ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) — Cool Planet Energy Systems will begin construction soon on its alternative fuel production facility at the Port of Alexandria.
The Town Talk reports (http://townta.lk/1ezvUXW ) company officials and Gov. Bobby Jindal were in town Wednesday for a ground-breaking ceremony for the plant — Cool Planet's first commercial production facility.
Cool Planet's technology converts biomass such as wood products into high-octane gasoline and an agricultural-enhancement product known as biochar.
"We couldn't have picked a better place for our first plant," said Cool Planet President and Chief Executive Officer Howard Janzen.
"We have all the transportation we could ever want. We're at the center of the perfect feedstock for our plant. But in every successful business, it comes down to people, and we couldn't have picked better people to work with. We've had just a tremendous amount of support. It feels like a partnership. Together, we can change the way energy works in this country and even globally."
The Alexandria plant is one of three Cool Planet has committed to building in Louisiana. The second will be located in Natchitoches. The location of the third has not been determined.
The three plants are being built on Cool Planet's model of more plants on a smaller scale, which Janzen said minimizes risk, allows for greater innovation down the road and puts production facilities closer to feedstock.
