It is anticipated that construction of Red Rock Biofuel's first commercial scale refinery in Lakeview, Oregon, could begin this summer.
The refinery will generate renewable jet fuel from woody biomass sourced from forests and sawmills. Plans to begin construction follow the announcement of newly secured funding in the form of a partnership with Flagship Ventures. The cost of the refinery is estimated at US$200m, US$70m of which will come from an award last year by the US Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy. The production of jet fuel, diesel and naphtha is expected to start around 18 months after construction begins. In September 2014, Southwest Airlines announced an offtake agreement with Red Rock to purchase 3m gallons of the renewable jet fuel for use at the low cost carrier's San Francisco Bay area operations.
