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Funding Available to Develop Advanced Biofuels Projects The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making $181 million available to develop commercial-scale biorefineries or retrofit existing facilities with appropriate technology to develop advanced biofuels from non-food sources. The funding is being made under USDA’s Biorefinery Assistance Program created through the 2008 farm bill and administered by USDA Rural Development. It provides loan guarantees to viable commercial-scale facilities to develop new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels. Eligible entities include Indian tribes, state or local governments, corporations, farmer co-ops, agricultural producer associations, higher education institutions, rural electric co-ops, public power entities, or consortiums of any of the above. Examples of previously funded advanced biofuels projects include Sapphire Energy’s “Green Crude Farm” in Columbus, NM. In 2011, USDA provided Sapphire Energy a $54.5 million loan guarantee to build a refined algae oil commercial facility. In continuous operation since May 2012, the plant is producing renewable algae oil that can be further refined to replace petroleum-derived diesel and jet fuel. According to the company, more than 600 jobs were created throughout the first phase of construction at the facility, and 30 full-time employees currently operate the plant. The company expects Continued on page 26 OPTIONS • Air operated tailgate lock • Salad buckets • Body load divider • Sealed work lights • Solid roof • Remote controls • Roll tarp roof www.walinga.com Iowa: Sioux Center, Iowa Tel: (800) 845-5589 has pledged full support for the project and underlined that this is an important step for Croatia in meeting the European Union’s demands regarding the renewable energy directive in the fuel sector. BDI has also been commissioned to perform two retrofit applications at existing biodiesel plants, one in Atlanta, GA, in the United States and the other in the United Kingdom. While BDI would not confirm the name of the plant in Atlanta, the company did state it was the “biggest biodiesel producer in the US,” which led Biodiesel Magazine to presume the plant to be owned by Renewable Energy Group acquired from Bulldog Biodiesel in 2012. Renewable Energy Group had no comment. BDI will carry out basic engineering assignments at the Atlanta plant, a prerequisite for successful implementation of its retrofit program at the site. The aim is to modernize the plant, which is out of operation at the moment, in such a way that a profitable restart of production can be guaranteed. At the same time, BDI will implement a biodiesel purification unit for a British biodiesel manufacturer. With the help of this optimization unit, the contaminant content of the biodiesel (particularly the residual monoglyceride content) will be reduced to a level that is far lower than the relevant limits specified by the strict European biodiesel quality standard. This project will guarantee not only a considerable improvement in quality but also an increase in the output of the biodiesel plant. The value of the two commissions is about 400,000 euros ($541,000 USD). RENDERING UNITS FEATURES • All Aluminium • 100% welded construction • Aerodynamic front • Recessed hoist • Full open top • Water tight sealed tailgate • Hydraulic controls SEMI TRAILER UNIT Manitoba: Carman, Manitoba Tel: (204) 745-2951 Saskatchewan: Davidson, Saskatchewan Tel: (306) 567-3031 FRONT FORKLOAD UNIT END DUMP UNIT USA Head Office: Wayland, Michigan Tel: (800) 466-1197 Corporate Head Office: Guelph, Ontario Tel: (888) 925-4642 www.rendermagazine.com Render December 2013 25


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