Farm to Fuel Grants Program, Florida Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services
On January 22, 2008,
Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson announced the winners of Farm to Fuel
Grants for bioenergy projects.
The winners are:
- Gulf Coast Energy of Walton LLC - $7 million -
Construction and operation of a $62 million ethanol and biodiesel plant in
Mossy Head, Florida.
- U.S. Envirofuels LLC - $7 million - Construction
of a $47 million ethanol production plant in Highlands County.
- Liberty Industries - $4 million - Construction and
operation of a $38 million Liberty County facility that will produce ethanol
and electricity using primarily forest waste products.
- Agri-Source Fuels - $4 million - Construction of a
$21 million biodiesel plant in Pensacola.
- University of Florida - $500,000 - Develop a
catalytic chemical reactor system to convert woody biomass to
biodiesel.
- Southeast Biofuels LLC - $500,000 - Build a nearly
$6 million pilot plant in Auburndale to produce ethanol from citrus
peels.
- Sigarca Inc. - $499,500 - Construction of a 3,000
square foot bioenergy plant on the grounds of the Southeastern Livestock
Pavilion in Ocala to process horse waste into renewable energy.
- University of Central Florida - $498,000 -
Demonstrate the viability and cost effectiveness of technology developed at
the university to convert farm and animal waste into renewable energy.
- Florida Institute of Technology - $415,520 -
Cultivate and research various strains of Microalgae capable of producing
biodiesel.
- Applied Research Associates Inc. - $203,130 -
Converting cellulosic materials such as sugarcane byproducts to fermentable
sugars for a more cost-effective way of producing ethanol.
- Applied Research Associates Inc. - $182,832 -
Demonstrate a new technology in converting crop oils into biodiesel.
- Neptune Industries Inc. - $158,270 -
Create a pilot scale floating algae production system to produce algae capable
of being converted into biodiesel in quarry lakes in South Florida.
We wish to extend our appreciation to the many
applicants that applied. Unfortunately there was just not enough money to
fund all of the deserving projects. Additional information about each of
the winning projects will be posted later today at http://www.floridafarmtofuel.com/grant.htm.
Farm to Fuel Exhibit at the Florida State
Fair
February 7-18 the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services will be hosting a Farm to Fuel Renewable
Energy Exhibit at the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Among the exhibits will
be various fuels, potential feedstocks, and alternative fuel vehicles.
Commissioner Bronson and several of our exhibit partners will be holding a
kick-off press conference at 2:30 pm on February 7th in the Ag Hall of Fame
Building.
Farm to Fuel
Summit
The 2008 Farm to Fuel Summit is scheduled for July 30 - August 1
at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Information regarding sponsorships and
speaker abstracts will be released shortly. Visit http://www.floridafarmtofuel.com/summit_2008.htm
for additional information.
Upcoming
Events
Energy
Legislation
The following is a list of filed bills we are watching
during the upcoming legislative session. For a report of the Florida
Energy Commission’s recommendations to the Legislature, go to http://www.floridaenergycommission.gov/recommendations.cfm.
HB
0229 Relating to Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Technologies by
Sachs
SB 0308 Relating to Energy Conservation
by Constantine
SB
0310 Relating to Biomass Energy Production by
Constantine
SB 0314 Relating to Renewable Energy
Technologies Tax Credits by
Constantine
SB 0316 Relating to Biodiesel and Ethanol
Fuels/State Fleet Usage by
Constantine
SB 0412 Relating to Energy by
Bennett
SB
0414 Relating to Alternative Energy Center/Incentive Program by
Bennett
HB 0457 Relating to Renewable Energy
Technologies and Energy Efficiency by
Hukill
HB 0557 Relating to Interconnection of
Customer-owned Renewable Energy Generation and Net Metering by
Fitzgerald
SB 1178 Relating to Renewable Energy
Technologies & Energy Efficiency by Dockery