On 4 March 2009, Jeff Zueger, the General Manager of Blue Flint Ethanol , came before The Renewable Energy Council and requested and received a half million taxpayer dollars to help pay for a Corn Oil Extraction unit. Meeting Minutes HERE.
Let me just point out a few highlights of those minutes:
1. "Commerce’s recommendation is not to fund. The main goal of the REP is to provide funding for research, development, marketing, and education. (1) Given that the technology [Corn Oil Extraction]is already established, we do not feel that the objective of the proposal clearly resonates with the main goal of the REP. (2) Because the project is only cost‐effective with a grant award, it appears that this is more a financing project as opposed to a research, development, marketing, or education project."
SkunK's Comment: It looks like the North Dakota Commerce Department had done their research. By March of 2009 the technology WAS OBVIOUSLY WELL ESTABLISHED.
2. "In response to a question from Goettle, Zueger stated it [Corn Oil Extraction] has been explored minimally at this point. Has been done on a pilot basis by two companies. Heat exchanger and dewaxing is unique in this process."
SkunK's Comment: Explored minimally?? Can he be serious??? A simple Google search at the time would have shown that to be a "problematic" statement. Remember this is about four and a half years after Winsness filed his provisional patent and over three years since GreenShift had to (by law) publish their patent pending. GreenShift had COES units scattered throughout the midwest.* Heat exchanger and dewaxing unique? Corn Oil Extraction isn't just about spinning stuff really, really fast. Success depends on the right temperatures at the right time to break the bonds of the oil without creating sludge. Heat exchangers were always part of the real solution from the beginning. The challenges of the Free fatty acids and the wax were also well known. De-waxing was always part of the solution either at the COES or at the biodiesel refinery. Unique? Hmmmm . . .
3. "In response to a question from Nisbet, Weeda stated they don’t anticipate developing patents."
LOLOLO, the SkunK wonders if this would have been a good time to mention the GreenShift patents? (pending at the the time) "Oh, by the way fellows, the process we are trying to develop (mimic?) here is within a couple months of being allowed by the patent office for a company we forgot to mention: GreenShift."
In any case, they turned the board who ended up voting (5-0) - a half million of the taxpayer's money to finance this 'new' and 'unique' thing called a . . . corn oil extraction system. Of course, we see ICM mentioned in the minutes as well . . .
The final report to the commission for this 5 month project (now 15 month!) has been extended twice and is due no later than 31 August 2010 - tommoro! That should be an interesting read - I wonder if GreenShift or their issued patents come up in the conversation this time? How about the patent litigation pending against Blue Flint Ethanol and ICM?
SkunK
*Little Sioux Corn Processors, a 50 MMgy plant in Marcus, Iowa, began using GreenShift’s technology in the spring of 2006. Utica Energy LLC in Oshkosh, Wis., began using it in the spring of 2007. Western New York Energy LLC in Median, N.Y., began extracting corn oil in February, (2008) and Central Indiana Ethanol
New feature to the blog!
Although I enjoy researching this as a hobby during my ever scarcer free time, are there no reporters in North Dakota? You know, ones who get paid to do investigative reporting? This is a half million dollars in public funds . . . to develop a "new" process that had a patent published for it years before. geezze. .
Com'on SkunK - Admit it. You may be a lovable old basset hound - but your an unsophisticated one as well! You missed all the finery and lace around this obviously complicated subject! There are im'potant people involved here! What does your editor think? That's right, you don't have one! Hahahaha!
Well, if I got this wrong - then so did the the North Dakota Department of Commerce - who the legislature set up to provide technical assistance and prevent just these types of problems. Maybe I should not be asking for an investigative reporter - maybe the SkunK should be first asking for an informed legislator? How often does this commission go against the clear recommendation of Commerce by a 5-0 vote? Why? Their were three members of Commerce at the meeting. Why did they not present? Is their detailed report why Corn Oil Extraction was already established science part of the public record? Why not?
I think we need a nap!