Biochemtex To Locate $200 Million Cellulosic Ethanol Plant In North Carolina

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that Biochemtex will be locating its new cellulosic biofuels production operations in Sampson County.  The company and its partners plan to create 65 new jobs and invest approximately $200 million over the next three years.

“Biochemtex’s decision is further proof that the biofuels industry is positioned for growth across our state,” said Governor McCrory.  “We have the qualified talent, strong business climate, and attractive quality of life that companies need to succeed. We also have the agricultural capacity and flexibility to provide profitable energy crop options for North Carolina farmers and cost advantaged cellulosic feedstocks for Biochemtex and the advanced biofuels industry.”

Biochemtex is a global technology solution provider specialized in biofuels and renewable chemicals. Biochemtex will operate in North Carolina as Carolina Cellulosic Biofuels, which was established in early 2013 as a Special Purpose vehicle for delivering the first commercial  scale cellulosic bio-refinery utilizing purpose grown energy crops  in North America. This new plant will produce 20 million gallons per year of cellulosic biofuel from locally grown energy crops, agricultural residues, and woody biomass.

“Cellulosic Biofuels development is bringing new jobs to eastern North Carolina,” said Secretary Decker. “Governor McCrory and I are committed to partnering with companies like Biochemtex to create jobs right here in Sampson County and throughout rural North Carolina.”

Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be approximately  $47,000 plus benefits. The Sampson County average annual wage is $30,822.

“Biochemtex is excited to bring our PROESA technology platform and our partners to eastern North Carolina," said Guido Ghisolfi, CEO and owner of Biochemtex.  “We’ve already engaged with regional farms and farmers for the supply of energy crops and we see great opportunity for growth and additional projects where regional infrastructure matches need.”

The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $300,000. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds.  These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

“Biochemtex and various state organizations have worked long and hard on this major development utilizing sustainable new technologies and cellulosic energy crops and I’m thrilled to have the new jobs, corresponding agricultural demand and capital investment for eastern North Carolina,” said Senator Brent Jackson.

“I applaud the hard work that was done at making this jobs announcement a reality,” said Representative Larry Bell. “Our job-ready workforce will serve Biochemtex well, and together we will boost Eastern North Carolina’s economy.”

Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, Sampson County Economic Development Corporation, Sampson County, City of Clinton, N.C. Department of Agriculture, NCSU – N.C. Cooperative Extension and the Biofuels Center of North Carolina.

Renewable Energy Group Expands Presence in Northeast with Another New Jersey Terminal

Biodiesel producer and marketer Renewable Energy Group®, Inc., announced it has entered into an agreement with Dutch Hill Terminals, a leading heating oil terminal in New Jersey, to market biodiesel and biodiesel blended heating oil at its Clifton, New Jersey location.

“This terminal position will give us additional capacity to serve the existing markets in the Northeast and prepare for potential growth moving into 2014,” said Gary Haer, REG Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “As the region increases its consumption of biodiesel in transportation fuel and Bioheat® (heating oil blended with biodiesel) REG will continue to provide a reliable source of high quality, clean burning, advanced biofuel.”

REG Clifton is located at 568 Paulison and now has REG biodiesel blended heating oil available. The company will offer other high quality biodiesel blends for transportation fuel during seasonal periods from the Clifton terminal as well. REG has five other terminal locations in the Northeast, including Whippany and Bayonne, New Jersey and New York locations in New Hyde Park, Port Chester, Ontario and Brookhaven.

The New Jersey State Legislature is currently considering legislation which would require heating oil to contain a three percent biodiesel blend (B3), then increasing to five percent (B5). New York City has already implemented a city-wide requirement of B2 in heating oil and the New York State Legislature passed a bill which would phase in a B2 requirement state wide over two years beginning with the 2014-2015 heating oil season. As data presented by the City of New York shows, cleaner heating oil has had a profound impact on the air quality and health of the residents of the city.

“REG Clifton is a great addition to our biodiesel sales and distribution capabilities in the Northeast market,” said Dave Elsenbast, REG Vice President, Supply Chain. “This position allows us to further expand in the incentivized and growing biodiesel market.”

