Ground Breaking Ceremony
(as noted in Salem's Statesman-Journal newspaper)
(as noted in Salem's Statesman-Journal newspaper)
Willamette Biomass Processors
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
© 2008 Willamette Biomass Processors, Inc. All rights reserved
Breaking ground for fuel
Rickreall oilseed crushing plant to convert crops
MICHAEL ROSE
Statesman Journal
December 15, 2007
RICKREALL -- At the former Dallas Co-op Grain Elevator, a start-up
company intends to provide a vital link between agriculture and the
Willamette Biomass Processors plans to open the Willamette Valley's
first oilseed crushing plant in the grain elevator. Crops such as
canola seed will be converted into vegetable oil and sold to biodiesel
producers. Its primary customer likely will be a biodiesel plant in
southeast Salem, which opened in 2005 and is operated as a joint
venture of SeQuential Biofuels and Pacific Biodiesel Inc.
"This project is a direct result of the alternative fuel initiative of
Governor Kulongoski," said Craig Parker, chief executive officer of
Willamette Biomass. This year, Oregon lawmakers passed legislation
that mandated the blending of biodiesel with petroleum diesel based
on biodiesel production levels in the state.
On Friday, officials hosted a tour of its facility. The event attracted
farmers, state energy officials and other well-wishers. They watched
as a truckload of tiny black canola seeds spilled into a storage area.
A new crushing machine roared to life and canola oil ran into a
bucket. The plant isn't operational yet, but by spring, Willamette
Biomass intends to have the capacity to make 4.2 million gallons of
vegetable oil annually.
"This is a fantastic day, standing here in the cold, in this concrete
bunker," said Tomas Endicott, a founder of the SeQuential Biofuels
plant. The Salem biodiesel plant will need more sources of vegetable
oil -- a raw material for its alternative fuel -- to reach its eventual 5
million gallons per year capacity, he said.
Biodiesel, made from a mix of diesel and vegetable oil, powers diesel
engines and burns cleaner than petroleum diesel alone. Cooking oil
from restaurants is used for biodiesel, but there's not enough
cooking grease to meet the projected demand for biodiesel.
Earlier this week, Willamette Biomass was approved for a $1 million,
low-interest loan from an Oregon Department of Energy program,
state officials said.
The meal that remains after seeds are crushed also is a valuable
product -- it's incorporated into livestock feeds.
"As much as we're in the oil business, 60 percent of the profitability
of this plant is the meal,"Marlin Pilcher WBP's VP of Operations.
Canola seed production is based in Eastern Oregon, as well as out
of state. For now, Willamette Biomass mainly will use oilseed crops
trucked to its Rickreall plant from outside the area.
The company hopes to develop other sources of oilseeds closer to
home. Locally grown squash and pumpkin seeds can be converted
to oil for biodiesel production. It's even experimenting with grape
seeds as an oil source.
Oregon agriculture officials have restricted growing canola to
certain areas because it can cross-pollinate with some vegetable
seed crops, ruining their value. For that reason, canola is being
grown only on a tightly controlled, experimental basis in the
Willamette Valley. Camelina, another oil seed crop, has attracted a
resurgence of interest because it can't cross-pollinate with
vegetable seed crops.
Rickreall oilseed crushing plant to convert crops
MICHAEL ROSE
Statesman Journal
December 15, 2007
RICKREALL -- At the former Dallas Co-op Grain Elevator, a start-up
company intends to provide a vital link between agriculture and the
Willamette Biomass Processors plans to open the Willamette Valley's
first oilseed crushing plant in the grain elevator. Crops such as
canola seed will be converted into vegetable oil and sold to biodiesel
producers. Its primary customer likely will be a biodiesel plant in
southeast Salem, which opened in 2005 and is operated as a joint
venture of SeQuential Biofuels and Pacific Biodiesel Inc.
"This project is a direct result of the alternative fuel initiative of
Governor Kulongoski," said Craig Parker, chief executive officer of
Willamette Biomass. This year, Oregon lawmakers passed legislation
that mandated the blending of biodiesel with petroleum diesel based
on biodiesel production levels in the state.
On Friday, officials hosted a tour of its facility. The event attracted
farmers, state energy officials and other well-wishers. They watched
as a truckload of tiny black canola seeds spilled into a storage area.
A new crushing machine roared to life and canola oil ran into a
bucket. The plant isn't operational yet, but by spring, Willamette
Biomass intends to have the capacity to make 4.2 million gallons of
vegetable oil annually.
"This is a fantastic day, standing here in the cold, in this concrete
bunker," said Tomas Endicott, a founder of the SeQuential Biofuels
plant. The Salem biodiesel plant will need more sources of vegetable
oil -- a raw material for its alternative fuel -- to reach its eventual 5
million gallons per year capacity, he said.
Biodiesel, made from a mix of diesel and vegetable oil, powers diesel
engines and burns cleaner than petroleum diesel alone. Cooking oil
from restaurants is used for biodiesel, but there's not enough
cooking grease to meet the projected demand for biodiesel.
Earlier this week, Willamette Biomass was approved for a $1 million,
low-interest loan from an Oregon Department of Energy program,
state officials said.
The meal that remains after seeds are crushed also is a valuable
product -- it's incorporated into livestock feeds.
"As much as we're in the oil business, 60 percent of the profitability
of this plant is the meal,"Marlin Pilcher WBP's VP of Operations.
