Aug 13 2010
The Monadnock Biodiesel Collaborative, in partnership with Keene State College in the city of Keene and other investing companies, has made known its plans to start a biodiesel plant and a research lab in Keen before the fall.
The Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H who released the information also details the $150,000 federal boost expected to be received by the project. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved this funding that comes as a part of the U.S. Department of Labor-Health and Human Services for the year 2011. To realize this fund it has to be approved by the full senate.
Melinda D. Treadwell, who works as Dean of professional and graduate studies at Keene State, and who has been leading the project, said that the federal funding will be used for constructing an emissions testing laboratory and for organizing a learning program for the benefit of the students and professors. She added that the proposed biodiesel plant will be located at 57 Ralston St., north of the college campus. According to her, while the plant will occupy half of the building space, the other half is earmarked for an emissions testing laboratory that received the federal funding of a $100,000 last year.
Treadwell said the students will be allowed to verify the quality of the biodiesel in the lab. She added that the researchers will have the benefit of testing various biodiesel mixes to stumble on the clean burning one. Currently the organizers of the venture are waiting for the building permits to revamp the proposed facility and lab.
Source: http://www.monadnockbiodiesel.com/