The California Energy Commission unanimously approved the Springboard BioDiesel Application.  The application received the top score in the BioFuels field and we are confident it was partially due to the overwhelming support of the project. 

Springboard will need to finalize contracts with CEC, but hopefully will start by the end of June and be producing ASTM grade biodiesel soon after! 

It is exciting to see a pilot production facility in Butte County/Chico where fleets will have access to high quality biodiesel produced from yellow grease (or other local feedstock) as well as a job-creating project. The California Energy Commission approved the funding to accelerate the development of green fuels and technology in California.  

"We are extremely pleased to have received this award" said Mark Roberts, the Company's CEO.  "Our entire company has worked hard to define, design, develop and build a better biodiesel production system, which we call our Closed Local Loop, or CLL, system.  This award  further validates our approach to better serving local communities with locally produced and locally consumed, cleaner burning alternative fueling options."

"We are particularly excited to bring the biodiesel fueling option to the City of Chico, which has been actively focused on sustainable issues for a long time” commented Roberts.  “After demonstrating our 1,000 gallon per day CLL system in Chico, we anticipate additional installations throughout the North State and California, as the attractive aspects of local fuel production are better understood."

Springboard Biodiesel worked with the City of Chico, who provided significant technical assistance for the application and Alliance for Workforce Development through their Innovation Challenge/Alternative Fuel & Vehicle Initiative to help draft and submit the necessary information to the CEC.   The application was also supported by the County of Butte,  Butte County Association of Governments, Butte County Air Quality District, Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development, NoRTEC, 3Core, iLab and USDA.

"I think that the inherent logic of small-scale local biodiesel production resonates amongst our community” said Dave Burkland, Chico City Manager.  “ We are supportive of new innovative projects that benefit our environment in offering transportation fuel options and projects that create jobs.”   The project is expected to create 5-6 jobs during start-up which is anticipated this summer.  

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About Springboard

Springboard Biodiesel is a small-scale biodiesel solutions company.  Based in Chico, CA, the Company manufactures, markets, sells and operates small-scale biodiesel processing equipment.  The Company’s overarching goal – its mission - is to manufacture the world’s best small-scale biodiesel processing systems and thereby enable its customers to profitably produce ASTM-grade biodiesel.  The Company has 10 employees and has been a leader in the small-scale biodiesel equipment business for five years.  http://www.springboardbiodiesel.com/

About NoRTEC/AFWD

Northern Rural Training & Employment Consortium (NoRTEC) manages the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Workforce Investment Board for eleven counties in the North State.

Alliance for Workforce Development  (AFWD) operates and implements those WIA programs in Butte County since 2011.  AFWD serves both the employer and job seeker.   Providing human resource services and business assistance service to businesses and training services to job seekers.