$150 million biofuels facility planned for Port of Vancouver USA

$150 million biofuels facility planned for Port of Vancouver USA Rappaport Energy Consulting has reached agreement with the Port of Vancouver USA on a letter of intent to build a $150 million biofuels facility on 30 acres of the Columbia Gateway project site designated for new maritime and heavy industrial use.
   The first phase of Rappaport’s project would be the development of a biodiesel processing plant capable of 60 million gallons a year. The plant would be designed to handle vegetable oils, animal fats or palm oil.
   The second phase of project construction would be a cogeneration plant and ethanol biorefinery, which would use waste streams collected from Vancouver and the metropolitan area as feedstock. Through its processes, the plant would convert waste into ethanol and co-products, and would use waste heat in generation of electricity.
   Investment in the project is estimated at $150 million and is expected to create 135 construction jobs and 95 permanent jobs. Projections show the plant would generate 20 megawatts of electricity and roughly 25 million gallons of ethanol.
   “This is really a very exciting project,” said Larry Paulson, Port of Vancouver executive director. “It creates a significant number of jobs, and when we talk about reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels, it's fuel like biodiesel that we will need to turn to, and Rappaport Energy is on the leading edge of this technology.”
   Vancouver Port Commissioners are expected to consider the letter of intent at their Wednesday meeting.