Politics & Government
Biofuel Entrepreneur Wants to Make Gas in Watsonville
The unique technology uses animal tallow and other feedstocks to produce ultra-pure biodiesel and jet fuel.
A new partnership between a Idaho cattle ranching company and an Emeryville fuel company aims to produce biodiesel and jet fuel from waste animal fat and other feedstocks, and they'd like to do it in Watsonville.
The Watsonville Planning Commission will consider a proposal from North Star Biofuels LLC that could create 12-14 new jobs in an empty warehouse at 860 W. Beach St.
The company is asking to for a special use permit and design permit with environmental review for the new endeavor, and city staff is recommending the Planning Commission approve the proposal from North Star Biofuels LLC.
Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Northstar Biofuel LLC, a venture between Agri Beef Co. and R Power Fuel, has a patent-pending process to create the next generation of alternative fuels, according to its proposal to the city.
The city staff report submitted to the planning commission called the new fuel company "a unique business that has a cutting edge production process."
Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The company plans to use animal tallow, vegetable oils, restaurant grease and other feedstocks to produce ultra-pure fuels, according to its proposal submitted to the city. It will bring raw materials in from Agri Beef Company's facilities in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere via tanker trucks and rail cars.
The fuel produced at the site would largely be wholesale fuel, though about 20 percent may be sold to local retail customers, the company stated.
Northstar Biofuels LLC explaiend that its processes are self-contained and thus won't vent gasses into the air or discard waste water.
The vacant building that Northstar Biofuels LLC would like to take over once was used by Granite Construction as a heavy equipment repair facility. It's 19,924 square feet, with another 5,000-square-foot steel canopy attached to the building and an old rail spur that supported the Travers cold storage building.
It's behind last spring.
The Watsonville Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 250 Main St. Check out the full agenda here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
