additional 1,155 MW of electrical power.
Waste Management Named EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program Industry Partner of the Year
North America's largest landfill gas-to-energy owner and operator recognized for leadership in waste-based renewable energy development
Houston — January 18, 2012 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has named Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) its 2011 Industry Partner of the Year for leadership in developing waste-based renewable energy. Waste Management is the largest landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) developer and operator in North America and is continuing to expand its roster of energy facilities. This year’s awards were presented earlier today at the 15th Annual LMOP Partner and Project of the Year Awards Ceremony in Baltimore, MD.
To view a short video explaining how landfills can power homes, college campuses and more, visit the WM video- Landfill Power: Turning Gas into Energy.
In 2011, WM commissioned nine LFGTE facilities with a collective capacity of 29.5 MW, bringing the number of LFGTE facilities to 133 active projects in North America. In total, these facilities produced the equivalent of 617 MW of power – enough to power 473,000 homes, and offset the consumption of over 2.4 million tons of coal. Waste Management plans to commission four additional projects in the first quarter of 2012 and is working on at least eight additional projects through its dedicated in-house project development team, which works on both WM-owned sites and those owned by municipalities and industry partners.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a leading partner in this sector by the EPA, and a testament to the hard work of our team over the last several years,” said Paul Pabor, vice president of renewable energy at Waste Management. “Waste Management developed much of the technology still in use today, and continues to find new ways to capture resources in waste. We’re looking forward to continued innovation, creating electricity, generating renewable fuels and powering local businesses with the resources at our disposal.”
Waste Management was active in two projects that won 2010 Project of the Year. The first, the University of New Hampshire EcoLineTM project, brought gas from Waste Management’s Turnkey Landfill through a 12-mile pipe, supplying 85 percent of the campus’s heat and electricity needs. The second, at the Altamont Landfill Resource and Recovery Facility in Livermore, CA, consisted of a partnership with Linde North America. There, the companies produce up to 13,000 gallons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from landfill gas every day to fuel hundreds of WM fleet vehicles. The Altamont project is the largest landfill gas-to-LNG project in the world.
Landfill gas, generated by the natural breakdown of organic materials in a landfill, contains large amounts of methane that can be collected to generate electricity, power local businesses or be turned into transportation fuel. A successful program can turn a modern landfill from a mere disposal site to a source of clean, renewable energy to power homes and fuel vehicles.
Waste Management is continually exploring new technologies and services to generate renewable energy from waste. LFGTE complements the company’s other waste services in the areas of recycling, landfill operations and waste-based energy technology. LFGTE projects also contribute to one of Waste Management’s sustainability goals, doubling energy generation by 2020 to power the equivalent of 2 million homes.
EPA’s LMOP has assisted with more than 500 LFG energy projects over the past 16 years. The United States currently has about 575 operational LFG energy projects which annually supply more than 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and ~102 billion cubic feet of LFG to direct-use applications. There is still significant potential for expansion of the technology; LMOP has identified over 500 landfills that could provide an additional 1,155 MW of electrical power.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
GM to Build New CNG Vans for AT&T
News release from AT&T. Once again, while natural gas is not really renewable energy, its use may be of interest to readers because of its lower carbon footprint, as compared to gasoline or diesel.
Fresh on the heels of the announcement that is has deployed its 5,000th alternative fuel vehicle, AT&T* announced today that it plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans to be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. It is the largest-ever order of GM CNG vehicles.
“St. Louis is home to AT&T’s Fleet Operations and we have more than 200 alternative fuel vehicles in the state,” said AT&T Missouri President John Sondag. “This order shows AT&T’s continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri.”
AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles over a 10-year period through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications, high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. Last week, the company announced the milestone deployment of its 5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of the commitment.
“CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of Fleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in our country right now.”
According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produce approximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasoline and diesel-powered vans, which supports AT&T’s corporate commitment to minimize its impact on the environment.
In 2010, AT&T and other large U.S. fleet operators joined in the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities’ National Clean Fleets Partnership as part of a national challenge launched by President Obama to cut America’s petroleum imports by one-third by 2025. Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased up to 8,000 CNG vehicles at an estimated cost of $350 million. Additionally, over the life of the commitment, AT&T expects to invest $215 million to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.
According to a 2009 Center for Automotive Research report, AT&T’s planned alternative-fuel vehicle initiative would:
Beyond the AFV deployments, AT&T is turning to its service garages to help minimize its environmental footprint and cut operating costs within its overall fleet. These programs include:
GM Wentzville Plant to Build New CNG Vans for AT&T
Order shows AT&T's "continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri," says AT&T Missouri President John Sondag
St. Louis, Missouri, February 01, 2012Fresh on the heels of the announcement that is has deployed its 5,000th alternative fuel vehicle, AT&T* announced today that it plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans to be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. It is the largest-ever order of GM CNG vehicles.
