Hawaii rural companies get fed clean energy grants

Published on September 27, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Alternative Energy and General Ag News and Notes.

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii businesses are receiving federal money to help increase renewable energy production.

Hawaii Director for Rural Development Chris Kanazawa said the grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help create jobs and reduce energy use for rural communities.

Lalamilo Farm Partners in Kamuela will receive nearly $170,000 to help buy and install a 95 kilowatt photovoltaic system.

O Guest Ranch Maui in Kula will get $70,000 for a 43 kilowatt photovoltaic system on a dairy farm.

Hawaii rural companies get fed clean energy grants – Yahoo! Finance

East-West Center to help Pacific islands cope with climate change

Published on September 24, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

A federal agency has awarded $3.8 million to the East-West Center to help Hawaii and several Pacific island nations cope with the effect of climate changes.

The five-year grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will help to bring together scientists and decision-makers to help Pacific communities respond to changing climates, East-West spokesman Derek Ferrar said.

The areas included in the Pacific Regional Integrated Science and Assessment program are the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and American Samoa.

East-West Center to help Pacific islands cope with climate change – Hawaii News – Staradvertiser.com

Feds helping Big Island company with $5 mil loan guarantee

Published on September 23, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels and General Ag News and Notes.

An energy company on the Big Island will receive a $5 million loan guarantee from the federal government to help finish construction of a manufacturing plant in Kawaihae.

The announcement was made Thursday in a Washington news release by Hawaii’s Democratic U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka.

Big Island Carbon’s $25 million plant will convert discarded macadamia nut shells into a product that can generate power, filter air and purify water.

Plans call for the company to buy about 10,000 tons of more than 20,000 tons of shells produced annually on the Big Island to convert into 1,000 tons of granular activated carbon.

Big Island Carbon will power its own operations. Any excess biofuel or gas will be sold on the island.

Feds helping Big Island company with $5 mil loan guarantee – Hawaii News – Staradvertiser.com

$12.8M to help protect lands across Hawaii

Published on August 24, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

Several nonprofit organizations, a state agency and three local counties have been awarded $3.3 million from a state land preservation fund to protect 753 acres on the Big Island, Kauai, Molokai and Oahu.

The money from the Legacy Land Conservation Program will be matched with about $9.5 million from federal, county and private sources to acquire land or protective easements for public benefit.

Seven projects are being financed, including four land purchases totaling 25 acres and three easements covering 728 acres.

Laura Thielen, chairwoman of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources, said the fund provides an efficient way to protect land containing important natural, cultural or agricultural value. “By providing these grants as incentive, the state is utilizing mostly private and federal funds to protect these resources,” she said in a statement announcing the awards. Continue reading ‘$12.8M to help protect lands across Hawaii’

USDA Blog » Biomass and Biofuel – What’s in it for Hawaii’s Agriculture?

Published on June 25, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Alternative Energy, Biofuels and General Ag News and Notes.

Hawaii and the Pacific Basin

The dwindling global supply of fossil fuels and the resulting escalation in prices has set the stage for entry of commercial biofuel produced from biomass, including co-products and bi-products. This transition in the energy sector’s feed stocks offers Hawaii a unique opportunity to locally produce biofuel from locally produced biomass feed stocks, and ultimately support the stabilization of the state’s energy resources; increase the local circulation of energy dollars; and further under gird Hawaii’s agricultural industry.

In October 2009, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced plans for a “Great Green Fleet” to demonstrate that Navy and Marine Corps ships and aircraft could operate utilizing non-fossil fuels by year 2016. In January, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Secretary Mabus to support the biomass and biofuel development that would ultimately fuel the Green Fleet. Hawaii was selected as a pilot region, with USDA providing the “push” through research and business incentives and the Navy making the “pull” with plans for purchase of biofuel from locally produced biomass. Continue reading ‘USDA Blog » Biomass and Biofuel – What’s in it for Hawaii’s Agriculture?’

