The property is in Central Florida’s agricultural region, offering access to biomass feedstock. “The location’s surrounding orange groves, many of which are no longer in full production, present an opportunity to be converted into King Grass cultivation—one of Blue Biofuels’ key energy crops,” the company said. “King Grass serves as a sustainable biomass source that supports renewable energy initiatives while contributing to reducing greenhouse gas.”
The property is also in the proximity of Port Tampa Bay, “which will facilitate efficient logistics by rail and road for biofuel transportation,” according to the company. (See maps below.)
“This project is located on a short line in Florida,” CSX told Railway Age on Feb. 7. “CSX interchanges with this short line and we’ll have discussions with them regarding this project, but nothing to confirm or announce at this time.”
The short line, Railway Age has determined, is Florida Midland Railway.
Blue Biofuels has teamed with Global Management Partners to develop the design and engineering plans for the production facility’s first phase. The facility will be designed to produce an initial 3 million gallons of biofuel annually. According to the manufacturer, the infrastructure and available land can support future expansion to 100 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol and 100 million gallons per year of SAF.
The construction phase will generate approximately 150 jobs with additional permanent high-skilled roles once the facility becomes operational, Blue Biofuels reported.
“This land acquisition is a big step forward in our journey towards commercialization,” said Ben Slager, CEO of Blue Biofuels. “We are very excited to start this project and develop our production facility leveraging our innovative technology. With the potential to scale production to 200 million gallons of renewable fuel annually, this facility will demonstrate the viability of our technology and reinforce our commitment to driving sustainable energy solutions. We also look forward to working with local farmers and suppliers to support regional economic development and growth while advancing the transition to a cleaner energy future.”
