4 minutes with…Tim Sklar, President, Sklar & Associates

Tell us about your organization and it’s role in the advanced bioeconomy.

Sklar & Associates is a South Carolina based consulting firm now specializing in Biofuels project development. He is an expert in project finance and conducts extensive due diligence investigations, viability assessments, and prepares business plans

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

S&A is actively engaged in development of a biorefinery converting 360,000 dry tons per year (~1,000 dTPD) of Refuse Derived Fuel’ (“RDF”) derived primarily from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW”) and other combustible wastes that would otherwise be diverted into landfills operated by three county SWAs. This biorefinery will gasify the RDF using a proven steam reforming gasifier to produce high methane syngas. The syngas will be reformed into jet fuel using a small scale F-T process that is expected to yield 10 ~18 million gpy of jet fuel.

The Capex for this project now estimated at~$110 million, is expected to adhere to the $4/gallon capital expenditure guidelines established by the Defense Production Act so that this project can qualify for DPA grants and DoE loan guarantees. The JP-5 and JP=8 is expected to be sold to US Navy and Airforce under contract prices that will assure high rates of return to biorefinery owners and to participating SWAs.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?

The biofuels industry must demonstrate that commercial scale projects can be built quickly, around standard components and in relatively small increments that are also scaleable at reasonable cost. They must be able to produce high value products not just syngas, methanol and ethanol.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change?

A coherent energy policy especially in the US is needed. Achievable goals must be set for Co2 emissions, coal use, clean energy alternatives development. Stiff penalties and taxes, as well as adequate incentives are needed to cause a significant shift away from practices that contribute to global warming. Underwriting project risk is a must.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?

Even though I am considered old, I have kids too and I am truly concerned about where all this is heading. The advanced bio-economy industry offers solutions that should help forestall problems we are creating through unabated use of fossil fuels. And the solutions are interesting and challenging, if not yet lucrative.

Where are you from? 

Born raised and educated in Philadelphia, PA Most of career spent working out of NY and DC and traveling internationally. Now semi-retired in South Carolina

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway? 

Majored in Accounting at Temple University. earning a BS Became a CPA. Changed careers became a consultant to management specializing in financial modeling and use of management science tools. Later specialized in infrastructure and energy project development, teaming with numerous international consulting engineering firms.

Who do you consider your mentors. What have you learned from them?

My most significant mentors are all dead. I now try to learn from younger people. I have received many insights from people who are currently involved in my biofuels project development efforts. A number of them have been involved in torrefaction, in agri-crop development in woody biomass harvesting, in waste-to-energy plant technology and now, in waste-to-liquid fuels processes. And there is Jim Lane and all who contribute to Biofuels Digest.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?

Its not over until it is over. Get up, don’t give up. Rethink what you are doing. Put yourself in your adversary’s position, and try to find common ground. Try again. Learn from your mistakes. And do not be blind to the truth or believe only what you want to see happen.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry? 

Classic Italian and French automobiles
Boating

What 3 books would you take to read, if stranded on a desert island?

my Kindle
New York Review of Books

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?

The Bully Pulpit, Doris Kerns Goodwin;
World Order, Henry Kissinger
Thomas Jefferson, John Meacham
Killing Jesus, Bill O’Reilly
End of Faith, Sam Harris

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

Paris
Philadelphia
Washington