State offering agricultural leases in Pahoa | Hawaii 24/7

Published on June 13, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

MEDIA RELEASE
The state Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is now accepting applications for lease negotiations on seven parcels of state agricultural land in the Pahoa Agricultural Park.

Interested persons should submit an application to the Agricultural Resource Management Division (ARMD) to determine whether they are qualified to hold an agricultural lease with the state. The deadline to submit the application is 3 p.m. July 14. Once qualified, the applicant will be notified about submitting a proposal for the parcel.

To qualify, a potential lessee must:
* Be a U.S. citizen who has resided in the State of Hawaii for at least three years; or
* Is a permanent status alien who has resided in the state for at least five years; and
* Is a bon fide farmer or new farmer as defined in the Hawaii Administrative Rules.

The parcels available in the Pahoa Ag Park include:
* Lot 1 – 10.193 acres
* Lot 3 – 10 acres
* Lot 12 – 29.166 acres
* Lot 15 – 19.596 acres
* Lot 18 – 5.372 acres
* Lot A – 13.428 acres
* Lot 8 – 5.002 acres

Continue reading ‘State offering agricultural leases in Pahoa | Hawaii 24/7’

Agriculture Leadership Foundation accepting applicants

Published on May 17, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

HONOLULU – The Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii is accepting applications for its latest class in the Agriculture Leadership Program: Class XIII.

The program is for promising leaders from Hawaii’s agriculture, natural resources management and rural community sectors. “Through this program, individuals who have already demonstrated a commitment to lead in their line of work or community activities will develop the knowledge, relationships, tools and skills that will enable them to be more successful in their work and all community endeavors,” said Executive Director Kim Coffee-Isaak.

“For Class XIII, the program is now being opened to professionals in natural resources management,” said Coffee-Isaak, adding that the hope is to “create stronger bridges between Hawaii’s agricultural and conservation communities.”

Recruitment information can be found at www.agleaderhi.org program_recruitment.htm. The deadline is July 2.

For any other questions on the Agriculture Leadership Program, call 947-2914 in Honolulu or visit www.agleaderhi.org.

Agriculture Leadership Foundation accepting applicants – Mauinews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Visitor’s Information – The Maui News

Renewable Energy Opportunities

Published on May 5, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

Release No. 0231.10

Secretary Vilsack, Obama Administration Officials, and Rural Energy Stakeholders Discuss Renewable Energy Opportunities During Clean Energy Forum

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2010 -Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and other administration officials joined rural stakeholders from across the country at a clean energy economy forum at the White House. The group discussed renewable energy opportunities for rural communities and the Obama Administration’s efforts to help rural America build a clean energy economy that creates jobs, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and enhances our position in the global economy. The Administration officials also had the opportunity to hear from farmers, ranchers and producers about their experiences in the emerging clean energy economy.

At the forum, Secretary Vilsack also noted that today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama’s Biofuels Directive and said that implementation of the renewable energy provisions of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) continues to move forward rapidly.

"Renewable energy production is a key to sustainable economic development in rural America," Vilsack said. "We must rapidly escalate the production of biofuels to meet the 2022 Federal Renewable Fuels standard goal, and much of this biofuel will come from feedstocks produced by America’s farmers and ranchers. Continue reading ‘Renewable Energy Opportunities’

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. Q1 2010 Earnings Call Transcript — Seeking Alpha

Published on May 5, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels and General Ag News and Notes.

