The California Energy Commission has announced the second round of proposed awardees from its recent biofuel production facilities grant solicitation, which is a part of the state's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. The first round of funding was announced in March.
Three new awards supporting biomethane production have been proposed: Tulare County Compost & Biomass Inc. ($4.79 million for its biomethane production facility); Environ Strategy Consultants Inc. ($2.42 million for biomethane-based compressed natural gas (CNG) derived from the anaerobic digestion of food waste); and Blue Line Transfer Inc. ($2.59 million for its biogenic CNG facility).
A pair of projects aimed at the production of diesel substitutes have also been recommended for funding: Eslinger Biodiesel Inc. ($6 million for biodiesel production at Kinder Morgan distribution terminals in the state) and Buster Biofuels LLC ($2.64 million supporting its biorefinery in Escondido, Calif.).
Additionally, two gasoline-substitute production facilities are in line for funding: Mendota Bioenergy LLC ($5 million for its demonstration biorefinery) and ZeaChem Inc. ($4.66 million toward its pilot plant and a study of bio-based gasoline blendstocks).
