PO Box 1146
Salida, CO USA  81201
(719) 539-0300
Fax: (719) 539-0301
info@bbibiofuels.com  

Posted on  

October 20, 2000

BC International Sees New CA Agricultural Fund Bill as Important Step for Biomass Ethanol Industry

BC International Corporation (BCI), a leader in the development of biomass ethanol technologies, today remarked on the significance of the enactment of California Assembly Bill 2514. The bill earmarks $2 million of incentives for businesses that utilize rice straw. BCI believes this will facilitate the development of the biomass ethanol industry in California. The biomass ethanol industry will spur economic development in California's agriculture communities, provide a beneficial use for California's growing agriculture and biomass wastes, and help to improve air quality.

The Bill, authored by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson, (8th District, Democrat) establishes an Agricultural Biomass Utilization Fund, which is designed to help transform previously burned agricultural wastes into agricultural commodities. The impetus for the bill's creation was the current situation in the rice-growing region of the Sacramento Valley. Rice farmers there have traditionally burned rice straw residue as part of the harvesting process, which results in significant air pollutants in the region.

"The agricultural community and rice farmers deserves praise for their work with the Legislature and Governor to pass this bill. It will serve as a significant contribution to the open field burning issue and will help create a new industry in California," said Stephen J. Gatto, President and Chief Executive Officer of BCI. "We look forward to continuing to work with them to turn rice straw waste into an agricultural resource that our technology will convert into ethanol, a clean burning renewable fuel."

Funding supplied in this bill will create a market for rice straw and encourage new technologies and industries, like the production of ethanol, which can utilize rice straw and other agricultural wastes. Other beneficial uses for rice straw include energy production, animal bedding, erosion control, and other marketable products.

"This is truly an exciting time for the biomass ethanol industry, one that will bring with it new economic growth, energy security, and countless environmental benefits," said Gatto. "We believe that the passage of AB 2514 is further evidence that California will be at the forefront in advancement of this industry both in the U.S. and the world."

The passage of this bill is also significant, given the current regulatory and legislative environment surrounding the gasoline additive MTBE. Last year, Governor Davis was the first state executive in the nation to call for a phase out of MTBE, which has been linked to the contamination of certain water supplies in the state. AB 2514 will help to provide investors and developers with the incentives to begin construction of a local biomass ethanol industry, which would supply ethanol, a much-needed, clean alternative to MTBE, and renewable fuel source. The development of the ethanol industry in California would also increase energy security be decreasing its dependence on imported petroleum products.

BCI is one of the leaders in the development of technology to convert biomass into ethanol, industrial grade alcohol, and other products. The company has two projects in development in the state that will help in the advancement of the biomass industry in the state. In Gridley, California, BCI has been selected to be the developer, major owner and operator of a facility that will produce 20 million gallons of ethanol from the region's rice straw. In Chester, California, BCI has entered an agreement with the Collins Companies, a privately owned timber firm, to develop a biomass-to ethanol and co-generated electricity project that will produce 23 million gallons of ethanol yearly using forest thinnings.

"We thank Assemblywoman Thomson for her leadership and Governor Davis in his affirmation of the economic and environmental benefits this legislation will bring California," noted Stephen J. Gatto. "This bill is an important step in helping to solve the present problem of rice straw burning and its effects on air quality. In addition, it will also help alleviate the severe economic burdens faced by farmers in dealing with this material, and create new industries and jobs resulting from emerging technologies."

Based in Dedham, Massachusetts, BCI uses proprietary and patented technologies to produce ethanol fuel, industrial grade alcohol, and other specialty chemicals from biomass. Additional information on BCI can be found at www.bcintlcorp.com
 

Click here to see previously posted News items in our Archive