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Old 08-19-2010, 06:34 PM
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We are finally making methanol out of wood chips.

This is where I work. The picture was taken before the plant was built. I either ride a bicycle to work or a Yamaha Big Bear 400cc 4 wheeler (1gallon/week fuel economy). I go into town 2 times/week. Town is a one grocery store type of place with 3 red lights that is 3 miles away from where I live.

The town is in much worse condition (economically) than it was prior to ~1975 when I moved away. Back then it was a thriving farming community and had a couple factories and two cotton gins. Needless to say farming labor ain't from around here anymore and the folks that worked on the farm are getting government checks once/month to live on/survive. I am talking about some poor, poor black and white folk. Very unfortunate situation but one I suspect plays out throughout America.

Anyway, the plant was built adjacent to our land and they purchased ~160 acres of land from us for some of the plant site. I can step off of my property and into the plant.

I love the commute and have attached a picture that I took earlier this week on the ride home. It is a picture of a king snake eating an oak snake. the oak snake was as big as the king snake and it took about 50 minutes for it to devour it. I wish I had been there when it first latched on.

In regards to the plant this is my first time being involved in a brand new plant build/start up. The process itself is very impressive and it is nice to see another demand for pine chips come along. Right now pulp wood (used to make the pine chips) sells for $10/ton which is a very depressed price if you want to sell. We have a few bugs to work through to fine tune the process but we are getting there.

Check it out.

Range Fuels

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We are finally making methanol out of wood chips.-king-snake-eating-corn-snake-p1.jpg  
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Old 08-19-2010, 07:07 PM
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I can't begin to congratulate you and your company enough.

Best of luck.
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Old 08-19-2010, 09:10 PM
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That was an interesting article, thanks!
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Old 08-20-2010, 07:05 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by engatwork View Post
Right now pulp wood (used to make the pine chips) sells for $10/ton which is a very depressed price if you want to sell. We have a few bugs to work through to fine tune the process but we are getting there.
I wonder if the pine trees that were killed by the beetles - i.e. millions of them here in CO the last few years may be used in the production?! If so, there is an immense amount of raw materials here in CO that could be used in the production of methanol... would love to see that done - at least some good could come from the devastation our forrests sustained the last 5-6 years.

Edit: I just read the article and it looks like the company is based in CO so chances are the our beetle kill is not choice material for their operation or else they wouldn't be building the plant in GA...

Best of luck in your endeavors -
James
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Old 08-20-2010, 07:32 AM
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Nice! Well done!

Doesn't Adam Bourrasa here run a top alcohol car or something?
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Old 08-20-2010, 09:49 AM
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Old 08-20-2010, 11:47 AM
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Now, if someone would come up with a to use Johnson Grass for bio mass, places like OK would become the new energy capital of the US....

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