spur will be constructed to allow access to the Union Pacific mainline that borders the port site . Engineering design , which is funded by LGF has been completed by Hatch and construction expected to begin in 2023 .
• Rail overpass construction . In conjunction with LGF and DOTD , the Port has developed a thoughtful traffic pattern to ensure safe and efficient access for forestry transport trucks to and from the future plant site . The design work is being performed by Meyer , Meyer , LaCroix & Hixson , Inc ., who are headquartered in Alexandria , Louisiana , and previously designed the Highway 165 rail overpass just north of the Port . Ensuring maximum traffic safety , the design features a new rail overpass directly into the site and a US Hwy 165 underpass using the existing highway rail overpass along with a traffic circle , eliminating all truck left turns , at-grade rail crossings and stop signs . Construction of the rail overpass is expected to begin in 2023 .
Bob Meredith , Strategic Biofuels ’ Chief Operating Officer and Caldwell Parish native said , “ We greatly appreciate the efforts the Port has made to secure funding for infrastructure improvements . The early upgrading of Riverton Camp Road coming this summer provides strong support for LGF ’ s aggressive construction schedule . It allows us to begin actual plant construction as soon as the full project funding is secured , and we expect that to be in early 2023 . The Port has also been a key contributor in our efforts with DOTD and Union Pacific Railroad . The strong support we ’ ve continued to receive from Caldwell Parish confirms the wisdom of locating the plant here .”
The Port of Columbia is a Louisiana Economic Development ( LED ) Certified Site located six miles north of Columbia in Caldwell Parish , LA . Certified Sites are development-ready industrial sites which have passed an extensive application process and exhaustive review by an independent , third-party engineering firm . The Port of Columbia is governed by a board of commissioners who are accountable to the Caldwell Parish government .
Strategic Biofuels LLC is a team of oil and gas , petrochemical and renewable technology experts focused on developing a series of deeply negative carbon footprint plants in northern Louisiana that convert waste materials from managed forests into renewable diesel and renewable naphtha . The fuel qualifies for substantial Carbon Credits under the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard ( RFS ) and under the California Low Carbon Fuels Standard ( LCFS ).
Louisiana Green Fuels is the first project by Strategic Biofuels in northern Louisiana at the Port of Columbia . The feedstock for the plant is forestry waste from managed and sustainable forests . l FON
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