We Did It!
Northeast Biodiesel Company LLC is now making biodiesel!
You might wonder if you heard that correctly, but you did. After so many years, of extraordinary effort and fund raising and patience, it’s now finally our time to shine.
A couple years ago the Board asked the Northeast Biodiesel and Co-op Power lenders if we could sell the plant, but then, Wellspring and LEAF helped us see how the investors and lenders could benefit more if we were to restructure their loans and investments and secure new capital to launch. It was a no brainer… and it worked.
Over the last few months we borrowed $1.364M, hired and trained staff, and the staff, under the leadership of Rick Durepo, a seasoned chemical plant manager, and Dale Bourbeau, a talented plant operator, have combed through every inch of tank, pipe, pump and sensor to get the processor up and running.
RSVP to attend the Sat Oct 1st Celebration!
After so many starts and stops, we wanted to wait to celebrate until we really knew we had something sure to celebrate… and now that the processor is starting to make biodiesel, we do.
With the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, we have even more reason to celebrate. The on-again, off-again $1/gal federal biomass-based diesel blending credit was set to expire on Dec. 31, but was extended to Dec. 31, 2024. With this extension we’ll be able to repay our very patient lenders and investors sooner than we had hoped. Thank you all for your support and your patience. It is paying off!
Here’s the schedule for October 1st at Northeast Biodiesel, 179 Silvio O. Conte Drive, Greenfield MA (in the Greenfield Industrial Park.) Please RSVP and join us!
1:00 - 2:15 pm Concurrent Roundtables
TENT: Biodiesel Industry Overview
OFFICE: The latest in EV’s
2:30 - 3:45 pm Concurrent Roundtables
TENT: Northeast Biodiesel Plant Operations - Inputs, Processing, and Sales
OFFICE: What the Inflation Reduction Act means for Nonprofits, Municipalities, & Co-op Power
4:00 - 5:15 pm Concurrent Roundtables
Community Participation Opportunities - Recruiting restaurants and cafeterias, Home Heating Oil Dealer B20 sales advocacy, Commercial sales account recruitment for heating and transportation, Recruiting worker-owners for new open positions
Racial Justice Sea Change in Government and Corporate Accountability
5:30 - 8:00 pm Potluck Dinner and Dancing to live local band Thrasher Wheat (Neil Young and Grateful Dead cover band)
We hope you’ll be able to join us to celebrate this important milestone for Co-op Power, NEB Worker Co-op and Northeast Biodiesel Company LLC!!
Please observe sound covid practices. Test before you come and use a mask indoors. All of the biodiesel workshops and our evening potluck and live music will be outdoors, so please dress for the weather.
All the best,
Lynn Benander, President Northeast Biodiesel and Co-op Power
PS You are also welcome to join us for the launch press conference on Tues Sept 27 at 11 am at the plant. We’ll be joined by the Greenfield Mayor, Roxanne Wedegartner, Representative Paul Mark, Representative Susannah Whipps and other elected officials.