Washington, DC – U.S.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed for federal economic recovery dollars
for the Auburn Biodiesel Corporation to develop and expand the ports at Oswego
and Montezuma, New York, to add new biodiesel capabilities at both locations. The federal dollars would be allocated by the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT) through the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Senator Gillibrand helped pass
earlier this year. The project is expected create up to 300 long-term
jobs and provide an economic boost for local farmers, according to the Port of
Oswego.
“During these tough economic times, we must make strategic
investments that will create good paying jobs right here at home,” said Senator
Gillibrand. “This is a great example of public-private partnership here in
Central New York that can deliver long term economic opportunity in our
communities. The proposal by Auburn Biodiesel is truly a win-win-win for New
York – our farmers would have a new market, we would create much needed jobs,
and we would be investing in renewable fuel and inter-modal transportation.”
Jonathan Daniels, the Port Director at Oswego, said, “The
addition of the facilities this grant will enable, and advantages that our
partnership with Auburn BioDiesel Corp. will bring, will make our Port truly
competitive with the Ports of Newark, Baltimore and New York – and we will have
important advantages.”
Auburn Biodiesel Corporation’s proposal would add biodiesel
fueling stations that use the nanotech innovation of Cerion Energy, Inc.’s
“Nanoburn” for distribution. These infrastructure enhancements will
provide a unique Northeast facility that uses alternative energy technologies
for much needed transportation improvements. The collaboration between the Port
of Oswego – the oldest freshwater port in the county, built in 1799 – and the
start-up Port and Soy Processing business planned for the ADM property in
Montezuma would enable the inland Canal port at Montezuma to expand the space
and services of Oswego’s deep-water Port.
The federal funding would be used for a substantial increase
in Oswego space and loading facilities, and the Montezuma Port, enabling
offloading of international shipments at Oswego directly to Canal barges, which
would then be transferred to either rail or truck at Montezuma.
The expansion and redevelopment of both ports would provide
the Great Lakes and New York State Canal System with shipping, rail and
trucking services in a combination not found anywhere in the Northeast.
Expanded facilities would help Oswego capture more business that currently uses
larger ports elsewhere. Oswego would have a competitive edge, since larger
ports on the east coast face congestion and time-delay issues. For example, the
large volume of grain, salt and other commodities shipped out of the Finger
Lakes Region could be stored, loaded and shipped from Montezuma, then
transferred to deep-water shipping at Oswego – headed for Canada and other
international customers.
In addition, Auburn BioDiesel would give the Oswego facility
a “green” fuel for shipping and large pleasure boats that frequent the
port. The distribution of large-volume BioDiesel would be beneficial to
the shipping industry that relies almost entirely on diesel engines. BioDiesel
would reduce the harmful emissions from the 4 billion gallons of petroleum
Diesel used each year by New York State.
In
a letter to Ray LaHood, Secretary of DOT, Senator Gillibrand wrote, “This
proposal embodies all of the elements of regional economic development,
multi-modal transportation improvement, permanent job creation, alternative
energy development and good stewardship. New York State and the Northeast
Region will clearly benefit from a one-time investment of $160 million that
will deliver at least $550 million of annual economic stimulus to the region
and beyond. As the project delivers New York’s first fully-integrated
soybean crushing and biodiesel production facility with the fuel improvements
of “Nanoburn,” these facilities will serve as national examples, offering
benefits to the region, state and country.”