The Raeford Advanced Biofuel project (“The Project”) complies with several of the SDG goals as stated by The United Nations.
The Project has received a “Green” designation by Kestrel Verifiers for the issue of corporate bonds to fund the execution of the advanced renewable biofuel construction and start-up.
Kestrel Independent Report confirmed that The Project meets the eligibility criteria of reduced air emissions compared to conventional processing plants. In addition, the use of grain sorghum as feedstock in combination with the biogas for energy, reduces the carbon footprint of the operations, granting the company a lower Carbon Index as compared to conventional ethanol plants.
The direct compliance of The Project with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as confirmed by Kestrel Verifiers are the following:
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, which includes targets to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, which includes targets to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, which includes targets to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
Benchmark Managements anticipates that once The Project is in operations it will further comply with the following SDG’s:
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which includes targets of promoting economic growth and sustainable employment. In addition, it contains goals to promote youth employment, education, and training.
Raeford’s Hoke County in North Carolina is currently classified as Tier One, ranking among the most economically distressed counties in North Carolina. Hoke County will benefit from the new sustainable jobs created by The Project.
The collaboration with North Carolina State University with the anticipated internship program at the Raeford plant will promote youth employment, advanced biofuels education and training.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, which include targets for implementing a 10- year sustainable production plan and encourage the adoption of sustainable production practices.
Benchmark development of local sorghum cultivation includes agricultural supervision of farming practices. The promotion of sustainable farming practices will contribute to reduce GHG emissions in the production lifecycle of the advanced biofuel and comply with SDG 12.
The Project has been calculated to commence operations with a very efficient Carbon Index (“CI”) of 44.7 g CO2e/MJ.
The initial low carbon index is accomplished mainly by utilizing biogas to produce thermal energy, thus eliminating the use of hydrocarbons in the production process.
However, the company anticipates reducing the CI to ZERO or even negative by applying further technology to the lifecycle of the production process.
Among the initiatives to be undertaken upon re-starting operations are the following:
1. CO2 Sequestration:
Benchmark is preparing to start the permitting and test drilling immediately after initiating construction and modifications at Raeford.
Benchmark has experience in developing geological work for CO2 well-injection sequestration and has designed and installed methane CO2 cleaning equipment in the past.
We have confirmed the presence of a saline aquifer in Eastern North Carolina suitable for CO2 injection-permanent sequestration.
2. Local production of Grain Sorghum
Benchmark development of local sorghum cultivation includes agricultural supervision of farming practices. The company will promote and demonstrate No Till planting, new water management practices for sorghum, use of renewable fertilizers (renewable ammonia), use of biodiesel in farming machinery and others. These practices once fully implemented will have a significant impact on the carbon index score of the production lifecycle.
For additional information, please contact The Company
