Havre, Montana
December 3, 2008-
Great Plains – The Camelina Company received a $50,000 grant
from the Montana Agricultural Development Council.
- The grant will fund a feasibility study for an oilseed
crushing facility.
- Camelina is a profitable rotational crop with wheat or other
small grain crops.
The Montana
Agriculture Development Council awarded $50,000 in grant funding
from the Montana Growth Through Agriculture (GTA) program to
Great Plains – The Camelina Company. The funds will be used
to conduct a feasibility study for an oilseed crushing plant in
Montana.
Great Plains
is focused on developing
Camelina sativa (camelina) as an oilseed crop for
biodiesel production in Montana, Washington, Oregon and
surrounding states, and has engaged in extensive research and
marketing of the crop for over 10 years. Camelina grows well in
the unpredictable dry climates of these states and can be used
as a profitable rotational crop with wheat or other small grain
crops.
The
application for the grant was presented jointly to the Council
by Great Plains CEO Sam Huttenbauer, and Pam Lemer, value added
agriculture coordinator for
Bear Paw Development Corporation. Great Plains and Bear Paw
Development began partnering on this project in December 2007.
“This is an
exciting time for both our company and the future of fuel in
America,” said Huttenbauer. “We are pleased about this
investment by the State of Montana and look forward to
continuing to pursue this exciting economic development
opportunity for our company and Montana.”
Paul Tuss,
executive director for Bear Paw Development, noted, “Great
Plains’ development of this project is a classic example of the
continuing growth in value-added agriculture in our state that
will help promote job creation and economic diversification for
Montana. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it is
innovative efforts like this one that will ensure the continued
growth of Montana’s economy for years to come.”
The Montana
legislature created the GTA program to strengthen and diversify
the state’s agricultural industry through the development of new
agricultural products and processes. Since the program’s
inception, over $10.6 million has been invested in over 350
projects for new and innovative agricultural endeavors.
Bear Paw
Development Corporation has been a leader in economic
development in northern Montana for over 40 years, serving five
counties and two Indian reservations. To inquire further about
Bear Paw Development, visit
www.bearpaw.org.
Great
Plains – The Camelina Company is the world’s leader in camelina
production and development. As a vertically integrated renewable
energy company, it is establishing a growing base and production
facilities from which it will produce and supply camelina oil
with its partner and one of the leading biofuel producers in the
world, INEOS Enterprises. Great Plains is currently crushing
camelina and has produced over 10 million road miles of camelina
biodiesel to date. For more information about Great Plains or
growing camelina, please visit
www.CamelinaCompany.com or call 877-922-6645. |
