Homegrown Biofuel

Florida Company's Baltimore Plant Turns Vegetable Oil Into Heat Power

Claiborne said the fuel is relatively simple to produce, does not require a lot of labor and has no waste to dispose of. It's produced by mixing soybean or another oil with water, alcohol and a chemical that keeps the mixture well blended.

While relying on commercial oils now for making its biofuel, the company intends to investigate other feedstocks, including used cooking oil, animal fats and even oils produced from algae. Those would require more processing, but enhance the fuel's environmental benefits, the CEO said.

New Generation is marketing itself to businesses that may be looking for ways of complying with state requirements and potential federal mandates to burn cleaner, renewable fuels.

The company hopes to sell its product to power plants, manufacturers and building owners as a heating fuel. Its first production plant, which can produce up to 5 million gallons of fuel a year, consists of a small collection of metal tanks and pipes on a small concrete pad, in an old industrial complex with companies marketing oil and ethanol. Claiborne said the current site could be expanded to produce up to 50 million gallons a year.