Demeter Selects Veransa Group to Be It’s Feedstock Provider

(Demeter Energy) Long-term agreement secures sustainable urban wood and green waste feedstock for Demeter Energy’s planned low-carbon biomethanol and carbon capture facility to support the Global Shipping Markets

Demeter Energy today (October 5, 2026) announced the execution of a strategic feedstock supply term sheet agreement with Veransa Group, establishing Veransa as the primary supplier of urban wood and green waste feedstock for Demeter Energy’s planned commercial-scale biomethanol and carbon capture facility at SeaPort Manatee. Under the agreement, Veransa will provide up to 325,000 tons annually of qualifying feedstock capacity to support the facility’s long-term operations.

The agreement represents a significant milestone in advancing the SeaPort Manatee project toward Final Investment Decision by securing a substantial portion of the sustainable biomass resources required to support production of approximately 100,000 metric tons of low-carbon biomethanol annually while enabling the capture and permanent sequestration of approximately 200,000 metric tons of biogenic carbon dioxide each year.

The feedstock will consist primarily of urban wood waste and green waste collected from municipal and regional sources throughout the greater Tampa Bay region and surrounding areas. Veransa’s established operational platform, network of facilities, regional expertise, and longstanding municipal relationships provide a strong foundation to reliably support the project’s long-term feedstock requirements.

“This agreement with Veransa marks a major commercial milestone for the SeaPort Manatee project,” said Thomas Walklett, Chief Executive Officer of Demeter Energy. “A secure, sustainable, and scalable feedstock supply chain is fundamental to the success of any biomethanol project. Veransa’s established platform, regional presence, and commitment to resource recovery make them an ideal long-term partner as we advance one of the largest low-carbon fuel and carbon management projects in Florida.”

The partnership is expected to create an efficient circular economy solution by diverting urban wood and green waste streams from traditional disposal pathways and converting those resources into renewable biomethanol and carbon management products. The project is designed to support growing demand for low-carbon marine fuels, sustainable aviation fuel feedstocks, and low-carbon chemical products while creating economic opportunities throughout the region.

“Jeffrey Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Veransa Group, stated, ‘We are pleased to partner with Demeter Energy on a project that aligns with Veransa’s commitment to sustainable resource management and beneficial reuse of organic materials. This agreement creates a meaningful opportunity to transform regional biomass resources into valuable low-carbon products while supporting economic development and environmental stewardship throughout Florida.”

The agreement establishes a framework for the future supply of feedstock sourced from municipal and commercial waste streams within the project’s operating region. In addition to defining delivery, quality, and sustainability requirements, the agreement includes comprehensive monitoring, reporting, and verification provisions designed to support environmental compliance, carbon accounting, sustainability certification programs, and future financing requirements.

The SeaPort Manatee location provides strategic access to transportation infrastructure, regional biomass resources, and export markets, positioning the project to serve both domestic and international demand for low-carbon fuels. The development is expected to contribute to regional investment, strengthen local supply chains, and reinforce Florida’s role in the growing global energy transition economy.

Demeter Energy continues to advance engineering, permitting, environmental review, commercial contracting, feedstock procurement, logistics planning, and financing activities for the SeaPort Manatee facility. The executed feedstock agreement represents another key development milestone as the company progresses toward Final Investment Decision and future construction activities. READ MORE

Excerpt from Demeter Energy: Aptamus Carbon Solutions, of Tampa, Florida, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Demeter Energy, of Fort Myers, Florida, to explore the development of a marine terminal for the processing, liquefaction, and loading of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by Demeter Energy at a proposed biomethanol production plant intended to be built in Manatee County, FL. The MOU will allow Aptamus to identify optimal locations for a CO2 terminal at Seaport Manatee, develop a site plan, and design an appropriate new tank vessel. Demeter intends to capture CO2 during its biomethanol production process before it is emitted into the atmosphere, a process known as carbon capture. Aptamus will receive the CO2 gas and convert it to liquid form for loading and transport on a new first-of-its- kind U.S. built tank vessel and transport it to a discharge port in Texas or Louisiana for permanent underground sequestration or for enhanced oil recovery.

“We are excited to work with Demeter Energy to advance the development of a biomethanol facility in Florida,” said Jeffrey Ross Williams, President of Aptamus. “Demeter’s commitment to capturing and managing CO₂ generated during the production process will deliver meaningful environmental benefits while supporting the growth of a new low-carbon energy industry in the region. Aptamus brings specialized expertise in CO₂ logistics, complex terminal systems, and will be developing a new dual cargo methanol and LCO2 tank vessel to export the captured carbon which will help position Florida as a leader in the new energy maritime transportation industries.”

Demeter Energy is developing a first-of-its-kind biomethanol and carbon capture facility at Port Manatee, Florida, that is expected to produce approximately 100,000 metric tons of low-carbon biomethanol annually while capturing approximately 200,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year. The project will create a reliable market for sustainably sourced urban wood and green waste generated by Florida’s year-round growing season, while supporting global decarbonization efforts by providing low carbon fuel of the maritime sector, or supplying feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or chemical manufacturing.

Tom Walklett, CEO of Demeter Energy, stated, “The collaboration with Aptamus reflects our shared ambition to be part of the global solution for a cleaner environment while creating lasting economic value for local communities. Aptamus brings significant expertise, proven infrastructure capabilities, and innovative marine transportation solutions that strengthen the foundation of our project. Together, we are advancing a scalable platform that combines low-carbon fuel production with carbon capture to support the needed energy transition and Florida’s sustainable feedstock industry.”

As part of the collaboration, Aptamus will design a vessel capable of transporting both biomethanol and captured, liquefied CO₂. The dual-use vessel is expected to be the first of its kind to carry both of these liquid cargos in the United States and will be a U.S. flagged registered Jones Act vessel which requires construction in a U.S. shipyard, crewed by U.S. citizen mariners, and owned by a U.S. company. READ MORE