$25M to develop renewable fuel

SOUTH TOLEDO - An estimated $25 million in mostly federal stimulus recovery funds is headed to Toledo that will help build a bio-refinery plant that in time could jump-start new energy across the country.

The new test facility, located inside Red Lion Bio Energy on Research Drive near the University of Toledo Medical Center campus and Bowsher High School, will keep and create upwards of 100 new jobs.

On-hand for the announcement was Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and other dignitaries.

Ladies and gentlemen, let's restart our engines," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "This important federal award will further underscore our commitment to developing a robust alternative energy sector in this region. The biodiesel plant will operate on a parallel track with the solar energy plants in our region in a strategy to diversify our economy. We intend to deploy our assets — location, port facilities, infrastructure, work ethic, and know how — as we restructure our economy for the 21st Century and reduce our dependence on imported petroleum."

The unique thing about the prototype is that you can turn any sort of waste into diesel.

"Rice, straw, wheat straw, lumber chips and convert into biofuel that can then for example biodiesel that can actually begin to decrease our dependence on importing foreign oil," said Energy Secretary Chu.

"This is going to make a big difference for farm families across Ohio it's going to make a big difference for America," added Agriculture Secretary Vilsack.

Upwards of $19 million in federal stimulus money will be used to fund the $25 million project. If all goes well, the idea is that this pilot project in Toledo will be used commercially within the next three years in California, and hopefully beyond, even becoming a technology export for the world.

"Every time I have to send off another unit to Iraq, every time I'm faced with a vote in Congress sending our far flunged places to guard the sea lane so that oil can come in here, that is not a noble pursuit on my part," Kaptur said, "This is a noble pursuit."

There is no timetable when plant construction will start.