[Gasification] Range Fuels Closing Plant

Thomas Reed tombreed2010 at gmail.com
Mon Jan 24 17:54:44 CST 2011


I attended a few of the formative meetings of Range Fuels back about 2007 when I lived in Denver.  I have known Bud Klepper since about 1988 when we worked together on a methanol project.  Too bad that many $millions couldn't solve at a large scale what Bud had solved at a small scale.  

Tom Reed, Pyrologist

Dr Thomas B Reed
President, The Biomass Energy Foundation
www.Woodgas.com

On Jan 24, 2011, at 1:58 PM, Bob Stuart <bobstuart at sasktel.net> wrote:

> Unfortunately, the Government is more impressed by confidence than competence, so the con-men usually get more than the deserving developers.  Funding research efficiently is a tough structural problem.  I'd like to see a system where anyone could start from a Science Fair entry, and show a talent for low-cost research results to get first dibs at the money.
> 
> Bob Stuart
> 
> On 24-Jan-11, at 3:47 PM, Jim Leach wrote:
> 
>> It is a sad story to be sure.  I don't know anything about the details but one must not condemn the use of government sponsored research and development money just because Range failed.  Many other researchers that were able to get government grants succeed and society has been rewarded for it.  Keep in mind that is how the U.S. got to the moon.
>>  
>> Best Regards, 
>>  
>> JAMES T. LEACH, P.E.
>> President
>>  
>> DANA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
>> 32242 Paseo Adelanto, Suite D
>> San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
>> Ph 949-496-6516
>> Fx 949-496-8133
>> Mobile 949-933-6518
>>  
>> 
>> From: gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org [mailto:gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Koch
>> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 1:04 PM
>> To: Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification; Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification
>> Subject: Re: [Gasification] Range Fuels Closing Plant
>> 
>> I had a discussion with some of the engineers from Range in 2007 about how to adapt physical laws to their reality.
>>  
>> I remember the feeling of being reactionary - cautious and less dynanic among a crowd that all the self confidence in the world. We where looking at some black stuff in a bearing - smelly - sticky - BUT IT WAS NOT - NOT - NOT TAR!!!
>> Why not - because their gasifier did not produce tar - because tar would kill the catalyst.
>>  
>> Thet really had visions - I remeber a senior person saying to me "Of course we can change the law of gravity - Nasa could put a man on the moon - it is just a matter of money" -
>>  
>> Every thing I could say was - STOP - THINK - REFLECT - SEE - USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. All actions that did not at all match with a dynamic and fast moving venture investment - at this stage they where allready 2 month behind schedule.
>>  
>> Thomas Koch
>>  
>>  
>> 
>> Fra: gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org på vegne af Ronald Bailey
>> Sendt: ma 24-01-2011 21:25
>> Til: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification'
>> Emne: Re: [Gasification] Range Fuels Closing Plant
>> 
>> Dear Tom:
>> 
>>  
>> Too bad that money couldn't have gone to a company that has technology that works.
>> 
>>  
>> Ron Bailey Sr.
>> rbaileys at prmenergy.com
>> 
>>  
>>  
>> From: gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org [mailto:gasification-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Tom Miles
>> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 11:47 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification'; biochar at yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: [Gasification] Range Fuels Closing Plant
>> 
>>  
>>  
>> http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/21755
>> 
>>  
>>  
>> "Cellulosic ethanol company Range Fuels is closing its Soperton, Georgia facility after completing it first batch of ethanol, according to story posted by Georgia Public Broadcasting. 
>> 
>> The firm, which has received more than $300 million dollars in state, federal and private funding, will lay off the majority of its workers and shutter operations, while it attempts to raise more money and address technical issues." 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 
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