“St. Louis is home to AT&T’s Fleet Operations and we have more than 200 alternative fuel vehicles in the state,” said AT&T Missouri President John Sondag. “This order shows AT&T’s continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri.”
AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles over a 10-year period through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications, high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. Last week, the company announced the milestone deployment of its 5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of the commitment.
“CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of Fleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in our country right now.”
According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produce approximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasoline and diesel-powered vans, which supports AT&T’s corporate commitment to minimize its impact on the environment.
In 2010, AT&T and other large U.S. fleet operators joined in the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities’ National Clean Fleets Partnership as part of a national challenge launched by President Obama to cut America’s petroleum imports by one-third by 2025. Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased up to 8,000 CNG vehicles at an estimated cost of $350 million. Additionally, over the life of the commitment, AT&T expects to invest $215 million to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.
According to a 2009 Center for Automotive Research report, AT&T’s planned alternative-fuel vehicle initiative would:
- Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period
- Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons – the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 38,600 passenger vehicles from the road for one year
Beyond the AFV deployments, AT&T is turning to its service garages to help minimize its environmental footprint and cut operating costs within its overall fleet. These programs include:
- Redirecting an estimated 60,000 old tires annually through a new recycling program that turns old rubber into fuel and consumer products
- Recycling all primary garage products, including 180,000 pounds of oil filters; 200,000 gallons of oil; and 23,000 gallons of antifreeze annually
- Eliminating the purchase of 9,000 pounds of lead annually that were being used to balance new fleet vehicle tires at high speeds
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
POET & DSM to Make Advanced Biofuels a Reality by 2013
News release from POET, major ethanol producer:
1/23/2012
POET, LLC, one of the world's largest ethanol producers, and Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today announce a joint venture to commercially demonstrate and license cellulosic bio-ethanol, the next step in the development of biofuels, based on their proprietary and complementary technologies. POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is scheduled to start production in the second half of 2013 at one of the first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants in the United States.
The two partners will produce cellulosic ethanol from corn crop residue through a biological process using enzymatic hydrolysis followed by fermentation. The first commercial demonstration of the technology will be at Project Liberty, which is currently being constructed adjacent to POET's existing corn ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The initial capacity is expected to be 20 million gallons in the first year, growing to approximately 25 million gallons per year.
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, intends to replicate and license the technology to additional plants to be built at the other 26 corn ethanol facilities in POET's network and license it to other producers in the United States and the rest of the world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that in the United States as many as 350-400 new bio-refineries will have to be constructed by 2022 to meet the volume requirement of 16 billion gallons/year of cellulosic bio-ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
DSM and POET will each hold a 50% share in the joint venture, which will be headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The initial capital expenditure by the joint venture in project Liberty will amount to about $250 million. The closing of the joint venture is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Both partners in the joint venture bring deep expertise and experience in different areas of cellulosic bio-ethanol. They also share the same vision for a bio-based economy.
Jeff Broin, POET founder and CEO, said: "This joint venture brings together two companies leading the transition from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy. The partnership has set an ambitious goal: to make cellulosic bio-ethanol competitive with corn ethanol, which is the most competitive liquid transportation fuel on the market today. We believe that the joint venture positions us well to meet our ambitious cellulosic ethanol production goals."
Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, commented: "This cooperation is a milestone in realizing DSM's strategy. By leveraging the unique opportunities in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences we can contribute our heritage of over a century in both biotechnology and chemistry to this joint venture with a biofuels leader. Together we shall deliver the key to unlock the cellulosic bio-ethanol opportunity. As the world is facing unprecedented challenges with a growing population making an ever bigger claim on the planet's resources, we need to accelerate the transition to a bio-based economy and this joint venture is a significant step in that direction."
As one of the world's largest producers of corn ethanol, POET has been actively developing cellulosic bio-ethanol for more than a decade. In November, 2008, the company started operating a cellulosic bio-ethanol pilot plant at its research center in Scotland, South Dakota. For the past five years, POET has been working with farmers to bale, transport and store corn crop residue—the cobs, leaves, husks and some stalk left in the field after the grain harvest.
DSM already has a unique position in the development of cellulosic ethanol as the only company offering both yeast and enzyme solutions to increase conversion rates to make the technology commercially viable. DSM has vast experience in scaling up biotechnological processes and an extensive global footprint and relationships to help accelerate technology adoption in key markets.
Cellulosic bio-ethanol from corn crop residue represents a large opportunity. If the technology is replicated at POET's network of 27 existing corn ethanol plants, it could produce up to one billion gallons of cellulosic bio-ethanol per year.
In an analysis of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. EPA projected 7.8 billion gallons of cellulosic bio-ethanol coming from corn crop residue by 2022. Beyond that, the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture have estimated that more than one billion tons of biomass is available in America that could produce enough cellulosic bio-ethanol to replace a third of the country's gasoline use.
