Irvine, Calif.-based BlueFire Renewables Inc. has received all permits necessary to move forward with construction of its proposed 19 MMgy cellulosic ethanol project in Fulton, Miss. Specifically, BlueFire has obtained its final air, wastewater and storm water permits from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Other permits issued related to the project include a wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a Certificate of Permit Coverage under Mississippi’s storm water general permit from the MDEQ. A "Final Environmental Assessment" and "Finding of No Significant Impact" finding was issued by the U.S. DOE in June.

"The favorable findings and conclusions of the permits issued are reflective of BlueFire's approach to design, develop, construct and operate domestic fuel production facilities that meet or exceed applicable regulations with no significant impacts to the environment," said BlueFire CEO Arnold Klann. "Also embedded in the permits are conditions to protect worker and public health and safety."

BlueFire has identified its future plant in an industrial park where infrastructure exists or requires only minimum upgrades to serve the project. The project site, controlled under a long-term lease with Itawamba County, has access to rail, interstate highways and barge for maximum flexibility in receiving materials and shipping products. With issuance of the required permits, the county, in conjunction with the city of Fulton, has commenced work on the initial activities of clearing, rough grading and drainage improvements under a contract with Century Construction, a Mississippi based contractor. According to BlueFire, the work by Century Construction is expected to take about 120 days.

Prior to finalizing its permits, the company has been busy this fall shoring up the ancillary requirements to proceed with the project. In September, BlueFire announced two milestones that were necessary for bringing online its Fulton project; securing an off-take agreement with Tenaska BioFuels LLC for the purchase and sale of its future ethanol product, and signing a 15-year contract with Cooper Marine & Timberlands to lock up its agricultural residue feedstock supply. Then, in early October, the company selected Wanzek Construction, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MasTec Inc., to build the $296 million facility, which includes a $100 million biomass power plant.

"We are excited to see jobs being created and economic development contribution starting to accrue to the State of Mississippi," said Mr. Klann. "Once erection of plant and equipment commences, the jobs employed at the site will peak at about 700 under the EPC contract with MasTec Inc."

In addition to the project in Fulton, BlueFire also has a fully permitted, shovel-ready project in Lancaster, California that, when complete, would be capable of producing 3.9 MMgy of fuel grade ethanol. The future plant is expected to use post-sorted cellulosic wastes diverted from Southern California’s landfills.