Baystate Biofuels, LLC is taking the final steps necessary to officially open its doors and start delivering a green energy, petroleum alternative to the region. With a lease signed with Ozzy Properties Inc., construction of the biodiesel terminal at Osgood Landing has begun with product ready to sell by summer's end.
Baystate Biofuels' North Andover terminal will be the first full-scale commercial facility dedicated to biodiesel distribution in Mass. It will utilize existing storage tanks at Osgood Landing, an office and manufacturing complex made up of nearly 2 million s/f that was formerly occupied by Lucent Technologies.
Baystate Biofuels will distribute biodiesel to oil companies to blend with petroleum diesel for use in automobiles and home heating to fulfill the requirements of the Clean Energy Biofuels Act of 2008.
The state's Clean Energy Biofuels Act requires 2% biofuel as a component of all diesel fuel and home heating fuel sold in the commonwealth. The required percentage ramps up to 5% by 2013. Mass. is the first state in the nation to require biofuel in home heating oil.
Baystate Biofuels will be able to compete year long with retail prices of diesel and winter wholesale prices of heating oil.
"We are proud to be the greenest, most sustainable wet fuel distributor in the United States, leveraging existing infrastructure to cut down on waste and minimize environmental impact," said Jesse Reich, Ph.D., the CEO of Baystate Biofuels. The company will use solar-powered photovoltaic cells to provide green electricity for the distribution terminal and plans to harnesses excess steam from a nearby construction waste-to-energy plant to keep the biodiesel in storage tanks hot.
Using biodiesel as opposed to petroleum products reduces greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 78.5%.
"This is terrific news both for our economy and the environment," said State Senator Steven Baddour. "Baystate Biofuels is a real leader when it comes to renewable energy, and this will be a real boost to North Andover and to the Commonwealth as a whole."
Another benefit of Baystate Biofuels launching its operations will be the creation of green jobs to an area of the state that recently lost 16,000 jobs. Congressman John Tierney, who was an original co-author of the Green Jobs Act, applauded the company's efforts stating, "Another benefit of companies like Baystate Biofuels launching operations now will be the likely creation of green jobs to an area of the state that recently lost significant numbers of jobs. It is precisely these types of initiatives that can help bolster our communities' workforce in the global green economy. America can and should be at the forefront of this movement. It clearly seems Baystate Biofuels understands that."
The company is planning a July kickoff event for potential customers to tour the facility and learn how Baystate Biofuels can help them fulfill the requirements of the Clean Energy Biofuels Act of 2008.
"I am thrilled that Baystate Biofuels has decided to make North Andover its home," said state representative David Torrisi. "In a time of economic uncertainty, the creation of green job opportunities for the constituents of my district will provide much needed support. I am very excited to watch the growth of Baystate Biofuels as a distributor of renewable fuel alternatives in our state."