ALOTERRA Aloterra is banking on the 2nd generation of bio-fuels. They are building a national network that is enhancing small and large farmers across the country.
Similar to the establishment of the major oil refineries fifty years ago, biomass refineries require a consistent and economical feedstock supply to justify major investments. The strengths in a conversion technology alone cannot overcome the massive logistical challenges associated with feedstock. In 2010 and 2011, Aloterra leveraged the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) to become the Project Sponsor of four separate BCAP Project Areas in the United States. Aloterra now has a total of 18,000 acres of the energy crop miscanthus giganteus under contract to be grown in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Arkansas. The Project Areas located in Missouri and Arkansas are being established through a 40,000 member farmer cooperative based in Missouri. At maturity, each Project Area will produce 600,000 dry tons of annual biomass for a total of 2.4 million tons of biomass each year. Initial yields of 100,000 tons per year will be harvested after the 2013 growing season. For more, see their website.
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