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Capacity Additions—Biofuels

Picture of Suz-Anne Kinney Suz-Anne Kinney : December 16, 2011

Bioeconomy and Renewables

Mascoma Corporation and Valero Energy have entered into a joint venture to develop a commercial-scale hardwood-to cellulosic ethanol facility in Kinross, Michigan. The 20 million gallon per year facility will be funded by Valero (the majority of the investment), with Mascoma’s awards from the DOE and State of Michigan. Construction is expected to begin in 3-6 months and be complete by 2013. When complete, the facility will have the ability to expand to 40 million gallons per year.

Sundrop Fuels will build a 50-million gallon wood-to-biofuels facility North of Alexandria, Lousiana. The facility will use wood and natural gas to produce “green gasoline.” Construction is scheduled to begin in 2012 and be completed in 2014.

BlueFire Renewables Inc. appears to have secured the financing it needs to construct a 19-million gallon per year wood-to-ethanol facility in Fulton, Mississippi. BlueFire signed a memorandum of understanding with China Huadian Engineering Co. Ltd. If the financing is completed, Bluefire expects to begin construction quickly and complete the project within 24 months. BlueFire will also build a 24-MW biomass power plant at the site.