Long-term biomass supply agreed in North Carolina

Two US-based companies have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of purpose grown energy crops and residues to be used as cellulosic feedstock.

Chemtex International and Murphy Brown (MB), both located in North Carolina, will ensure the feedstock goes towards use in Chemtex’s cellulosic ethanol facility planned for construction in Clinton.

The agreement covers a number of feedstocks to be grown on approximately 6,000 acres of land owned or controlled by MB. The proposed crops will be grown on acreage not typically used for grain production and will represent the backbone of the supply chain for the planned Chemtex biorefinery.

‘The production of these feedstocks will be a natural complement to livestock production in the state and will bring new opportunities for all farmers,’ says Don Butler, VP of government relations at MB. ‘This project will demonstrate to policymakers that their focus should be on encouraging these US-made next generation biofuels that are produced without consuming foodstuffs.”

Chemtex’s new facility will produce 20 million gallons of environmentally friendlier cellulosic ethanol annually using technology from Beta Renewables. Final execution of the agreement is contingent upon achieving financial closure for the project.