We are working on several innovative and exciting projects. One is turning vegetable oil (mostly from soybeans) into biodiesel (this technology has actually been around for some time, but there are still not too many facilities doing it). Another is using wood scraps and waste water treatment plant sludge to make bio/synthetic gas (mostly methane) and then burning that gas to make electric power. A third project I am working on right now is proposing to extract/squeeze "natural" gas out of coal, and process it to the extent that it can be sold as standard natural gas. Lastly, we are about to submit an application for a coal-fired power plant (pretty standard design) that will be equipped with a carbon dioxide (CO2) recovery plant. If built, it will mostly likely be the first of its kind on a large scale. Most of the readers of this blog are probably unaware that CO2, the primary "pollutant" of concern in regards to the alleged global warming, is not yet a regulated air pollutant under EPA rules. The laws/regulations are being discussed on capital hill and are probably not far away. But that is why such a plant is a big deal. It's not very often that our clients are so far ahead of the rules.
Today (Wed, 1/2) is my first day back from the holidays - I essentially took a week and a half off. I got almost everything on my plate wrapped up before leaving so we are a little light on work now. We are still working on the coal-fired power plant project I mentioned last time, but we are waiting on some information from the client before we can proceed much further. Waiting on the client for information is a frequent occurrence that we just have to get used to. The "free time" has allowed me to write a couple proposals: one for about $50k for a major permitting effort at a paper mill and another for about $5k for some "minor" air modeling assistance for a local power plant. As has been a running theme in my posts, I love the variety we experience.
On a personal note, I am still trying to recover from our New Years celebration. Not how you might think however. I chaperoned an all-night (9 pm to 7 am), no-sleep allowed youth lock-in at my church. I think I am getting too old for loud rock concerts and running blow-up obstacle courses against teenagers at 3 am in 20-degree weather.