Bucksport (ME): Biodiesel refinery proposed

[jpak]

http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/penobscot.aspx?articleid=145379&zoneid=183

BUCKSPORT - The town could become home to one of the largest biodiesel refineries in the Northeast by the end of this year.

Dirigo Biofuels, an Iowa-based company whose owners have experience developing similar refineries in the Midwest, is working on plans for a plant in Bucksport that would produce 30 million gallons of biodiesel fuel from vegetable oil each year.

The plant planned by Dirigo Biofuels will be located on Route 15, although the exact site has not yet been determined, according to Tobin Bush, the project coordinator for Dirigo Biofuels.

"That decision has not been made yet," Bush said this week. "It will be located somewhere around the Webber Tanks facility."

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[GreenPartyVoter]

1. That's just a couple of towns from me!

[DainBramaged]

2. LOTS of local jobs too, win win

[LaBanty]

3. these need to be on every street corner

If it is as convenient as buying gas, expect gasoline consumption and out nation's oil dependency to plummet over the next 10 years.

But then - what about poor Bushie and the oil companies? What about basing our politics on oil? Guess what - no longer a factor!

It's win win - absolutely. This never should have taken thirty years to happen, since the gas lines back in the 70's. We had our warning, but nobody gave a shit.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Poor Bushie?

Bush is in deep with a number of alt-energy industries. And on Tuesday evening, during his State of the Union speech, he will announce a major ethanol initiative.

Lots of people assume that "green" energy is a bunch of leftist cottage industries. It's not -- it's big business, and it's poised to become huge business. It will bring the same political problems that big businesses always have.

Granted, greater diversification of our energy sources will help us tremendously in regards to international politics. I support whatever non-fossil fuels we can develop, and we're still slacking badly. But our job will not be over when the energy problem is solved, not by a long shot!

--p!

[freethought]

5. That's AWESOME!

I live in Portland, ME now but used to live in Wiscasset. I have travelled all up and down the Maine coast as far as Machias.
If this plant goes through it could be a great thing. Aside from the summer tourism and ocean related occupations in those coastal communities a good job can be a rare thing indeed! Bravo!!!!

By the way, some of the flat-out-most-awesome-clam chowder I have ever had was from a restaurant in Bucksport. Laugh if you will but a good chowder is hard to find these days.