Project Thunderbird targets 10 biorefineries producing 550 million gallons of advanced biofuels using tribal lands

Council of Energy Resource Tribes-BioJet-Tartoosh Biofuel/Bioenergy Project Ready for Takeoff

The Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT) today announced the execution of the long-term Development Agreement enabling the 10-15 year major biofuel/bioenergy project between CERT, BioJet, and Tartoosh Environmental. The project, tagged “Thunderbird”, is a multi- feedstock, multi-technology set of projects anticipated to build out in excess of $3 Billlion. This initiative is seen to create significant economic activity, jobs, and capital investment opportunities in the field of renewables.

CERT, with 57 Tribal members, was founded by Indian Tribes in 1975 as a distinct resource providing advice and support for Tribes in developing and sustaining long-term energy goals and has helped Tribes attain the confidence needed to chart a new course of development addressing Tribal priorities and values while contributing to a more secure energy future for all Americans. CERT member Tribes control their valuable resources and manage all aspects of their development–from negotiating agreements, protecting the environment, understanding the value of water and other resources, to verifying revenue payments and ultimately, creating governmental and business alliances, to effectuate the goal of assisting Tribes build stable, balanced, and self-governed economies; according to each Tribe’s vision and priority.

BioJet, is an international leader in the supply chain integration of bio-fuels and alternative fuels and is developing a worldwide renewable jet fuel business including co-products of its activities such as “green” diesel and livestock feeds. Complimentary to its bio-fuel activities is developing “Innovative Energy Park” projects which lead to products such as C5 sugars, coal supplements, and specialty chemicals and uses multiple feed-stocks and refining/conversion technologies which are both economically viable and meet rules governing Sustainability. The firm’s operations span the entire biofuel chain including the generation of feedstock; technology; refining; logistics; sustainability certification; distribution and eventual end use by the transportation and other sectors worldwide. BioJet is also the first Alternative Fuels Strategic Partner of the International Air Transport Association.

Tartoosh is an American Indian owned firm the principal of which, Robert J. Martin (Makah), has a solid record of success in developing, managing and executing projects in Indian country in the United States and provides environmental, energy, governmental and sustainability expertise related to projects in Indian country. Tartoosh, for CERT, is the leader of the Red Earth Star Alliance which is the enabling vehicle.

The goals of the Thunderbird project are to develop and build biofuel and bioenergy infrastructure on Native American lands which can

  • Utilize 750,000+ acres of agricultural projects for use as biofuel feedstock with co- products used as animal feed.
  • Utilizeexistingbioenergyfeedstocks. Example5millionboardfeetofdamagedexisting timber.
  • Utilize existing alternative fuel feedstocks such as natural gas. Example 5 trillion cubic feet for GTL conversion to synthetic jet fuel and diesel.
  • Utilize Algae feedstocks as they become technically and economically feasible to supplement biofuel feedstock base.
  • Refine/convert feedstocks to approximately 250 million gallons annually of renewable (bio) jet fuel and diesel and approximately 300 mmgpy of synthetic jet or diesel.
  • These biofuel/synthetic fuel goals would require approx 10 Biorefinery plants.
  • Convert waste biomass to high value energy products such as C5 molasses to be used in food production, green power, ethanol, or biochemicals and lignin to supplement coal in power and heat generation
  • These biomass conversion projects would require approx. 5 waste-to-energy plants.
  • Create Integrated Renewable Energy Parks where possible utilizing multiple renewable energy sources.

The Objective is to accomplish the above goals in a Sustainable fashion emphasizing

  • heritagepreservation,socialequity,environmentalriskmanagement,energy planning, and security
  • the integrated nature of human activities and therefore the need to balance economic, social and environmental objectives
  • established rules of biofuels Sustainability
  • job creation
  • profitability for project partners and stakeholders
  • efficient and innovative deployment of capital

The parties have agreed to each donate Ten Percent (10%) of their net profits to the CERT TRIBES Education Program the focus of which shall be, to the extent practicable, education in science, environmental, energy and business and sustainability studies and degrees.

David Lester, CERT Executive Director, said “CERT exists and operates, as the federal courts have held, as an “Indian League of Nations” for its sovereign tribal members. CERT’s goal is to help our sovereign Indian tribal members build sustainable, balanced and self-governed economies in accordance with each Indian tribe’s vision and priority. Our 57 sovereign tribal members have absolute control over such valuable resources as oil, gas, coal, uranium, water and agricultural lands. We engage in every facet of their prudent management and development In fact, we possess 30% of the coal west of the Mississippi River; 40% of known national uranium reserves, 9% of known national oil and gas reserves and renewables from a land base of 56 million acres sufficient to power the United States for many years. We remain committed to charting new courses of development that serve the needs of our members.”

Contacts
Mitch Hawkins Chairman BioJet
E-Mail: mitch.hawkins@biojetcorp.com

Robert Martin President Tartoosh
E-Mail: tartoosh@aol.com

Source

BioJet, press release, 2012-09-12.

Supplier

BioJet
Council of Energy Resource Tribes (CERT)
Tartoosh Environmental

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