Biodiesel facility gets even closer to a reality

Biodiesel facility gets even closer to a reality
American Farm - Easton,MD,USA
By CAROL KINSLEY. CLAYTON, DEL. — Gov. Ruth Ann Minner applauded the completion of Mid-Atlantic Biodiesel Inc.’s facility at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. ...

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CLAYTON, DEL. — Gov. Ruth Ann Minner applauded the completion of Mid-Atlantic Biodiesel Inc.’s facility at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 29, recalling that nearly eight years ago Marty Ross, a grain farmer in Delmar, Del., told her, “We are going to do it.”

To Ross, who spearheaded the effort and persevered through many set-backs, she said, “We appreciate your persistence.”

The plant helps Delaware’s economy as well as its farmers, making fuel from a domestically grown, renewable resource. Minner said that one bushel of soybeans can produce 1.5 gallons of biodiesel. “In 2004, we harvested more than 3 million bushels of soybeans. Think how many gallons of biodiesel we can produce!” she added.

At full capacity, MAB will produce 6 million gallons a year. Minner noted the United States imports 12.5 million barrels a day of oil. “We need to move in the direction of being self-sufficient for fuel.

USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Thomas C. Dorr commented on the great partnership relation between USDA, the state, Greater Atlantic Bank of Reston, Va., and Mid-Atlantic Biodiesel. USDA provided the original seed money for the project through the state. “It looked like an uphill battle for Marty then,” he said.

In all, with the help of the Delaware Congressional Delegation, grants and loans totaling more than $5.7 million were made available to MAB.

Dorr noted that in 1999, a half-million gallons of biodiesel were produced in the United States. By the end of 2005, 95 million was being produced annually. By the end of 2006, he said, “we’ll be producing 245 million gallons. That’s an extraordinary growth rate.”

He added the country has come to the realization that energy security and national security are things we have to pay attention to.

“Renewable energy is good for America,” he said. “We are set to replace one million barrels of crude oil with rural-originated energy sources. This is a huge new opportunity for the environment and for the economy of our country.”

This year, 3 to 3.5 percent of all the fuel we consume will be from renewable resources, he added.

Recalling his first meeting with Marty at a bioproducts conference in Washington, Dorr concluded, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see an adjunct facility here some day producing other bioproducts.”

Obviously happy that the plant is finally operational, Marty Ross credited Minner with the idea.
With Delaware Department of Transportation using biodiesel and Delaware farmers growing soybeans from which the oil was then a surplus commodity, why not make biodiesel right here in Delaware, she had asked.

Ross also credited Delaware Ag Secretary Mike Scuse for finding the site, a 6-acre abandoned railroad yard.

“The good news is, I’m not in charge of this plant,” Ross quipped, saying he didn’t know how to make biodiesel or which buttons to push. He acknowledged the presence of Brent Murdoch, “the boss here making biodiesel.”

Ross also said that without Marlene Elliott, Delaware/Maryland State director for USDA Rural Development and Water and Environmental Program director James E. Waters of her staff, as well as others in USDA, “we wouldn’t be here today.”

Among others whom he acknowledged were Geoffrey Soares, “the numbers guy, who negotiated all the contracts”; Fred Schultz of Greater Atlantic Bank, and representatives of Pratt Insurance Inc.

“If there are others who think of a renewable energy project, I urge you to be persistent,” Ross said. “Keep beating that horse until it dies or crosses the finish line.”

Lt. Gov. John Carney surveyed the crowd of 75 to 100 people — from Congressional representatives to state and local government officials and business leaders — gathered to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and said, “We have here, under this small tent, all the people necessary to change the world.”

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