11.20.2012
Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery Furthers Plant Optionality And Efficiencies
Pulp & Paper International Magazine 2009
Since taking possession of the Port Westward ethanol plant in 2010, Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery (CPBR) has taken numerous steps to enhance the viability of the facility, including significant capital expenditures to produce valuable co-products, improve plant efficiencies and provide terminal and logistical optionality
– CLATSKANIE, OREGON / 11.20.2012
CLATSKANIE, OR – November 20, 2012 – Since taking possession of the Port Westward ethanol plant in 2010, Columbia Pacific Bio-Refinery (CPBR) has taken numerous steps to enhance the viability of the facility, including significant capital expenditures to produce valuable co-products, improve plant efficiencies and provide terminal and logistical optionality first proposed by the original Cascade Grain developers but not implemented prior to their bankruptcy.
CPBR has employed and heavily trained up to 72 full time employees since the Spring of 2011 and, despite weathering one of the worst Midwest droughts in a generation, we have maintained our focus on making this facility a compelling and profitable asset for Columbia County. CPBR is executing its business plan in accordance with all Federal, State and local regulations, and we have worked closely with all applicable regulatory authorities, POSH and PGE to ensure we are both good neighbors and good stewards of the Port Westward site. To that end, we recently executed an important and strategic agreement for the supply of corn and the off-take of ethanol, DDGS, corn oil and related products. To provide optionality to the plant, we have also entered into agreements to transload process bulk liquids such as Midwest ethanol and light sweet crude through our existing facility to ocean-going barges. These barges, like much of the traffic on the Columbia, are capable of serving both Asian markets and refineries on the US West Coast.
Our facility was designed and permitted to transload process bulk liquids since it was originally constructed over five years ago, but until recently, the economics for this activity were not favorable. As we have stressed since acquiring this plant, diversification and optionality are key to CPBR’s success, and we are proud to play an important role in furthering US renewable and domestic energy sources while providing jobs and tax revenue for the community.