The Last Sugar Mill in Hawaii HC&S Puunene Maui CLICK HERE for larger image
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (ALEX) Q1 2010 Earnings Call Transcript May 4, 2010 5:00 pm ET Executives Suzy Hollinger – Director, IR Stan Kuriyama – President & CEO Matt Cox – President, Matson Navigation Company, Inc. Norb Buelsing – President, A&B Properties, Inc. Chris Benjamin – SVP, CFO & Treasurer; General Manager, HC&S Analysts William Horner – Stephens Incorporated Sloan Bohlen – Goldman Sachs Sheila McGrath – KBW Brendan Maiorana – Wells Fargo Tom Wilson – Wilson Capital Management Tom Spiro – Spiro Capital Management Presentation Operator Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first quarter Alexander & Baldwin earnings conference call. My name is O'Meara and I will be your operator for today. At this time, all participants are in listen-only mode. Later, we will be conducting a question-and-answer session. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, this conference is being recorded for replay purposes. I would now like to turn this conference over to your host for today’s call, Ms. Suzy Hollinger, Director of Investor Relations. Please proceed. Suzy Hollinger Thank you, operator. Aloha and welcome to Alexander & Baldwin's first quarter 2010 earnings call. On the call with me today are Stan Kuriyama, A&B's President and CEO; Chris Benjamin, A&B's CFO and also General Manager of HC&S; Norb Buelsing, President of A&B Properties; and joining us from Matson's headquarters in Oakland is Matt Cox, President of Matson Navigation Company. Before we commence, please note that statements in this call and presentation that set forth expectations or predictions are based on facts and situations that are known to us as of today, May 04, 2010. Actual results may differ materially due to risks and uncertainties such as those described on pages 17 through 26 of our 2009 Form 10-K and our other subsequent filings with the SEC. Statements in this call and presentation are not guarantees of future performance. Slides from this presentation are available for download at our website www.alexanderbaldwin.com. You will see an icon at the top of the website to direct you to the appropriate section for download. This slide provides an agenda for our presentation, after which we will take your questions. We will start with Stan who will comment on the performance for the quarter. Stan Kuriyama Thank you, Suzy. I'm pleased to report that A&B posted a solid first quarter and a positive start to 2010. Net income was significantly higher in the first quarter at $17 million or $0.42 per share compared to earnings in the first quarter of 2009 of $3 million or $0.07 a share. As you'll note from this chart, operating results for all segments improved in the first quarter of 2010 with the exception of real estate leasing. Consolidated operating profit was $42 million in the quarter compared to $17 million a year ago. However, our first quarter '09 operating profit was impacted by a $6 million workforce reduction charge that did not recur in the first quarter of 2010. Let me now brief you on the quarter highlights from each of our business units. In ocean transportation, our China service is benefitting from the recovery in both volume and rates. Volumes in particular were significantly higher than a year ago and rates are higher on a sequential basis. Matt will have more details for you later in the presentation. Hawaii container volumes and rates were relatively flat in the quarter compared to last year. While we believe that material increases in volumes and rates are unlikely for the rest of the year, we are pleased that the Hawaii trade seems to have bottomed. Guam's performance was also stable for the quarter. Overall, operating profits in our ocean transportation business continue to benefit from the vessel deployment changes, workforce reduction, and other cost cutting and operating efficiencies implemented over the past two years. First quarter operating results for MIL benefitted from a large movement for the Department of Defense, as well as from prior year's cost cutting measures. Some stabilization in MIL's intermodal business also occurred in the quarter. In real estate, we continue to observe demand and favorable pricing for quality commercial properties as evidenced by our sales of Mililani Shopping Center in January. This sale drove quarter results for this segment, as well as for the overall company. Leasing, however, was challenged by several factors; the downward reset of market rents, lower occupancies in our Mainland portfolio, and the time lag between sales and acquisitions of properties in our 1031 exchange program. Norbert would be addressing this further in our presentation. Agribusiness results improved in the quarter with losses declining by $800,000. However, we didn’t plan on harvesting any sugar in the first quarter, meaningful performance comparisons can't be made until the second quarter. As Chris will describe later, we continue to expect significant improvement for the full year and we recently learned federal grant monies will be made available to help us accelerate our bioenergy research at HC&S.
Continue reading ‘Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. Q1 2010 Earnings Call Transcript — Seeking Alpha’

USDA Invites Applications for Renewable Energy

Published on May 4, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

Release No. 0229.10

Funds Will Help Increase Production and Use of Renewable Energy, Create Jobs, and Protect Natural Resources

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is seeking applications to increase the production and use of renewable energy sources. Funding is available from four USDA Rural Development renewable energy programs authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).

