The Project
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Overview
The Emergence of a vibrant California market for ethanol due to the
phase out of ethyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as an oxygenate in
gasoline, coincides with a chronic power shortage situation in
the state of California. This situation has fueled a rash of proposed
projects to respond to either need. The project being proposed by
Imperial Bioresources LLC in Imperial County responds to both shortages.
In evaluating the most sustainable project scenario, we looked
to an unlikely industrial partner, namely the existing sugar beet
facility.
Today there is a general trend towards integrating
multi-process facilities in a way that enhances energy and manpower
utilization efficiencies, migrating away from the stand alone single
product production site concept that requires all of its own dedicated
services. Imperial Bioresources LLC is intent on applying this trend to
the production of ethanol and electrical power, thereby making the
project more competitive and less sensitive to the value of, or market
demand for, any one product. One of the most attractive features of the
proposed project is the efficiency of conversion of an energy crop in an
area noted for record yields of such crops. This project provides
California and the Imperial Valley with a new source of renewable
energy, generating a substantial amount of electricity while producing
ethanol in a manner that is fully sustainable.
This project presents an environmentally responsible solution to the
ever increasing demand within California for renewable
liquid fuels, an MTBE substitute, and for renewable power. At the
same time, it creates new and exciting efficiencies within the existing
sugar manufacturing industry. This is a win-win situation for the
community since it creates a new commercial crop - sugarcane - and
new employment opportunities, while making a significant contribution to
helping the environment and preserving existing jobs at the local beet
factory.