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is a 50/50 joint venture between Royal DSM and POET, LLC. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the company is a cooperative effort of two innovators that provides the key to unlocking the opportunity of converting corn crop residue into cellulosic bio-ethanol. Built on the strengths of both companies the joint venture has a critical mission: to make cellulosic bio-ethanol competitive with corn ethanol, the most competitive renewable liquid transportation fuel on the market today. Drawing on the deep expertise and experience of POET and DSM in different areas of converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol, POET - DSM Advanced Biofuels will have its first commercial-scale plant co-located with POET's biorefinery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Based on this plant the JV will globally license an integrated technology package for the conversion of corn crop residue to cellulosic bio-ethanol. More information: www.poetdsm.com
POET and DSM to make advanced biofuels a reality by 2013
Joint venture to commercialize and license cellulosic bio-ethanol
1/23/2012
POET, LLC, one of the world's largest ethanol producers, and Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today announce a joint venture to commercially demonstrate and license cellulosic bio-ethanol, the next step in the development of biofuels, based on their proprietary and complementary technologies. POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is scheduled to start production in the second half of 2013 at one of the first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plants in the United States.
The two partners will produce cellulosic ethanol from corn crop residue through a biological process using enzymatic hydrolysis followed by fermentation. The first commercial demonstration of the technology will be at Project Liberty, which is currently being constructed adjacent to POET's existing corn ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa. The initial capacity is expected to be 20 million gallons in the first year, growing to approximately 25 million gallons per year.
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, intends to replicate and license the technology to additional plants to be built at the other 26 corn ethanol facilities in POET's network and license it to other producers in the United States and the rest of the world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that in the United States as many as 350-400 new bio-refineries will have to be constructed by 2022 to meet the volume requirement of 16 billion gallons/year of cellulosic bio-ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
DSM and POET will each hold a 50% share in the joint venture, which will be headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The initial capital expenditure by the joint venture in project Liberty will amount to about $250 million. The closing of the joint venture is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Both partners in the joint venture bring deep expertise and experience in different areas of cellulosic bio-ethanol. They also share the same vision for a bio-based economy.
Jeff Broin, POET founder and CEO, said: "This joint venture brings together two companies leading the transition from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy. The partnership has set an ambitious goal: to make cellulosic bio-ethanol competitive with corn ethanol, which is the most competitive liquid transportation fuel on the market today. We believe that the joint venture positions us well to meet our ambitious cellulosic ethanol production goals."
Feike Sijbesma, CEO/Chairman of the DSM Managing Board, commented: "This cooperation is a milestone in realizing DSM's strategy. By leveraging the unique opportunities in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences we can contribute our heritage of over a century in both biotechnology and chemistry to this joint venture with a biofuels leader. Together we shall deliver the key to unlock the cellulosic bio-ethanol opportunity. As the world is facing unprecedented challenges with a growing population making an ever bigger claim on the planet's resources, we need to accelerate the transition to a bio-based economy and this joint venture is a significant step in that direction."
As one of the world's largest producers of corn ethanol, POET has been actively developing cellulosic bio-ethanol for more than a decade. In November, 2008, the company started operating a cellulosic bio-ethanol pilot plant at its research center in Scotland, South Dakota. For the past five years, POET has been working with farmers to bale, transport and store corn crop residue—the cobs, leaves, husks and some stalk left in the field after the grain harvest.
DSM already has a unique position in the development of cellulosic ethanol as the only company offering both yeast and enzyme solutions to increase conversion rates to make the technology commercially viable. DSM has vast experience in scaling up biotechnological processes and an extensive global footprint and relationships to help accelerate technology adoption in key markets.
Cellulosic bio-ethanol from corn crop residue represents a large opportunity. If the technology is replicated at POET's network of 27 existing corn ethanol plants, it could produce up to one billion gallons of cellulosic bio-ethanol per year.
In an analysis of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the U.S. EPA projected 7.8 billion gallons of cellulosic bio-ethanol coming from corn crop residue by 2022. Beyond that, the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture have estimated that more than one billion tons of biomass is available in America that could produce enough cellulosic bio-ethanol to replace a third of the country's gasoline use.
POET-DSM Advanced Biofuels, LLC, is a 50/50 joint venture between Royal DSM and POET, LLC. Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the company is a cooperative effort of two innovators that provides the key to unlocking the opportunity of converting corn crop residue into cellulosic bio-ethanol. Built on the strengths of both companies the joint venture has a critical mission: to make cellulosic bio-ethanol competitive with corn ethanol, the most competitive renewable liquid transportation fuel on the market today. Drawing on the deep expertise and experience of POET and DSM in different areas of converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol, POET - DSM Advanced Biofuels will have its first commercial-scale plant co-located with POET's biorefinery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Based on this plant the JV will globally license an integrated technology package for the conversion of corn crop residue to cellulosic bio-ethanol. More information: www.poetdsm.com
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