"This funding will help spur investments in technologies that will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, conserve natural resources and help build a sustained renewable energy industry in rural America," Vilsack said. "Support provided by USDA through these programs will not only benefit the environment, it will create green jobs and help America become more energy self-sufficient."

USDA is accepting applications for grants and loan guarantees in the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) until June 30, 2010. Continue reading ‘USDA Invites Applications for Renewable Energy’

DEAL OF THE YEAR – The Maui News

Published on May 3, 2010 in Agriculture Grants and General Ag News and Notes.

The Hawaii Venture Capital Association presented the 2009 Deal of the Year Award to Pacific Biodiesel Inc. at a luncheon in Honolulu recently. This award is given to the company that raises the most equity investment capital during the calendar year, an especially challenging business proposition last year because of the combination of a tough economy and cutbacks to Hawaii tax credits for investing in innovation companies. This is Pacific Biodiesel’s 12th refinery, nearly one a year since the first at the Central Maui Landfill in 1996. The latest, Big Island Biodiesel, will start production next year. The project will create over 100 jobs between building and operating the plant, growing and collecting feedstock and distributing finished product. All the investors are Hawaii residents or businesses, including the state through the Hydrogen Fund. First Hawaiian Bank lent $5 million, guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The feedstock may eventually be jatropha, a drought-resistant tree that produces oily fruit. HVCA and Pacific Biodiesel will contribute a total of $1,500 in money for prizes to be given to Career Pathways High School Business Plan Competition, a statewide competition that gives Hawaii high school students a real world opportunity.

TIDES OF COMMERCE – Mauinews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Visitor’s Information – The Maui News

Scientists Try Algae ‘Alchemy’ to Grow Oil in Paddies – BusinessWeek

Published on April 20, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels and General Ag News and Notes.

By Shigeru Sato and Yuji Okada

April 20 (Bloomberg) — As Japan’s rice fields turn fallow and its farming communities decline, a new army of workers is preparing to make the countryside fertile again. This time the crop is motor fuel and the laborers are microscopic algae.

At least 75 developers globally are studying algae, which has the potential to generate more energy per hectare than any other crop used for making fuel, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The technology has attracted the U.S. Department of Energy and big oil including Exxon Mobil Corp., which plans to spend as much as $600 million on research over five years.

Japan abandoned a $132 million algae project in the 1990s, when oil prices dropped below $10 a barrel and climate change took a back seat to reviving the economy in what became known as “the Lost Decade.” Now companies including Toyota Motor Corp. and refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co. may join a study into the microorganisms that can turn waste water into oil, scrub carbon dioxide out of the air and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Continue reading ‘Scientists Try Algae ‘Alchemy’ to Grow Oil in Paddies – BusinessWeek’

Is biofuel Hawaii’s next great industry? – Pacific Business News

Published on April 10, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels, General Ag News and Notes and Sugar Cane.

Potential exists to turn state’s renewable-energy needs into a cash crop

Save the last of the Surgar Cane industry in Hawaii
Sugar on Maui FOREVER!
CLICK HERE for larger image

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s search for long-term suppliers of biofuels derived from local feedstocks stands to ignite a new form of agriculture in Hawaii.
But major challenges lie ahead for both the utility and potential producers.

Acres of fallow pineapple and sugar fields across the state potentially could be converted to high-oil-yielding plants such as jatropha, soybean and microalgae.

The utility says it is interested in buying enough biofuels to run its power plants on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island.

Clean-burning biofuels are attractive to HECO because they can be used in its existing generators, which currently run on liquid fossil fuels including bunker oil and diesel.

“We’ve talked and talked about biodiesel in Hawaii, and now we can guarantee that we’ll purchase their products down the road, so we’re looking for people to make proposals,” said HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg. “If we’re going to get to the state’s mandate of 40 percent renewables by 2030, which is just 20 years away, a chunk of that will have to come from biofuels. The best situation would be one where the feedstocks are grown here.”

