It's been three years in the making, but
RenewaFUEL this week cut the ribbon on its first-ever Michigan facility.
The next-generation biomass fuel production facility, which will churn out biofuel cubes 24 hours a day and seven days a week, is located at the Telkite Technology Park at the former Air Force base K.I. Sawyer between Marquette and Gwinn.
Production at the plant is expected to commence within weeks to begin production of high-energy, low-emission biofuel cubes, which are approximately the size of a coal briquette. The biofuel cubes are expected to be produced at a rate of 150,000 tons per year and created from sustainably collected wood and agricultural feedstocks, which will be supplied from local loggers and farmers.
"We are pleased to announce that production is imminent at the Sawyer location, which will be Cliffs' first, full-scale, commercial production facility for this product," says William Brake, chairman of RenewaFUEL and executive vice president, strategic alternatives and chief technical officer for
Cliffs Natural Resources, the majority owner of the biofuel company. "Today's official ribbon cutting marks an exciting new economic opportunity for RenewaFUEL and Cliffs, and will provide an advancement for Michigan's growing renewable energy industry."
The biofuel cubes generate about the same amount of energy as coal from the Western United States. However, they emit 90 percent less sulfur dioxide, 35 percent less particulate matter and 30 percent less acid gases than coal. In addition, the feedstocks used to create them are considered biogenic carbon -- meaning they are already part of the natural carbon balance and will not add to atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.
The plant, which was constructed at a capital cost of $19 million, will employ approximately 25 people.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: William Brake, RenewaFUEL
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