Lee Enterprises Announces Sale of Missouri Biodiesel Plant

May 25, 2010 - PRLog -- The impending implementation of the second Renewable Fuels Standard on July 1st has apparently started the U.S. biodiesel market moving once again.  Wayne Lee, principal and lead consultant of internationally recognized biodiesel consulting group, Lee Enterprises, announced the group’s completion last week of the sale of the former Great River Soy biodiesel plant in Lilbourn, Missouri.  The 5MMGPY plant was built and operated for a short time in 2007 and later taken back by the lending banks and government agencies.    “Our clients are investors who see the future of alternative fuels”, said Lee.  The investors have already hired a manager and expect to begin startup before month’s end.  “We are now assisting them with finding some grants and other various aspects of the startup of the plant” said Lee, “and we are also helping them to identify and evaluate other opportunities”.  Lee noted that Agri-Process Innovations (API) of Stuttgart, Arkansas, is currently doing the plant’s final startup repairs, and should be ready to sell biodiesel when RFS2 becomes effective in July.  “If anybody can get a plant up and running quickly and properly, it’s API,” said Lee.  “They are one of the most experienced biodiesel engineering and manufacturing firms in the world”.  

Lee said that he has been very positive about the future of alternative fuels for quite some time now, and that the only snag seemed to be Congress’ delay in extending the$1 biofuels tax credit.  “It is bad enough that our major political parties disagree on so much” said Lee.  “It’s really inexcusable that it takes them six months to pass legislation on which they both agree”.  Lee speculates that Congressional gridlocks like these are what has caused the ‘anti-incumbent sentiment’ that currently seems to be so prevalent in U.S. politics.    

“While the inability of Congress to coordinate efforts on the $1 tax credit has certainly slowed things down” said Lee, “I do believe that biodiesel and other alternative fuels are clearly our energy future”.  He believes, however, that the U.S. should be on a much faster implementation pace, and that the country will be once everyone clearly understands the issues.  “I recently read that when oil hits $125 a barrel again, OPEC will control one half of the entire world’s wealth” said Lee.  “That is huge and it pretty much sums up a major security issue for the U.S.” he said.  He also noted that events like the recent Gulf Coast oil spill clearly delineate the environmental issues.  “What I do think many people fail to completely understand”, said Lee “are the pure economics involved.  I don’t think people realize what would happen if this country replaced even one fourth of its imported oil with alternative fuels,” he said.  “It would turn this country’s trade deficit, and thus our economy, completely around”.  Lee noted that those who have really studied these issues are demanding alternative fuels policy right now.  “It is just a matter of time before everyone comes to the realization that our energy future is alternative fuels”, said Lee.

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About Lee Enterprises. Lee Enterprises is a biodiesel consulting firm specializing in project management, feasibility studies, public and private grant writing, business plans, and assistance with planning, market analysis, site evaluation, feedstock selection and procurement, process technology, evaluation, offtake distribution, financing, capital budgeting, and contract negotiations (for feedstock, off-take, transportation, construction, site purchase/lease, and plant management). They also own National Business Brokerage, Inc., a full service business brokerage firm specializing in the buying and selling of biodiesel plants. Lee Enterprises, 1503 East Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, AR 72120. (501) 833-8511. www.lee-enterprises.com