Continue reading ‘Is biofuel Hawaii’s next great industry? – Pacific Business News’

Hawaii’s last sugar plantation to be biofuel ‘lab’ – BusinessWeek

Published on April 8, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels, General Ag News and Notes, Sugar Cane and Sustainability.

Photo by Maui Tropica
CLICK HERE for more Maui Sugar Cane images

By AUDREY McAVOY
HONOLULU
Hawaii’s last sugar plantation could start producing jet fuel for the Navy.

Federal agencies on Wednesday announced they would spend millions of dollars to study producing advanced biofuels from sugarcane grown at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar’s fields on Maui.

The Office of Naval Research is budgeting $2 million annually for the project through 2015, with a focus on producing diesel and jet fuel from sugar.

The Department of Energy is spending $2 million a year to have the University of Hawaii study energy crop development and energy conversion technologies.

HC&S General Manager Chris Benjamin says his company will be a "working laboratory" to test the potential of biofuel production.

"This federal funding represents a vote of confidence in Hawaii and in the future of HC&S," Benjamin said in a news release. "It is a significant step toward our goal of transforming HC&S into a large-scale energy farm, playing a key role in securing Hawaii’s energy future."

The company, a unit of Alexander & Baldwin Inc., said its vast fields, access to water, farming infrastructure and labor force make it an ideal candidate to produce biofuels on a large scale.

HC&S has long diverted water from East Maui streams to irrigate its fields in arid Central Maui. But this practice is currently facing challenges.

Taro farmers have petitioned the state’s Commission on Water Resource Management to restore more flow to the streams, and prevent HC&S from diverting its usual volumes of water. The case is pending before the water commission.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, who met Wednesday with HC&S and U.S. Department of Agriculture officials about the project, said the research could benefit biofuel development efforts not just in Hawaii but also across the country.

"The sugar industry’s infrastructure in Hawaii … will be put to good use producing a variety of biofuels," said Inouye in a statement issued by the department.

Hawaii’s last sugar plantation to be biofuel ‘lab’ – BusinessWeek

Hawaii crops, algae may get funded for military biofuel | The Honolulu Advertiser

Published on April 3, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels, General Ag News and Notes and Sustainability.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Navy are hoping to jumpstart the growth of crops and algae in Hawai’i that can be used for military fuel as part of an aggressive drive by the Pentagon to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and increase renewable energy sources.
An industry forum Tuesday and Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii will bring together government officials and potential biofuel companies from Hawai’i and the Mainland. As many as 40 companies and 250 people are expected to attend.

The Navy and the Agriculture Department want to evaluate the use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to set up biofuel projects in Hawai’i "as soon as possible."

How much funding remains unclear, but Hawai’i was selected for the initial collaboration between the two federal entities "because Hawai’i's energy costs are among the highest in the nation and imported oil supplies 90 percent of the state’s energy," the USDA said. "A viable agricultural sector in Hawai’i can enhance Hawai’i's energy security, and energy projects like those anticipated by the Navy’s needs can help rural economies."

Continue reading ‘Hawaii crops, algae may get funded for military biofuel | The Honolulu Advertiser’

HECO seeking proposals for locally-based supply of biofuel | The Honolulu Advertiser

Published on April 1, 2010 in Agriculture Grants, Biofuels and General Ag News and Notes.

Hawaiian Electric said today it is looking for a long-term supply of biofuels made from feedstocks produced and processed in Hawaii.

HECO Executive Vice President Robbie Alm said that the formal quest for proposals is the next stage in the company’s commitment to create a clear market for locally grown biofuels.

He says this first call for proposals will test the market and determine what HECO’s next actions must be.

The company is looking for biofuel supplies it can use at generation sites on Oahu, Maui, Molokai and the Big Island.

Proposals may use land- or water-based crops, waste animal fat or yellow grease feedstocks that may be converted to liquid biofuel.

Respondents are being encouraged to think broadly about the larger benefits of their approaches.

HECO says letters of intent are due by May 7, 2010 and that the final acceptance date for submitted proposals is June 18, 2010.

HECO seeking proposals for locally-based supply of biofuel | honoluluadvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser