Institute plant to make biodiesel
Article from the Charleston Gazette
March 22, 2007
Institute plant to make biodiesel
By Tom Searls
Staff writer
In the Midwest, it’s not unusual to see an additional pump at the gas station that provides biodiesel fuel. The product is moving farther east, and will now be produced in West Virginia, officials announced Wednesday.
“I think we’ll see more and more [biodiesel] on the East Coast,” said David Drew, president and CEO of Emerald Biofuels.
Drew, along with Gov. Joe Manchin and Tom Dover, a spokesman for the Bayer CropScience plant in Institute, announced Emerald and Bayer will work together to produce biodiesel.
Emerald makes biodiesel from soybean and other seed crop oils. While Drew said it could be substituted for diesel, it is more common for it to be blended with diesel.
The firm is investing $15 million in the project, which will be located at Bayer’s production facility at Institute. The plant already has most of the infrastructure Emerald will need, Dover said.
The two firms have signed an agreement to produce 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel a year, with construction on the Institute facility expected to be completed by year’s end.
“The Bayer CropScience Manufacturing Industrial Park in Institute is an ideal location for it to pursue our production,” said Drew.
“While this project will be on a fast track, we have the resources available at the park to support their expedited construction and operational needs,” Dover said.
Drew said the firm believes it can handle Emerald’s needs with 10 or 12 Bayer employees already working at the site. “We feel we have sufficient manpower to serve their purposes,” he said.
That saves some high-paying chemical industry jobs in the Kanawha Valley, he said.
Dow Chemical, FMC, Praxair and Adisseo are already working out of the plant.
Manchin praised the project, which he said will “hopefully start that upward slope” in jobs at the facility.
“Having the infrastructure we have made it a natural,” Manchin said, adding that while coal is a natural resource of Appalachia, West Virginia needs all types of energy sources.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
Article from the Charleston Gazette
March 22, 2007
Institute plant to make biodiesel
By Tom Searls
Staff writer
In the Midwest, it’s not unusual to see an additional pump at the gas station that provides biodiesel fuel. The product is moving farther east, and will now be produced in West Virginia, officials announced Wednesday.
“I think we’ll see more and more [biodiesel] on the East Coast,” said David Drew, president and CEO of Emerald Biofuels.
Drew, along with Gov. Joe Manchin and Tom Dover, a spokesman for the Bayer CropScience plant in Institute, announced Emerald and Bayer will work together to produce biodiesel.
Emerald makes biodiesel from soybean and other seed crop oils. While Drew said it could be substituted for diesel, it is more common for it to be blended with diesel.
The firm is investing $15 million in the project, which will be located at Bayer’s production facility at Institute. The plant already has most of the infrastructure Emerald will need, Dover said.
The two firms have signed an agreement to produce 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel a year, with construction on the Institute facility expected to be completed by year’s end.
“The Bayer CropScience Manufacturing Industrial Park in Institute is an ideal location for it to pursue our production,” said Drew.
“While this project will be on a fast track, we have the resources available at the park to support their expedited construction and operational needs,” Dover said.
Drew said the firm believes it can handle Emerald’s needs with 10 or 12 Bayer employees already working at the site. “We feel we have sufficient manpower to serve their purposes,” he said.
That saves some high-paying chemical industry jobs in the Kanawha Valley, he said.
Dow Chemical, FMC, Praxair and Adisseo are already working out of the plant.
Manchin praised the project, which he said will “hopefully start that upward slope” in jobs at the facility.
“Having the infrastructure we have made it a natural,” Manchin said, adding that while coal is a natural resource of Appalachia, West Virginia needs all types of energy sources.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
Labels: biodiesel, biodiesel in Charleston, biodiesel in West Virginia, Charleston Area Alliance
posted by Charleston West Virginia Economic Development
@ 3:36 AM
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