Canola seed production is based in Eastern Oregon, as well as out
of state. For now, Willamette Biomass mainly will use oilseed crops
trucked to its Rickreall plant from outside the area.
The company hopes to develop other sources of oilseeds closer to
home. Locally grown squash and pumpkin seeds can be converted
to oil for biodiesel production. It's even experimenting with grape
seeds as an oil source.
Oregon agriculture officials have restricted growing canola to
certain areas because it can cross-pollinate with some vegetable
seed crops, ruining their value. For that reason, canola is being
grown only on a tightly controlled, experimental basis in the
Willamette Valley. Camelina, another oil seed crop, has attracted a
resurgence of interest because it can't cross-pollinate with
vegetable seed crops.
TIMOTHY J. GONZALEZ |
STATESMAN JOURNAL
The first load of canola seed is
poured in a storage area on Friday
(Dec. 14, 2007) at Willamette
Biomass Processors, in the
former Dallas Co-op Grain
Elevator in Rickreall.
STATESMAN JOURNAL
The first load of canola seed is
poured in a storage area on Friday
(Dec. 14, 2007) at Willamette
Biomass Processors, in the
former Dallas Co-op Grain
Elevator in Rickreall.
Guests arrive at the former
Dallas Co-op Grain Elevator
Friday, Dec. 14, 2007.
Dallas Co-op Grain Elevator
Friday, Dec. 14, 2007.
GRAND OPENING CEREMONY
(AS NOTED IN CAPITAL AG PRESS)
(AS NOTED IN CAPITAL AG PRESS)
WILLAMETTE BOMASS PROCESSORS holds grand opening ceremony.
Rickreall- More than 100 people helped open the largest commercial oilseed processor in
the Northwest on Friday, with the hope that it will spur more biodiesel production.
Willamette Biomass Processors had a grand opening ceremony at the facility in
Rickreall, 1055 S Pacific Highway West. The facility has the capacity to handle 80 million
pounds of oilseed annually that in turn would be used to create 3 million gallons of
vegetable oil for biodiesel processing.
Willamette Biomass has contracts that will bring it about 8 million pounds of oilseed in
the next year, said Tomas Endicott, the company's VP of business development. It also
may buy product on the open market. With a rail line accessing the sit, the company can
economically get seed from several Western States.
Company owners hope that the processing facility will prompt more local growers to
plant canola and camelina.
Rickreall- More than 100 people helped open the largest commercial oilseed processor in
the Northwest on Friday, with the hope that it will spur more biodiesel production.
Willamette Biomass Processors had a grand opening ceremony at the facility in
Rickreall, 1055 S Pacific Highway West. The facility has the capacity to handle 80 million
pounds of oilseed annually that in turn would be used to create 3 million gallons of
vegetable oil for biodiesel processing.
Willamette Biomass has contracts that will bring it about 8 million pounds of oilseed in
the next year, said Tomas Endicott, the company's VP of business development. It also
may buy product on the open market. With a rail line accessing the sit, the company can
economically get seed from several Western States.
Company owners hope that the processing facility will prompt more local growers to
plant canola and camelina.
GRAND OPENING CEREMONY
(AS NOTED IN THE STATESMAN JOURNAL)
(AS NOTED IN THE STATESMAN JOURNAL)
The missing link between farmers and biofuel producers in Oregon's Willamette Valley was
forged recently with the completion of an oilseed crushing facility in Rickreall, Oregon.
Willamette Biomass Processors officially opened the $1 million plant Sept. 26 and will soon
begin turning oilseed into meal for livestock feed and oil for biodiesel production.
The firm is partnering with Sequential Biofuels,, which recently expanded the capacity of its
biodiesel processing plant in nearby Salem Or.
"They will buy whatever we produce," said Craig Parker CEO of the oilseed crushing
company.
Kathy Freeborn, who farmed an experimental 55 acres of canola, said the crop could be of
value to growers in the region. Canola is one of the crushing facility's feedstock.
Canola production netted Freeborn about $375 more per acre than ryegrass production this
year, she said.
Dairy producers would also benefit from the crop, consedring they must now buy canola
meal produced in the Midwest Freeborn said.
"If they have local canola meal available, it's going to bu used up pretty readily," she said.
forged recently with the completion of an oilseed crushing facility in Rickreall, Oregon.
Willamette Biomass Processors officially opened the $1 million plant Sept. 26 and will soon
begin turning oilseed into meal for livestock feed and oil for biodiesel production.
The firm is partnering with Sequential Biofuels,, which recently expanded the capacity of its
biodiesel processing plant in nearby Salem Or.
"They will buy whatever we produce," said Craig Parker CEO of the oilseed crushing
company.
Kathy Freeborn, who farmed an experimental 55 acres of canola, said the crop could be of
value to growers in the region. Canola is one of the crushing facility's feedstock.
Canola production netted Freeborn about $375 more per acre than ryegrass production this
year, she said.
Dairy producers would also benefit from the crop, consedring they must now buy canola
meal produced in the Midwest Freeborn said.
"If they have local canola meal available, it's going to bu used up pretty readily," she said.
Marlin Pilcher
(in yellow)
VP of
Operations
giving a tour
through the
Silo after the
Grand Opening
Ceremony.
(in yellow)
VP of
Operations
giving a tour
through the
Silo after the
Grand Opening
Ceremony.
Above: CEO Craig Parker