In October of 2008, ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, added the “Cold Soak Filtration Test” procedure to its mandated biodiesel testing methods. The stated goal of the Cold Soak Filtration Test is to protect against the precipitation of solid materials in inferior biodiesel during cold weather and to ensure that end users will not have problems with their engines when using biodiesel in cold temperatures. Material that does not pass the Cold Soak Filtration Test and other ASTM specifications cannot be sold in the United States as biodiesel after April 1, 2009.
Management of GreenHunter believes that most of the biodiesel currently being produced globally will not pass the minimum requirements of the Cold Soak Filtration Test and will therefore have to be further refined using a distillation process, such as GreenHunter BioFuels’ existing methyl ester distillation process. This situation will exist until such time as other processes are developed and implemented by biodiesel producers to remove minor impurities which have resulted in fuel filter blocking under certain conditions.
GreenHunter BioFuels is the largest biodiesel refiner located on the Gulf Coast of the United States with a large scale methyl ester distillation process that has available capacity for providing service to other biodiesel producers with respect to correcting Cold Soak Filtration Test performance. GreenHunter has a demonstrated track record of successful results in distilling methyl esters and achieving full compliance with ASTM and EN specifications, including compliance with the Cold Soak Filtration Test. Results at the Company’s refinery have been achieved in recent months with animal fat-based methyl esters and palm methyl esters.
The GreenHunter BioFuels Houston campus has been designed to serve the industry’s needs for toll processing of multiple feedstocks to meet both ASTM D6751-08 and EN 14214 specifications, provide distillation services to meet the Cold Soak Filtration Test, provide distillation services to remove water from wet methanol, and to provide both short and long term bulk storage services. The Company is in the process of adding the necessary equipment to enhance its glycerin distillation capability for upgrading crude glycerin to non-certified USP grade glycerin.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations and prospects for GreenHunter Energy and its business and other statements containing the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “will” and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the substantial capital expenditures required to fund its operations, the ability of the Company to implement its business plan, government regulation and competition. GreenHunter Energy undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future.
GreenHunter Energy is focused on the renewable energy sectors of wind, hydro, geothermal, solar, biofuels, and biomass power plants. Our assets consist of leases of real property for future development of wind energy projects located in Montana, New Mexico, California, Texas, Wyoming and The Peoples Republic of China, the nation’s largest biodiesel refinery located in Houston, Texas, a biomass-fired power plant located in Brawley, California, and an option to lease acreage associated with a terminaling facility in Port Sutton, Florida. Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, GreenHunter Energy was formed to be the first publicly traded renewable energy company based in the U.S. that provides to investors a portfolio of diversified assets in the alternative energy sector. Additional information about GreenHunter Energy may be found at www.greenhunterenergy.com.
GreenHunter Energy, Inc.
Jack W. Zedlitz, 972-410-1044
jzedlitz@greenhunterenergy.com