The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to USA BioEnergy

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This presentation deck by USA BioEnergy, a company focused on developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other biofuels from woody biomass, outlines their plan to build a series of 12 advanced biorefineries across the United States, emphasizing their commitment to using proven technologies, ensuring performance guarantees, and securing funding through debt, equity, and development capital. The proposal highlights the environmental benefits of their SAF production, including carbon sequestration and low carbon intensity scores. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of government support and policy stability to ensure project viability. The presentation deck concludes with a detailed overview of the company’s feedstock supply strategy and a strong emphasis on the bankability of their project, making a compelling case for investors. READ MORE

Excerpt from 12 News Now: The 1,600-acre property, formerly the Kirby Mill site, will house a bio-refinery with plans for a 100-megawatt wood-fired power plant and a hydrogen production unit. -- USA BioEnergy has finalized the purchase of a former plywood mill site in Bon Wier for the construction of a $2.8 billion biofuel plant.

Nick Andrews, the company's CEO made the announcement Thursday, January 10, 2025, at a Newton County Lion's Club meeting before a crowd of about 50.

The 1,600-acre property, formerly the Kirby Mill site, will house a bio-refinery with plans for a 100-megawatt wood-fired power plant and a hydrogen production unit, according to Newton County Judge Ronald J. Cochran.

The project represents a significant expansion from the company's initial 2022 announcement of a $1.7 billion facility. The increased investment follows a partnership with Southwest Airlines for the production of sustainable aviation fuel. That partnership was announced in late 2023.

"For every single gallon of sustainable aviation fuel that we produce, we are able to offset four gallons of traditional jet," Andrews said. The facility will produce its sustainable aviation fuel using forestry thinnings as raw material.

"It's right in the middle of Newton County, which is the most densely populated county of southern yellow pine plantations in east Texas," he previously told 12News..

The plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, with full functionality expected by 2029. READ MORE; includes VIDEO

Excerpt from USA Bioenergy: Advanced biorefinery will produce sustainable, carbon negative aviation fuel and renewable naphtha for a 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines -- USA BioEnergy (USABE) today (January 14, 2025) announced it has closed on the acquisition of 1,600+ acres of land in East Texas for its new $2.8 billion advanced biorefinery, designed to convert wood waste into sustainable, net-zero aviation fuel (SAF). The landmark SAF facility already secured a 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines and is at the forefront of advancing ultra-low-carbon fuel, which is much needed in the future of aviation.

USABE’s planned $2.8 billion greenfield facility in Bon Weir, Texas, is currently in detailed design and engineering and aims to address airlines’ growing demand for SAF by converting sustainably sourced forest thinnings into sustainable aviation fuel. USA BioEnergy signed a 20-year offtake agreement with Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV) under which Southwest may purchase up to 680 million gallons of neat – or unblended – SAF. Once blended with conventional jet fuel, the SAF could produce the equivalent of 2.59 billion gallons of net-zero[i] fuel and avoid 30 million metric tons of CO2 over the offtake agreement term. According to USABE calculations this will enable approximately 112,000 short (less than three hours) or 7,000 long haul (more than 10 hours) net-zero airline flights per year.

“This advanced-fuels facility development milestone underscores USA BioEnergy’s commitment to the future of aviation and energy security. It bolsters our goal of being the world’s leader in advanced fuels,” said Nick Andrews, CEO of USA BioEnergy. “We also appreciate the opportunity to create good-paying jobs in Newton County, Texas, which has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the state of Texas. We are proud this project is a win-win-win for the area, the industry and our business objectives.”

The initial plant footprint is approximately 300 acres, providing ample room for growth and plant expansion. After the engineering and design process concludes, construction of the biorefinery is expected to take about two years, followed by a six-to-eight-month commissioning period. The state-of-the-art facility will annually convert one million tons of sustainably sourced forest thinnings into 65 million gallons of premium net-zero transportation fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable naphtha. The plant will also capture and sequester over 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide over the biorefinery’s lifetime.

The project is receiving support from state, county and federal credits and tax incentives totaling approximately $150 million. Local supporting organizations include the Texas Forest Country Partnership, Texas Forestry Association, the City of Newton, Newton County, the Newton Independent School District, Jasper County, the Sabine River Authority (SRA), and the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office of the Governor.

[i] Net zero is determined by a fuel with a carbon intensity of zero (0) gCO2e/MJ or lower on a lifecycle basis.

About Bon Wier, Texas Biofuels Plant:

The Bon Wier, Texas biofuels plant is a project being developed by Texas Renewable Fuels, a subsidiary of USA BioEnergy, to help supply the growing global market for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by converting sustainably sourced forest thinnings into SAF. The new state-of-the-art biorefinery will bring economic benefits to the region, including 200 new permanent jobs and tax revenue in Newton County and the surrounding counties, boost the local forestry industry and produce advanced low-carbon transportation fuel that contributes to our nation’s energy independence.

USA BioEnergy is a renewable fuels development and integration group headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a project pipeline across the southern U.S. USA BioEnergy plans to create ultra-low carbon sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, and renewable naphtha from sustainably sourced forest thinnings. USA BioEnergy intends to lead in the energy transition by consecutively developing a series of 12 advanced biorefineries. USA BioEnergy will capture and sequester over 50 million tons of CO2 over the useful life of each advanced biorefinery. Achieving the targeted carbon capture will give the resulting fuel one of the lowest carbon intensity scores in the industry for directly replacing fossil transport fuels. All advanced biorefineries are being designed using bankable-proven technology from world-renowned providers in gasification, Fischer-Tropsch, and hydrocarbon upgrading. The company’s definitive purpose is to be the world’s leader in advanced biofuels. For more information about USA BioEnergy, email Solutions@USABioEnergy.com or visit www.USABioEnergy.com. READ MORE