Aug 7 2010
Northeast Biodiesel and Co-op Power have broken ground towards the construction of a biodiesel manufacturing plant on the property spanning 26.5 acres in an industrial park on Silvio O. Conte Drive in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
The plant is anticipated to be operational by 2011 January. Northeast Biodiesel will start producing biodiesel fuel to the extent of 1.75 million gallons during the first year while planning to double the quantity to about 3.5 million gallons by the next year.
The plant will be using recycled vegetable oil as well as animal fats for producing clean, renewable biodiesel fuel for the purpose of home heating and transportation. Biodiesel can either be used alone or combined with diesel fuel. The Greenfield town will be benefited by the jobs created by this plant such as construction, facility maintenance as well as truckers and drivers for picking up the recycled oil and delivering biofuel blend home heating oil.
During the first year of operations, the plant is anticipated to receive $45,000 by way of taxes. Northeast Biodiesel has received around $500,000 by way of federal grants. The role of Co-op Power, Northeast Biodiesel and the members in the ownership of the plant has been designed in such a way that the plant ownership will stay community-owned.
Source: Northeast Biodiesel