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By Jessica Richardson
Staff Writer New tanks will allow the company to store up to 100,000 gallons of raw material and finished B100 product. During a recent Jackson County Board of Commissioner’s meeting, the board granted Smoky Mountain Biofuels an expansion at the Jackson County Green Energy Park. The board voted unanimously for the expansion.Smoky Mountain Biofuels produces biodiesel blends of up to 100% onsite. Biodiesel uses fuel produced directly from vegetable oil sources such as soy and corn. The small biodiesel company was one of the components of the first phase of the Jackson County Green Energy Park, which makes use of methane waste energy to heat the park’s buildings. Greenhouses and process heat for potters, blacksmiths and glassblowers are a part of the long-term plan. For Alan Begley and Sam Gray, co-owners of Smoky Mountain Biofuels, the expansion means they can meet contracted sales for 23 Mountain Energy gas stations. For consumers, this means increased availability of biodiesel at area pumps. Two Mountain Energy gas stations on the Georgia Road in Franklin were the first to carry B20 biodiesel, a 20% blend of vegetable-based oil and diesel. The expansion basically means larger equipment for the same biodiesel production system currently in use. According to Gray, the new equipment will allow them to triple what they produce now, as well as provide more storage space for raw material and finished product. The new tanks will allow the company to store up to 100,000 gallons. Lab space can also be expanded. According to Gray, the expansion is important for the small business to continue producing the fuel on-site. “We firmly believe we are the last biodiesel producers in the state who don’t purchase our fuel out of state,” said Gray. He stressed the ability to integrate the creation of local jobs with new, alternative fuel sources. The business expects to have three full-time job openings next year. Education has been a central part of their mission. AB-Tech recently provided a grant for an introductory biodiesel class or workshop for high school and college classrooms to expand education on alternative fuel. “Western Carolina University has been our biggest supporters,” said Gray. The entrepreneurship, chemistry and physics departments have all provided ways for students to learn more about the business of biodiesel. The university is also looking to use biodiesel in some of their vehicles. The Jackson County Green Energy Park is open to the public. Tim Muth, Project Manager, can be contacted directly to schedule tours ahead of time at 828-631-0271. According to Muth, greenhouses on the park are near completion. The county landscaping will soon be operating out of the greenhouses. Business space will also be available in the greenhouses and advertising for the spaces will begin soon. A blacksmith studio is also complete and space for blacksmiths is currently available. |
