nj, looks like its someone else...
Company plans big ethanol plant in Oak Ridge
By RICHARD POWELSON, powelsonr@shns.com
May 1, 2006
WASHINGTON — A Florida company, BRI Energy, today announced tentative plans to build one or two ethanol-producing facilities at the closed K-31 complex in Oak Ridge, which within five years might employ 500.
William Bruce, BRI's president, said he hopes for federal loan guarantees for part of the funding of both projects: one to convert western coal to ethanol, a renewable fuel that can be mixed with gasoline in motor vehicles, and the other to convert burnable municipal waste (paper, plastic, garbage, leather) to ethanol.
Neither patented process would add any air pollution to the area, and the Tennessee Valley Authority is interested in the steam power from the process for its power system or to wheel to other power producers, he said in an interview.
The coal gasification facility would cost $25 million, and is seeking a $20-million federal loan guarantee, he said. Congress approved federal help for such plants in last year's energy bill.
The municipal waste facility would require $62.5 million in private investment and a $250-million federal loan guarantee, he said.
The company is meeting with federal officials Tuesday on the loan-guarantee process.
Bruce said that Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a member of the House renewable energy caucus, initially steered him to look at the K-31 plant for the ethanol facility. It has 17.5 acres under one roof.
The waste-conversion process would help many communities that are running out of landfill space, Bruce said.
The coal-gasification process would remain competitive with gasoline as long as oil remains at or above about $30 a barrel, he said, and oil costs now are more than double that cost.
Watch for updates on knoxnews.com and read more details in Tuesday's News Sentinel.
AI
