Ethanol, Biodiesel, Wind: Rendell Sends Message of Energy Independence at Farm Show

CHRIS TORRES
Staff Writer

HARRISBURG, Pa. — With alternative energy being the popular theme for this year's Pennsylvania Farm Show, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell took in the sights and sounds of the nation's largest indoor agriculture exhibition and called on the state's farm community to continue to lead in the quest for alternative energy sources.
Rendell arrived just after 10 a.m. on Saturday and attended opening ceremonies held in the large arena of the Farm Show Complex. He then gave a short speech in which he set the tone and theme for this year's show.
"Renewable energy holds the key to the future of America," Rendell said. "It (alternative energy) can give this country energy independence. Nothing is more important to us . . . than the production of new, renewable energy."
After his speech, he took the traditional "governor's tour" of the show, taking a sip of one the show's famous milkshakes and a bite out of a roast beef sandwich along the way.
He then visited three different alternative energy stations.
The number of alternative energy stations at the show doubled from last year's total of 20 companies to 40 companies this year.
Rendell then handed out some green of his own, if you will, as he presented a check for $2,940,000 to Keystone BioFuels Inc., the state's first company that manufactures and ships biodiesel made from soybeans.
According to Race Miner, CEO of Keystone BioFuels, the money will be used to expand the company's facility, located in Shiremanstown, Pa., which currently produces 1 million gallons of soy-based biodiesel annually. Miner said the expansion will enable them to produce 7 million gallons annually with the possibility of 12 million in the future.
"It is great for the Pennsylvania environment," Rendell said.
The money came from a $2 million loan from First Industries Fund, a program launched in 2005 that is designed to help agricultural producers gain the capital to start their own businesses; a $500,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority; and a $440,000 Alternative Fuels Incentive grant.
Rendell then participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new "splash blending" biodiesel facility that will be located in Sinking Spring, Pa.
The facility, which is owned by Petroleum Products Corporation but is partnered with  Amerigreen Biofuels, will be the second of its kind in the state as it will blend biodiesel products with regular petroleum. According to Rendell, the facility is only the second of its kind north of the Mason-Dixon line.
Brian Gerhart, Chief Operations Officer of Amerigreen BioFuels, said two large biodiesel tanks at the 40-million gallon facility, which also houses kerosene, oil and gasoline, will enable fuel tank drivers to select by computer how much biodiesel they would like blended into the heating oil they are picking up.
Gerhart said the system will enable homeowners to actually pick and choose how much biofuel they would like blended into their regular heating oil system.
The company already has distributors  in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Gerhart said the goal is to eventually open 15 "splash blending" facililities in Pennsylvania alone.
There is already a similar facility in Highspire, Pa. "It has been phenomenal, above our expectations," Gerhart said. "
Finally, Rendell visited with Southwest Windpower, a company based out of Flagstaff, Ariz.
Rendell and CEO Frank Greco participated in turning on a model barn that Greco said  was powered by a windmill that was installed in a parking lot at the complex.
Greco said the windmill provided 400 kilowatt hours worth of electricity to the farm show.
Rendell said he was particularly excited with the possibilities of wind energy in the commonwealth, citing a recent agreement with a Spanish company that he said has agreed to produce 1,400 megawatts worth of electrical power to the state through wind turbines, enough to power 450,000 homes.
"Wind energy is great for the environment. Wind energy can be an important plus for our economy," Rendell said.