The California Energy Commission has green-lighted funding in support of two manufacturing projects tied to alternative fuels for transportation.
A grant of approximately $2.64 million has been awarded to Buster Biofuels LLC, which is converting an industrial warehouse into a biodiesel manufacturing and fueling facility. The 7,000-square-foot plant will produce biodiesel from renewable waste-based materials, such as used cooking oil from restaurants. According to the commission, the facility will produce nearly 5 million gallons of transportation fuel annually.
Also, Foster City, Calif.-based Motiv Power Systems Inc. is receiving $2.38 million to help build a pilot-scale production line for the assembly of Motiv's electric power control technologies. These systems are used in tandem with various battery packs and electric motors to yield all-electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as shuttle buses and delivery trucks.
The new facility will have the capacity to produce approximately 250 of Motiv's systems annually.
