One of the best things
about attending a conference on renewable energy is the buzz. Regardless of
size, there is an energy that you won’t find next door at the garden trade
show. With the industry still in its development stage, there is an eagerness
to share ideas and make connections.
Such was the case at the
Second Annual BioEnergy Symposium in Charlotte last week. Hosted by UNC
Charlotte’s IDEAS Center, the conference focused on transportation biofuels
this year. Bringing together academics, industry professionals and government
officials, the symposium also attracted a number of representatives from
various nonprofits in the Southeast.
The Tar Heel state did
not have a forum for the exchange of ideas until UNC Charlotte established one
two years ago. With many in Charlotte looking to bring renewable energy
projects to the city, the two-day conference acts as an excellent introduction
to the industry.
“Biofuel in North Carolina
is in the seed stage,” Lisa Lee Morgan, whose firm Calor Energy co-hosted the
two-day conference, said. “Whether or not it actually gears up into a
full-fledged industry in North Carolina is still unknown for a lot reasons.”
Morgan points out that
until recently, biodiesel was still more expensive than petroleum diesel. Since
the price off oil has shot through the roof there has been a renewed interest
in biodiesel. Representatives from Piedmont Biofuels, National Biodiesel Board,
Blue Ridge Biofuels and an EcoComplex research team from Appalachian State
debated the various feedstocks and technology used in creating biodiesel.
Another afternoon
session focused on compressed natural gas (CNG) and the validity of it for use
as a biofuel. The consensus of the group was that although the building of
infrastructure was moving slowly, the potential is significant. Representatives
from Piedmont Natural Gas, Charlotte Truck Center, Geosyntec Consultants and
TEA illustrated that CNG can come from a variety of sources including natural
gas, landfill gas and gas derived from waste through thermal conversion. We
found Dave Navey’s story of how he saved $5,000 over two years by purchasing a
natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX while still averaging over 70 miles per day!
Although the majority of
those in attendance seemed there to learn more about biodiesel and CNG, the
session on ethanol was informative and enlightening for all. We learned that
Congress and the EPA has recently cleared the way for E15 (a fuel made up from
15 percent bioethanol and 85 percent gasoline) after being hung up in
government limbo for more than a year. It looks like you could see the option
for E15 at gas stations as early as this summer.
While the forum was
specific to North Carolina issues and many of the presenters were
representatives from the Tar Heel State, we really felt this was a worthwhile
for anyone looking to bone up on their biofuels knowledge. We hope some of you
were able to make the trip!
Were you at the 2012
BioEnergy Symposium? Please feel free to post your feedback on our blog or send
us a message at betterbtu@gmail.com!