California Energy Commission awards $17 million for green transport projects

In California, the California Energy Commission today approved $17.2 million through the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, created by Assembly Bill 118. The program, which is essential to fulfilling the state’s pioneering climate-change policies, is slated to invest approximately $90 million during this fiscal year to develop new transportation technologies, as well as alternative and renewable fuels. It is paid for through surcharges on vehicle and boating registrations, and smog check and license plate fees.

Among the recipients are:

Eslinger Biodiesel, Inc., will receive $6 million to build a commercial biodiesel production facility in Fresno. The first phase of this $32 million refinery is slated to be operating within a year of funding, producing 5 million gallons a year of biodiesel made from waste vegetable oils obtained from restaurants and commercial food producers, and animal fats obtained from rendering operations. Eventual production of biodiesel is expected to be 45 million gallons a year. The output will be shipped by pipeline to commercial blending facilities and is slated to be pre-sold to companies obligated to purchase carbon credit offsets. In addition to high-quality biodiesel, the plant will produce pharmaceutical and technical grade glycerin. Pipeline transport of fuel and waterless processing will result in near-zero production emissions at the facility.

Blue Line Transfer, Inc., will receive $2,590,929 to build an anaerobic digestion facility in South San Francisco. This facility is slated to convert 9,000 tons per year of food and plant waste into biomethane that will be used to produce compressed natural gas for a fleet of five refuse and recycling collection vehicles. The fuel produced will be enough to replace 56,000 gallons of conventional diesel. The project is expected to create three permanent full-time jobs. Blue Line Transfer is based in South San Francisco (San Mateo County).

Sacramento Municipal Utility District will receive $1,819,166 to facilitate the completion of a project to demonstrate a patented process developed at the Argonne National Laboratory to optimize the production of biomethane and reduce carbon dioxide from anaerobic digestion. The project will be demonstrated at the American River Packaging organic waste recycling facility in Natomas.