Biodiesel Production Facility in Ellensburg Receives Permit
By MAI HOANG
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
PUBLISHED ON July 27, 2006

An Ellensburg startup company has received a state permit it needs to proceed with plans for a commercial biodiesel production.

Now armed with an air quality permit, Central Washington Biodiesel has begun construction of a production facility at the Ellensburg Business Development Authority's business incubator.

The permit, granted last week, is required because the facility would release emissions of methanol, an air pollutant deemed toxic by the state, said Lynnette Haller, an air quality engineer for the Department of Ecology.

Production of the fuel, a vegetable oil and methanol blend that releases less carbon dioxide emissions than conventional gasoline, is scheduled to begin early this fall, said Steve Verhey, the company's chief executive officer .

The company is one of several in the state venturing into biodiesel. Seattle Biodiesel, which produces 5 million gallons a year, is the only commercial facility operating in the state.

Verhey formed his company in November with his wife, Denise Horton, Phil Mattocks, his former colleague at Central Washington University and Mattocks' wife, Karen.

The permitting process helped the company look at issues it may encounter and provides credibility to a fairly new industry, Verhey said.

"People are rightfully particular about the kind of fuel they put into their vehicle," he said. "One of the things that this industry needs to do is reassure people that biodiesel is an excellent fuel and a safe source. We communicate that by doing everything right."

The permit allows the company to produce up to 5 million gallons of biodiesel a year, but production will be limited to 500,000 gallons in the first year, Verhey said.

The reduced production allows the company time to seek locally produced oil sources.

The company is working with several Central Washington farmers to encourage more oilseed production.

"With biodiesel, we have the opportunity to work with communities in a way that big oil companies can't do," he said. "We're part of the agricultural community in Central and Eastern Washington. We want to involve them in what we're doing."

Mai Hoang can be reached at 577-7685 or mhoang@yakimaherald.com.