By PETER HUSSMANN
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced that Elevance Renewable Sciences will receive a $2.5 million grant to help fund a pilot project at the Newton biodiesel plant aimed at turning biomass material into high-value chemicals and fuels.
Funding for the Elevance project at the Central Iowa Energy facility in Jasper County was one of 19 biorefinery projects selected to receive $564 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate the construction and operation of pilot, demonstration and commercial scale facilities.
"Advanced biofuels are critical to building a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system in the U.S.," said Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "These projects will help establish a domestic industry that will create jobs here at home and open new markets across rural America."
Working in conjunction with Renewable Energy Group, the firm in the process of an asset purchase of Central Iowa Energy, the biorefinery will convert renewable raw materials largely sourced from Iowa into petroleum replacement fuels for use in such products as cosmetics, candles, solvents, adhesives, disinfectants and high performance auto motor oil.
In announcing the grant today to Elevance, the DOE noted the project was selected "to complete preliminary engineering design for a future facility producing jet fuel, renewable diesel substitutes and high-value chemicals from plant oils and poultry fat."
The Department of Energy's press release can be read here. The Newton Independent previously wrote about the proposed project here.
Recent Comments