Search

Alpena, MI (2011)

American Processing Inc

American Process, Inc., utilized NMTCs to create 20 new jobs for a biorefinery project at its Alpena, Michigan plant site.

Investment

  • NMTC Amount: $31,602,098
  • Total Project Cost: $37,551,198

IMPACT

  • 20 FTE jobs

Investor

Project Description

American Process, Inc., utilized New Market Tax Credits to create 20 new jobs for a biorefinery project at its Alpena, Michigan plant site. The proposed project includes the new construction of a biorefinery where API employs a modified version of its Green Power+ (patent pending) process whereby an extraction and ethanol production modules are added to the front of a biomass boiler for the purpose of extracting C5 and C6 sugars and converting them to ethanol before the wood feedstock is burned in the boiler. The Alpena Biorefinery serves as AP’s prototype for this type of technology and is located directly adjacent to a wood product manufacturer, Decorative Panels International (“AP”).

DPI uses a steam explosion process on wood chips to break down the wood fibers before turning them into wood paneling. DPI paid a high-cost for the disposal of its wastewater stream. An agreement had been reached with API that is estimated to save the company roughly $900,000 per annum in wastewater handling charges. DPI will therefore pay API to off-take the wastewater from their steam explosion process, and the subsequent dewatering process serves as AP’s primary feedstock for the bio-refinery.

A second segment of the Green Power+ process is designed to convert acetic acid, a byproduct of converting the sugars to ethanol, into potassium acetate for use as a road de-icer. This additional component is a significant benefit to the plant’s overall financial and environmental capacity. AP’s leadership is highly confident that the de-icer process is constructed and implemented on a timely basis. If however the de-icer process is delayed, the acetic acid could be concentrated and sold directly to market.

MAP

Address: 412 Ford Avenue, Alpena, MI 49707

Census Tract: 26007000400

Related Projects

Allendale, (2012)