This is another step in the right direction for alternative fuel sources. It would seem as though we are slightly behind the eight with regard to developing alternative fuel development plants like this here in the states. I expect to see researchers and developers creating the infrastructure to support such endeavors with in the next 5-7 years. Go Green Tech!!!

Clean Fuel Production

UPDATE: Waste Management invests in PA waste-to-gasoline plant

By CHRISTOPHER CLAUSEN and DEE DIXON

August 27, 2009
Posted: August 26, 2009, 11:15 PM CDT Last updated: August 26, 2009, 11:59 PM CDT

Waste Management Inc. said Wednesday it will invest in a waste-to-fuel conversion technology plant in Port Arthur that will make high-octane gasoline from grass clippings and other organic waste.

The nation's largest trash hauler will join refiner Valero Energy Corp., to invest in Terrabon LLC.

Valero, the No. 1 U.S. independent refiner, recently increased its investment in Terrabon since its first investment in April.

In July, Malcolm McNeill, Terrabon's chief financial officer, told The Enterprise the plant could cost as much as $40 million and could create perhaps 100 permanent direct and indirect jobs, supporting an annual payroll of about $2.8 million.

The plant could produce as much as 1.3 million gallons of gasoline per year, he said.

Floyd Batiste, Port Arthur Economic Development Corp. director, said Wednesday the PAEDC board of commissioners will vote on offering the company an incentive based on its capital investment and jobs created.

Terrabon applied for a $25 million grant with the U.S. Department of Energy to build the refinery and the company applied to the Texas Emerging Technology Fund so that it could convert municipal solid waste to "green gasoline," according to a July 28 news release on its Web site.

Batiste said the application is under review but, "all indications are it's favorable."

Exiled Chinese auto tycoon eyes Alabama for clean-tech car manufacturing plant

Posted by Dawn Kent--Birmingham News July 09, 2009 5:08 PM

An exiled Chinese tycoon who was once a major player in the country's auto industry plans to launch a clean-tech car manufacturing operation in Alabama that will create thousands of jobs in its initial phase, a report says.

Yang Rong, who fled China after being accused of economic crimes and is now living in California, expects to make an announcement about the new venture later this month, according to a Reuters report from Hong Kong.

Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade said his office doesn't discuss active projects, but he added that the state's business recruiters are working several automotive projects that go beyond mainstream manufacturers.

Reuters, which cited a source with direct knowledge of the project, said Yang has hired a former General Motors Corp. senior executive to run the new company's daily operations. His plan also has the support of former Vice President Al Gore, a key environmental activist and partner in the California venture capital firm Kleiner Perkings Caufield & Byers, the report says.

Yang, the former chairman of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd., was ranked by Forbes magazine in 2001 as China's third-richest man, with an estimated wealth of $840 million.

He is credited with helping transform Brilliance China from a stagnant state-owned auto factory into a top minivan maker, according to Automotive News. The trade journal reported in 2002 that Chinese authorities wanted to arrest him for "suspected involvement in economic crimes" which were not related to the company's operations.

Brilliance China also is a manufacturing partner of German automaker BMW in China.

The news about Yang's plans in Alabama comes just a week after South Korea's CT&T Co. Ltd. said it is considering the state, along with others, as a site for at least part of its plans to build electric vehicles in the United States.

The company said it wants to establish a North American headquarters, a research and development center and several manufacturing facilities to produce and market a line of electric vehicles and batteries.

Such projects are likely to become more common as foreign investors see tremendous opportunities in the U.S. market, where domestic automakers General Motors and Chrysler are distracted with bankruptcy proceedings, said Keivan Deravi, an economist at Auburn University at Montgomery.

There's also tremendous hype about energy conservation, alternative fuels and hybrids, leading to great market possibilities for clean-tech cars like Yang is proposing, he said.

But Deravi added that the project also will likely require major fixed costs and overhead expenses.

"Any kind of venture like this is a challenge...it's probably a multi-billion dollar investment that's not going to be profitable in the short-run, and you need the infusion of cash to continue," he said.

Details about the funding of Yang's plans are unclear, although Reuters says the new firm is seeking financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides loans to auto manufacturers to produce advanced technology vehicles.

The department does not comment on specific applications for its loan programs, a spokeswoman said.

Foreign investors also have been known to turn to the EB-5 Visa Program, through which the U.S. government awards a limited number of visas to those whose financing helps create jobs.

In this state, the Montgomery-based Alabama Center for Foreign Investment LLC is the regional center that specializes in EB-5 deals, but its director, Ron Drinkard, declined to comment on Yang's plans.

"We would not be able to comment on any company that we are considering for EB-5 funding prior to an announcement by the Alabama Development Office," he said.

According to Reuters, Yang's new company will build cars in Alabama, with plans to sell them nationwide, while it also seeks partners in China, where he hopes to produce cars for local consumers.

Tags: clean-tech car manufacturing, Dawn Kent, Yang Rong

Data and Research

I am researching "Green Companies" in the Tri State area. Ideally I would like to see everyone's suport. I have 14 pages of preliminary data to sift through. You will be receiving correspodance from me al you "Green Techers" I hope to speak to you soon.

Show Your "Greenovations"

Do you recall the movie "Back to the Future" where the hero Marty Mcfly played by Michael J. Fox went to 2015. Remember all the awesome technologies that were made available to the future consumers of the world. "How many of theses technologies do you think are "Green".

At Green Tech-X, we want to bring green products, technologies, and services to the fore front.
Primarily our goal is to provide consumers with green product and service alternatives to conventional products in today's market.

From Solar water heaters to recycled glass counters we are excited to advertise your products with Green Tech-X on a brand new 2010 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. As you may know new technologies take time to come to market and they tend to be moderately more expensive than their conventional counter part. We want "Green Tech" to be mainstream sooner than later. To that end we are beginning our "Green Tech-X" campaign to bring awareness to the vast ocean of Green products and services available

Help us bring "Green Tech" mainstream. Advertise your company on our Hybrid Chevy Tahoe for as low as 1.99 per day. Our Hybrid Tahoe will drive over 1000 miles per month. We have working relationships with a number of Architects, Interior Designers, Builders, and Consumer Product Researchers who all look forward to working with future Green products.

Contact: GreenTechX@gmail.com for details