Events

Beet energy bioenergy crop meetings March 6-8

Past Event:

Meeting to update growers on status of future biorefinery and opportunities for farming energy beets.

Growers interested in adding an alternative crop to their rotation can find out about the flexibility, cash flow and exclusive contract opportunities available to them by growing energy beets.  The Mendota Advanced Bioenergy Beet Cooperative is a group of established growers working to create a new bioenergy facility fueled by energy beets, a non-food crop similar to sugar beets, orchard waste and field culls.

When built, the biorefinery will create local jobs, buy energy beets and other raw material within a 60-mile radius of the plant, create renewable electricity and support the local economy.  The Cooperative views grower and community relations as a key component of the overall development effort.  Meetings to discuss this project will be held March 6, 7 and 8 in the following communities:

March 6:
10 a.m. – 11 a.m:  Andrew Firebaugh Community Center, Firebaugh
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.:  Tranquillity Irrigation District, Tranquillity

March 7:
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.:  San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority, Los Banos
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.:  Merced County Farm Bureau, Merced

March 8:
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.:  Maddox Dairy, 12840 W. Kamm, Riverdale
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.:  UC Westside Field Station, Five Points

“Energy beets” can be turned into advanced biofuel and cellulosic biofuel ethanol (AB-CB ethanol) through a proprietary bioenergy conversion process.  Energy beets are an excellent rotation crop in the San Joaquin Valley — they are able to be grown in many types of soil conditions and can have an excellent financial return-rate for the grower.  Valley yield history shows energy beets grown here can produce more ethanol per acre than any other crop anywhere in the United States — up to 1,200 gallons per acre vs. approximately 450 gallons per acre for corn-based ethanol.   Biorefineries in Germany and France have been producing ethanol from energy beets for over 10 years.  Alternative energy products such as ethanol produced from locally grown energy beets are important for US energy independence and to help sustain local economies.

The Mendota Advanced Bioenergy Beet Cooperative would like to invite any growers who are interested in learning more about the project and the opportunity for adding a bioenergy product into their rotation at the grower meetings.  For additional information contact Jim Tischer at (559) 260-6148 or jtischer@csufresno.edu.