A proposed $532-million, 320-million-gallon biodiesel refinery… one of the world’s largest… is up for a vote before the Chesapeake, Virginia Planning Commission tonight to decide if the project will move forward.
But this story in the Virginian-Pilot says even if the commission approves the plan, there are issues over the developer securing the land:
Developer Smiling Earth Energy LLC and landowner David Peck continue to have different takes on the status of the deal. Peck has said the company defaulted on its purchase agreement after missing two key payments and that the property, in the city’s South Norfolk section, is back on the market.
Smiling Earth Principal Clifford M. Cowles said Tuesday everything is going smoothly and that the firm expects to close on the land later this month.
The differences will not interfere with tonight’s advisory vote, city planners said. Next, the matter would go to the Chesapeake City Council, which could make a final decision next month.
An ethanol plant planned just across the river from this biodiesel plant ran into a series of protests and problems that have put the brakes on the ethanol refinery. But the biodiesel plant seems to be only facing some fire safety rules.
The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee is Collin Peterson who represents Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District. He took the stage here today at the ACE Convention.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty just finished speaking here at the ACE Convention.
Right now Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty is speaking here at the ACE Convention.
Breakfast was in the trade show here at the ACE convention. 
The 
Hello from the 
A potential big producer of Ohio ethanol is Greater Ohio Ethanol, LLC (see its proposed plant picture on the left), which received $85.5 million in state incentives to get going. It’s part of $450 million in government loans and state-backed incentives to get the industry off the ground in Ohio.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has agreed to buy 15 million gallons of biodiesel this year… and another 18 million gallons a year for the next four years… to run some of its cruise ships from Seattle-based biodiesel giant Imperium Renewables.
“We believe this is the single-largest long-term biodiesel sales contract to an end user in the U.S.,” the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Indiana Clean Energy, LLC is getting ready to break ground on a $90 million, 80-million-gallon-per-year biodiesel plant in the next couple of months (see the artist’s rendering).