Patriot Holdings, LLC Announces Plan to Build Biodiesel Production Facility Adjacent to Patriot Renewable Fuels, LLC Ethanol Plant

 

Patriot Holdings, LLC announced today that Patriot’s Board of Directors approved the formation of a new subsidiary (Patriot Fuels, Biodiesel, LLC) to build a five million gallon BioDiesel production facility adjacent to the Patriot Renewable Fuels, LLC (“PRF”) ethanol plant in Annawan, Illinois. The plant will utilize corn oil extracted from the 40 million bushels of corn that PRF processes annually, Vice President and General Manager Rick Vondra stated. “PRF began corn oil extraction in 2011 and this is a natural extension of that business. We have been extracting increasing volumes of corn oil and selling it to other biodiesel producers, or for inclusion into livestock feed. By processing corn oil onsite we can reduce transportation, and marketing costs making Patriot’s biodiesel one of the most cost competitive producers in the biodiesel industry today”.

The funding and development of this project is helped by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) New Generation Biofuels Production Program.

Biodiesel blends have been found to significantly reduce the amount of toxic carbon-based emissions, and for this reason are considered an advanced biofuel by the Environmental Protection Agency.

By adding this process, Patriot will produce two fuels from the same amount of corn.; ethanol for the automotive industry, and biodiesel for agriculture and the trucking industry. At the same time Patriot will continue to produce dried distillers grain and soluble (DDGS), the high quality livestock feed which is exported to China and other Pacific Rim countries for their growing livestock industry.

Concrete and foundation work will begin in December and the plant is scheduled to begin operation by the third quarter of 2014. The plant will utilize the SUPER™ Process production system designed by Jatro Diesel, Miamisburg, OH. Rahul Bobbili, Jatro’s Vice President stated “Jatro has built more than 15 biodiesel plants and is excited that Patriot will use this new technology.

The new technology being offered is a single stage, catalyst free, super critical process technology that will process feedstock with Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) up to 100% with minimal or no loss in yield. It will completely eliminate the use of a homogenous catalyst such as Sodium Methylate or a heterogenous catalyst, providing a substantial savings.

Patriot’s General Manager Rick Vondra added, “Today, we are a producer of 120 million gallons of ethanol per year. With the previously announced addition of ICM, Inc’s., Selective Milling Technology™(SMT™). PRF will see increased ethanol and corn oil recovery yields, resulting in higher revenues. Five million gallons of biodiesel will further increase our revenues”.

Our plant in Annawan has created jobs and stimulated economic growth in our community and beyond. With strength of our 200 local and Midwestern investors, we’ll harness the strength of a diversified product line and continue to make a positive impact on agriculture and economic development.”

Green Plains Completes Acquisition of Two Ethanol Plants

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. announced recently that it had completed the previously-announced acquisition of two ethanol plants, located in Wood River, NE and Fairmont, MN, from Ethanol Holding Company, LLC, an entity composed of the predecessor owners' lender group. The acquisition increases Green Plains' production capacity to over one billion gallons of ethanol per year.

"Our team worked to quickly complete this acquisition and will now move to integrate these two plants into our platform as seamlessly as possible," stated Todd Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We will also continue to execute on our strategy to expand and diversify our business and to build long-term shareholder value."

Green Plains Renewable Energy To Buy Nebraska Ethanol Plant

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. announces today that it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the membership interests of Choice Ethanol Holdings, LLC, the entity that owns the former NEDAK Ethanol, LLC ethanol plant located in Atkinson, Neb. and an ethanol storage and loading facility located approximately 15 miles east of the plant. The dry-mill ethanol plant will add approximately 50 million gallons of operating capacity to Green Plains' current annual production capacity of 740 million gallons.

"The acquisition of the plant in Atkinson expands our ethanol production platform and aligns with our ongoing strategy of growing our business and enhancing long-term shareholder value," said Todd Becker, Green Plains' President and Chief Executive Officer. "The plant meets our disciplined acquisition criteria and we have a deep understanding of this technology, size and geographic area. We believe we can rapidly improve the overall performance of this plant."  

The ethanol plant utilizes Delta-T processing technology. The ethanol storage facility holds approximately 24,000 barrels of ethanol and is located on the BNSF rail line. Green Plains plans to staff and re-start the plant within the next four weeks. Once the transaction closes, the Company plans to begin installing corn oil extraction technology, which should be completed in the fourth quarter of 2013. Completion of this transaction is subject to standard and customary closing conditions.