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In January, Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell announced the funding of 49 renewable energy and renewable fuel projects in the Keystone State. Of the 49 projects selected, 12 are biodiesel-related.
In Bedford County, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies will receive $199,191 for the renovation of the Whispering Creek Renewable Energy Center. The environmental education facility will demonstrate the benefits of renewable energy generation and energy-efficient upgrades to an existing structure, and provide a location for the hands-on demonstrations of wind, solar, biodiesel and geothermal technologies.
Dauphin County biodiesel producer Middletown Biofuels LLC will receive $654,845 to demonstrate the pretreatment of alternative biodiesel feedstocks via controlled flow cavitation technology, which has the potential to cut production costs and make the company more competitive with its out-of-state rivals. The projects production capacity is expected to reach approximately 4.6 MMgy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 9,950 tons annually.
Center County-based Matson and Associates Inc. will receive $120,000 to demonstrate the effectiveness of several catalysts in processing alternative, lower-cost biodiesel feedstocks. In addition, eight entities received funding to help buy down the incremental costs of biodiesel-blended fuel distribution.
Funding for the Dauphin and Center County projects came from two state grant programs: The Energy Harvest program contributed $7.2 million, and the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program provided $6.5 million.
The funding for these biodiesel projects will also help accelerate Pennsylvanias incremental biodiesel mandate. The total biodiesel production capacity of the states seven operating biodiesel plants has reached 40 MMgy, the threshold necessary to trigger a statewide B2 requirement. During a visit to the 93rd Pennsylvania Farm Show in January,
Rendell said the state is on track to satisfy its B2 mandate in 2010 as a result of House Bill 1202, which he championed and signed in July. As in-state production rises, the biodiesel requirement will also rise, up to 20 percent once capacity reaches 400 MMgy.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Global Emissions Exchange have partnered to create a carbon credit trading regime for Pennsylvania farmers who use biodiesel on their farmland. According to farm bureau Media Relations Director Mark ONeill, the bureau will first focus on enrolling farmers who can earn carbon credits by sequestering carbon dioxide from no-till farming practices. It will host informational meetings in eight counties during the year to educate interested farmers about how they can participate in the program.
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