Memo to Obama: Follow Brazil to Energy Independence

As our dependence on foreign oil continues to be a concern for Americans, the topic of alternative energy is sure to be a hot-button issue in November’s presidential race. Obama has made appearances in several key states over the past few months to argue the importance of developing alternatives to foreign oil and to defend his “all of the above” plan from critics who say he’s abandoned oil and coal industries.  

The president states that America is producing more oil today than it has at any other time in the past eight years. He adds that the number of operating oil rigs has quadrupled to an all-time high.

However, it is the success of natural gas that Obama wanted to focus on in the Tar Heel state. in March. Surrounded by workers on the production floor of a Freightliner plant in Mount Holly, N.C., Obama praised Daimler Trucks for the production of its 1,000^th natural gas-powered truck in November 2011.

“Here at Daimler, you’re not just building trucks, you’re building better trucks,” he told the hundreds of employees who had waited for more than four hours to hear him speak.

Daimler Trucks is the feel-good story of a company that is experiencing a growth spurt while successfully implementing alternative energy procedures through the manufacturing of natural gas-powered trucks. The plant in Rowan County, N.C. recently added a second shift and employment at the three Charlotte-area facilities has almost returned to pre-Great Recession levels.

Better BTU has always been interested in the topic of natural gas as an alternative to oil because we fundamentally believe it represents a better transportation fuel. While Obama has made progress in developing the industry, we can’t help but feel there has been a missed opportunity, and a large one at that.

CNG-powered vehicles have struggled in part because our country lacks the infrastructure to support them. The availability of CNG refueling stations is sparse, limiting the use for large trucks to short runs and preventing the average consumer from viewing it as a realistic option. We would have loved to see some of the money that has been passed out go towards developing a highway infrastructure that could support natural gas. Not only would prices at the pump be lower, we would also be less dependent on foreign oil. Jobs would be generated as stations would need to be built and piping laid.

Brazil’s government opted drive the development of infrastructure to capitalize on the abundance of sugarcane in its region and today it is the world’s second largest producer of ethanol fuel. While we aren’t saying that Obama’s “all of the above” policy doesn’t have its pros, had he taken a page from Brazil’s book, Obama might be able to point to a well-developed and meaningful infrastructure when campaigning for re-election. Putting people to work and creating something we need could have done for his tenure what the Hoover Dam did for Roosevelt’s.

For Further Reading:

Building the Blend: How Brazil Grew its Ethanol Industry – Ethanol Today

President Obama Talks Alternative Fuel at Freightliner Plant – Charlotte Business Journal, Mar. 7, 2012

Obama Pushes Alternative Energy in North Carolina – ABC News, Mar, 7, 2012

BioEnergy Symposium Wrap-up: Fuel Me Up!

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!