As a person who has done DD on other stocks I say thank you for doing the DD and even though you do it for yourself you have chosen to share it with others. IMHO a selfless act and kudos to you.
I had close to 3hrs of conv with 7 individuals, at different levels, and all confirmed BLDV's various research initiative and association with Chev and many local oil companies.
I have few friends at TAM, who also confirmed the same. If time permits, I may even go personally to meet couple of high profile exec, with whom I am in touch ( All these exec details are listed on web link, I posted earlier)
Sterling ,with the CHEVRON/BLDV relation ;Chevron is very interested in biodiesel and already made its first investment in a biodiesel plant in may 2007
Bioselect and Chevron Unveil Fully Operational Biodiesel Plant in Galveston, Texas
and what is interesting to notice is that Chevron through Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV), a division of Chevron, USA, Inc( champions innovation, commercialization and integration of emerging technologies and related new business models within Chevron)is after opportunities related to the production and distribution of biofuels in the United States.
the University will assist Blue Diamond with the production and conversion of non-food crops for manufacturing biofuels
it is all about:The conversion of non-food crops for manufacturing of biofuels.It is a revolutionary concept
Belise is the pilot project for a much bigger US project/operations that
will be in joint with CHEVRON imo !!!
and here we see the interest of CHEVRON in BLDV :
Chevron and Texas A&M Form Strategic Biofuels Research Alliance http://www.chevron.com/news/press/Release/?id=2007-05-29b Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) and the Texas A&M Agriculture and Engineering BioEnergy Alliance (Texas A&M BioEnergy Alliance) announced today that they have entered into a strategic research agreement to accelerate the production and conversion of crops for manufacturing ethanol and other biofuels from cellulose.
i wouldn't be surprised to see the deal pop soon between the two!!
Sterling, we owe you a debt of gratitude, if this does what we all expect you may find a bunch of Christmas gift baskets showing up at your door this year.
Biofuels are transportation fuels produced from biomass. Biofuels fall into two broad categories based on their feedstock and the process used to produce the finished product.
First-generation biofuels are produced in two ways. One way is through the fermentation of either starch-based food products — such as corn kernels — or sugar-based food products — such as sugar cane — into ethanol. Another way is by processing vegetable oils, such as soy, rapeseed and palm, into biodiesel.
Second-generation biofuels are made from a wider variety of nonfood sources, such as cellulose, algae and recovered waste products. Still in the early development stages, second-generation biofuels could play an integral role in diversifying the world's energy sources by greatly expanding the pool of potential feedstocks while not using food-based products for fuel. These fuels have the potential to be created from renewable resources such as switchgrass, forest and agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, and new energy crops. These next-generation fuels may play an important role in diversifying the world's energy sources and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
What Are the Benefits? Biofuels are renewable, meaning their sources can be regrown. And depending on the feedstock, the processing technology and the type of fuel produced, they can offer environmental benefits such as lower carbon emissions and lower sulfur compared with conventional petroleum-based fuels.
In the United States, some states now require gasoline to be blended with up to 10 percent ethanol. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 set a mandatory Renewable Fuel Standard requiring fuel producers to use at least 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. This increase in renewable fuels is projected to represent roughly 5 percent of the total U.S. gasoline consumption. Most of this increase is expected to be ethanol.
What Chevron Is Doing Chevron has invested approximately $2 billion in developing alternative and renewable energy technologies and in energy efficiency systems since 2002, and the company expects to spend more than $2.5 billion in these areas between 2007 and 2009.
As part of our strategy to invest in renewable energy technologies, we have formed a business unit to advance technology and pursue commercial opportunities related to the production and distribution of advanced biofuels. Chevron's biofuels business unit is actively investing in the acceleration of the scientific, technical and commercial breakthroughs necessary to bring nonfood biofuels to large-scale commercial production.
Chevron is collaborating with leading laboratories and universities to develop new technologies and feedstocks in nonfood biofuels production. We have formed strategic research alliances with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Texas A&M University, the University of California at Davis, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels.
Chevron and Weyerhaeuser Co., one of the world's largest forest products companies, have formed a 50-50 joint venture — Catchlight Energy LLC — to develop the next generation of renewable transportation fuels from nonfood sources. Catchlight's initial focus is developing and demonstrating novel technologies for converting cellulose and lignin — the structural building blocks of all plants and trees — into economical, low-carbon biofuels.
Updated: March 2008 Email Technology Ventures Identifying emerging technologies that have the potential to transform energy production and use.
** Earnings of $4.88 billion, or $2.32 per share. ** Revenue also rose 29% to $61.41 billion. ** For the full year, Chevron posted a record profit of $18.69 billion, or $8.77 per share.
So now I see that money really isn’t as much of an issue with Chevron as I think “reason” is more important and is the issue at hand. To add…
http://www.chevron.com/news/press/Release/?id=2007-05-29b Chevron is investing across the energy spectrum to develop energy sources for future generations by expanding the capabilities of today's alternative and renewable energy technologies. Between 2002 and 2006, Chevron spent roughly $2 billion on renewables and alternative energy and energy efficiency initiatives. Between 2007 and 2009, Chevron expects to spend more than $2.5 billion.
So now I ask… Why would Chevron want to fund the Belize operation for BLDV?
From what was confirmed in the links above, Chevron and BLDV established a relationship from having a mutual partner in the biodiesel research facilities at Texas A&M. Bottom line, for Chevron to have gone to BLDV to establish a relationship with them, Chevron must have discovered some things that would be greatly beneficial to them generating Revenues. Believe me, Chevron thinks big picture and they would not have gone to BLDV just because they were nice guys. Something big exists here with BLDV and Chevron sees it.
Chevron, like BLDV, sees the potential to defeat the Economic factors that hinder your normal US biodiesel facilities by maybe even becoming the hub for supplying them. Chevron, like BLDV, knows that Belize has the largest water supply in the Western Hemisphere so water would not be an issue as it is with many of the US facilities.
Chevron, like BLDV, also knows that the price of feedstock such as corn, soybean, etc. has dramatically increased in the US due to the huge increase in demand and lack of supply for only having one growing season basically per year. Chevron knows that Belize has 4 growing seasons and that BLDV has thousands of acres to where growing feedstock all year round would meet the demand for the supply required to support their operations. Chevron knows too that BLDV has all of the political relationships for Belize already achieved and is already well rooted and has been for years.
Chevron wants to be the first company to have biodiesel coming out of the pumps in the US and abroad while cornering the biodiesel market. Chevron knows that they are light years ahead of some while other major companies are trying to tap in on this market too as the likes of BP with what they have going on in Brazil as you can read below for those details: http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=29031973
Chevron sees that what they can do by injecting them selves into the Belize operation would be life changing to save an economy. The production facilities would generate thousands of jobs for the people of Belize which would make the Belize government gain very favorable credibility from its people. These jobs would be very secured jobs as we all know the many uses of fuel and the wealth that comes from such.
From talking to the BLDV CEO in May 08, I am very confident that new relations have been established with the new Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow, who was officially elected on 8 Feb 08. He educated me very well as to how they had the full support of the Belize government as he explained to me why they chose Belize as I mentioned above. Here below it states that the new Belize Prime Minister already met with President Bush. They addressed the issues relating to biofuel and how it affected the market by increasing the price for food by 34% for the year 2007. It was also mentioned that the US would be getting involved to provide more support as President Bush mentioned that the Caribbean region is important to the United States: http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2008/03/080321_newsinbrief.shtml
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