In the United States (US), renewable fuel project developer Strategic Biofuels LLC, together with Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Dr Shawn Wilson and Port of Columbia representatives held a groundbreaking ceremony to signal construction commencing at the Port on several infrastructure improvement projects which will be funded by a US$15 million grant from the DOTD Port Priority Program (PPP).
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The ceremonial event signals the next step for moving the Louisiana Green Fuels (LGF) project forward.
Construction of the first project will be led by Progressive Construction Co., which was recently awarded a contract from the Port, and will begin in December.
Strong local, state-wide, and national support
To date, the Port has received nearly US$17 million in federal and state grants in support of the LGF project.
Strategic Biofuels has received the highest tax-exempt bond allocations from the State of Louisiana over the last two years and unanimous support from the Caldwell Parish government and the broader community.
Governor John Bel Edwards has been a staunch advocate of the LGF project since Strategic Biofuels first announced Caldwell Parish as its home.
I’ve been thrilled to see the rapid progress Louisiana Green Fuels has generated over the past year. On behalf of our great state, we look forward to continuing to support the Strategic Biofuels team as they continue to move this project forward. It will have a long-lasting impact on northeast Louisiana, the country, and the world, said Governor John Bel Edwards.
Recently, the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), awarded a US$508 900 grant to help with infrastructure improvements at the Port of Columbia, which will positively impact the LGF project.
These funds are being used to supplement the PPP funds that will widen and strengthen Riverton Camp Road, the primary access road, and complete an essential first step that will sustain the construction of the US$2.8 billion LGF project.
This latest award to the Port follows an announcement that the State Bond Commission and the Louisiana Community Development Authority granted their approval to LGF for a US$1.1 billion tax-exempt bond cap to support the project.
The Port was also awarded a US$1.0 million grant from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through their Port Security Grant Program.
The most carbon-negative renewable diesel fuel plant in the world
The LGF project will use forestry waste to produce renewable fuel and electric power while capturing and sequestering the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced – resulting in Life Cycle Associates scoring the carbon intensity at “minus 294”.
All of the carbon in the fuel and in the sequestered CO2 was originally captured directly from the air by the trees.
The project’s test well program proved that all the CO2 from this first and future plants can be sequestered, maximizing both the 45Q sequestration tax credits and the California low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) credits.
All of the fuel and environmental credits are covered by a 20-year off-take agreement.
We are proud to have all levels of government at the local, state, and federal levels backing the Louisiana Green Fuels project and we are thankful for the immense support. Funding and support from all sources are essential to the success of what we are trying to accomplish, and we are full steam ahead on bringing online the world’s first and most deeply carbon- negative renewable diesel fuel plant, said Dr Paul Schubert, CEO of Strategic Biofuels.
