Building Industry Magazine - October 2011 - (Page 8)

NewsBeat Construction Begins on Pilot Biomass Refinery Illinois-based UOP, LLC, a Honeywell company, held a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 30 to begin construction of a biofuels demonstration unit in Kapolei. Backed by a $25 million U.S. Department of Energy award, the Honeywell UOP Integrated Biorefinery will convert forest residuals, algae and other cellulosic biomass into high-quality renewable gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. It will serve to demonstrate the viability of the technology, test the fuels produced, and evaluate the environmental footprint of the fuels and the process. Rendering of Honeywell UOP Integrated Biorefinery, being built by American Pipe & Boiler and expected to start initial production next year. biofuel, which then will be upgraded to green transportation fuels using hydroprocessing technology from UOP. Once the technology and process are successfully proven in this pilot project, a commercial-scale facility using the same technology could produce as much as 50 million gallons of transportation fuels per year and could create as many as 800 new construction jobs and 1,000 new jobs in biomass production and refinery operations, according to Jim Rekoske, vice president and general manager of renewable energy and chemicals for Honeywell’s UOP. “Biomass is abundantly available today, and it is an important opportunity to consider as we seek alternatives that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and improve our environmental footprint,” says Rekoske. “Our Integrated Biorefinery will illustrate these benefits as well the potential that biorefineries have to enhance the local economy and provide new green jobs.” UOP is partnering with a number of local businesses in developing this project, including Hawaii BioEnergy, Group 70 International, Kai Hawaii, University of Hawaii and Leeward Community College. Participants of the groundbreaking ceremony are (from left): Becca Smith, Department of Energy; U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye; state Sen. Mike Gabbard; Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Jim Rekoske, Honeywell’s UOP; state Rep. Sharon Har; Dan Carlson, Tesoro Kapolei Refinery; and Kahu Kordell Kekoa. Expected to generate more than 80 new jobs during construction, the project is scheduled to begin initial production in 2012 and be fully operational by 2014. The general contractor for the project is locally owned American Pipe & Boiler Co. “Our island home is far too dependent on imported fossil fuels, and I am very pleased that this alternative energy initiative has the support of the federal government,” comments U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. “Hawaii will play a critical role in helping the domestic biofuel industry thrive and this project will create much-needed jobs in Kapolei.” The demonstration unit will utilize rapid thermal processing technology to convert biomass into 8 | Building industry | OCTOBER 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Industry Magazine - October 2011

Cover October, 2011
Contents
Datebook
Aloha’s Convenience Store of the Future
BIA Expo Hits “Green” Mark
Construction Begins on Pilot Biomass Refinery
Campbell Helps West Oahu Schools
Senior Care Facility Opens in Kailua
Hawaiian Dredging to Build $52M BEQ
Contracts Awarded
Roofing
Sunetric Completes FIT PV Project
Best Practices
Pacific Building Trade Expo Program
Low Bids
Infrastructure
Spotlight on Success: New Youth Center, KMCBH
School Construction
New Products
News Makers

Building Industry Magazine - October 2011