22nd February 2007

TALLAHASSEE – Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp today joined Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Chares H. Bronson and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole to announce the recipients of Florida’s renewable energy technologies grants.

“The grant program creates a receptive, inspiring environment for research,” said Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. “Investments in cutting-edge ventures ensure a stronger economy and a cleaner environment for the next generation of Floridians.”

Through the 2006 Florida Energy Act, the Florida Legislature appropriated $15 million for renewable energy technologies grants to stimulate capital investment in the state and promote and enhance the statewide utilization of renewable energy technologies, including ethanol and bioenergy.

The funding was awarded to eight organizations with at least $5 million to support bioenergy projects and $10 million for projects that generate or utilize other renewable energy resources, including hydrogen, biomass and solar energy.
“This is a major step forward in Florida’s effort to establish a meaningful renewable energy industry,” Commissioner Bronson said. “We hope to build on this first step with the help and support of our industry, our colleagues at DEP, the legislature and Governor Crist.”

The Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program recipients for 2007 are as follows:
Citrus Energy LLC, “Fuel Ethanol Production from Citrus Waste Biomass” ($2.5 million): Based in Clewiston, the company will construct a four-million-gallon-per-year ethanol bio-refinery to use citrus waste to produce ethanol. This project will transform citrus waste, an abundant agricultural residual, into a clean, affordable and locally-produced biofuel.

Alico Inc., “Commercial Ethanol Production from Biomass” ($2.5 million): The project will use biomass products to co-produce ethanol and electricity at a savings for consumers. The facility will produce ethanol for blending with gasoline at less than one-third of the current national average retail cost of gasoline, and can deliver “green” electricity at a cost of five to eight cents per kilowatt hour.

Losonoco Inc., “Losonoco Mulberry Ethanol” ($2.5 million): Losonoco Inc. will purchase, refurbish, and operate a shuttered fuel ethanol production facility in the City of Mulberry in Polk County. Through the incorporation of technology improvements and best operating practices developed over the past decade, Losonoco intends to refurbish and reopen the facility as a 12-million-gallon-per-year plant, virtually doubling its original capacity.

University of Florida, “Renewable Energy Fuels in a Micro-Grid Power Module” ($2,464,703): The grant will be used to construct a small-scale demonstration plant using the University’s patented PoWER technology, including operation on a variety of liquid and gaseous biofuels. The system allows ultra-clean, efficient operation on a wide variety of biomass fuels, hydrogen or conventional fuels, and this project will be installed at the University of Florida Energy Research Park, connected to the grid by Progress Energy, and operated to determine its performance using biofuels.

Florida Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation, “Getting Down to Business: Transforming Florida’s Solar Marketplace” ($1,921,575): The statewide initiative is designed to increase the use of solar technologies as well as strengthen and stabilize the solar-energy industry in Florida. By demonstrating the use of appropriate solar technologies in the commercial sector, this project will increase awareness and participation for Florida’s solar rebate program.

Kore Consulting Group, “Sky Renewable Energy with Optimal Supply-and-Demand-Side Integration Demonstration” ($1,802,567): The project will study and develop strategies to successfully integrate renewable and sustainable energy technologies with the quality-of-life and environmental goals of the community. Located in Calhoun County, the project will minimize energy requirements and maximize renewable energy use to support the community while maintaining the comforts and quality of life expected by its residents.

Florida International University, “Assessment and Development of Pretreatment for Sugarcane Bagasse to Commercialize Cellulosic Ethanol Technology” ($990,532): The university project will determine the technical feasibility of using Florida sugarcane waste as a feedstock for a large-scale ethanol industry in the state. The university will try to identify a cost-effective pretreatment process to make sugarcane waste a viable feedstock for ethanol production.

Florida Biomass Energy Consortium, “Using High Efficiency Biomass Gasification for Industrial Drying” ($320,623): The proposal is to build and operate an integrated biomass gasification system to replace natural-gas use with biogas for an industrial user. This project will define and establish both the technical and economic viability of using Florida’s biomass resources for industrial drying processes that currently use natural gas as the energy source.

“The Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program encourages organizations and companies to invest in alternative energy technologies that can promote energy diversity, reduce pollution and promote economic growth,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. “We are excited to award these grants to eight projects that are exploring new possibilities in renewable energy technologies throughout the Florida.”

The targeted grant program is designed to advance the already growing establishment of renewable energy technologies in the state, including hydrogen, biomass, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, ocean energy, waste heat and hydroelectric power. The eight grant recipients were selected from among 183 grant proposals seeking nearly $215 million in grant funding and providing more than $505 million in cost share for renewable energy projects.

Grant proposals were evaluated by the state based on a number of different criterion, including cost share percentage, economic development potential, energy efficiency and how the project fosters public awareness of renewable energy technologies. Grants were awarded at a maximum of $2.5 million per project, and eligible applicants included Florida municipalities and county governments, established for-profit companies licensed to do business in Florida, universities and colleges in the state, utilities located and operating within Florida, not-for-profit organizations and state agencies.

The 2006 Florida Energy Act takes the first comprehensive step toward a diverse, reliable and secure energy future by reducing regulatory barriers to expedite electric generation capacity and providing rebates, grants and tax incentives to drive the development of alternative fuel technologies. The four-year, $100 million plan will diversify the state’s fuel supply, reduce Florida’s dependence on imported oil, spur economic growth and promote energy conservation and efficiency.

Earlier this month, Governor Crist recommended a record $68.25 million to encourage investment in alternative energy technologies, including $40 million in alternative energy incentive funding, $15 million to continue the Renewable Energy Technologies Grant Program, $2.5 million for the Solar Energy Rebate Program and almost $1 million to promote energy efficiency.