10 Mar The EB-5 Program: Fueling Eco-friendly Innovation
With all the recent controversy surrounding fraudulent uses of EB-5 funds, it is easy to forget the many benefits of the program, not only economic—in driving the expansion of American businesses and job creation—but environmental, as well. In fact, Eb-5 funds have fueled numerous eco-friendly businesses ventures that produce high-demand products using sustainable processes that do not harm the environment. Below are just two examples of innovative businesses that are applying for EB-5 funds to expand their operations: Georgia Renewable Power and Meredian Holdings Group. The EB-5 experts at e-Council Inc.com have produced best-in-class and Matter-of-Ho[1] compliant business plans and have provided experienced guidance for both companies.
Renewable Energy: Georgia Renewable Power (Georgia and North Carolina)
The UK Energy Research Centre (http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/support/Biomass)
Georgia Renewable Power (GRP) is a renewable power developer constructing and operating biomass power plants in Georgia and North Carolina. Its parent company, Green Fuels, has over five decades of experience in the power-generation industry. Under the guidance of e-Council Inc.com, GRP is seeking EB-5 funds to support the building and operation of new biomass plants using two types of renewable resources[2]—woody biomass and poultry litter. Woody biomass includes low-grade wood waste like woodchips, wood pellets and tree limbs resulting from tree-thinning activities, while poultry litter is a mixture of manure and bedding.
According to biomass-industry proponents, biomass power is carbon neutral and offers other ecological benefits, including: the reduced use of landfills (since some of landfill waste can be burned for fuel), reduced risk of wildfire (as biomass operators collect wooden brush and deadfall that can spark forest fires), and alleviation of the animal-waste disposal problem caused by massive livestock farms. Traditionally, many farmers have disposed of their poultry litter by using it as a fertilizer. However, the vast quantity of waste far outweighs the amount of cropland available for the fertilizer. The excess untreated waste washes into streams and rivers, causing algae blooms that deplete waterways of oxygen and kill the organisms that inhabit them.[3] By building power plants that use animal waste to generate energy, GRP will provide poultry growers with “an efficient, environmentally-friendly, and cost-effective” waste-management alternative.[4] GRP will also set up operations that will collect the waste and transport it to the plant before using it to generate electricity. Ash residue from the power plants will provide farmers with a nutrient rich, valuable fertilizer.
Bioplastics Manufacturing: Meredian (Bainbridge, GA)
Meredian, Inc.–a biopolymer manufacturer owned by Meredian Holdings Group (MHG) in Bainbridge, GA–produces PHA bioplastics,[5] organic plastics derived from renewable, natural resources. Meredian plastics are 100% biodegradable and compostable. They are produced from locally farmed non-GMO canola oil, which is fed to soil bacteria that naturally manufacture PHA in the process of digesting the oil. By keeping the canola farming local, Meredian decreases the overall carbon footprint. It also improves the local economy by partnering with local farmers who provide the oil for PHA production. PHA bioplastics equal or exceed petroleum-based plastic commodities in price and performance. They are also more environmentally friendly because they decompose quickly and completely.
Meredian’s manufacturing process is itself eco-friendly. Meredian uses “non-solvent water extraction” to remove the PHA from the cells of the cultivated microorganisms. The process is clean and uses no toxic chemicals, making Meredian PHA appealing for manufacturing biopolymers for food contact and medical purposes. The PHA can then be used to create a number of bioplastic end products, including agricultural mulch film,[6] cutlery, sandwich bags, and coffee lids.
The EB-5 experts at e-Council Inc.com have developed a strong EB-5 Exemplar package that Meredian has already submitted to USCIS for “pre-approval” of the Project. Meredian plans to use these funds for the retrofitting of a new canola crush facility and expansion of its bioplastics manufacturing operations in Bainbridge, GA.
Meredian’s Bioplastic Manufacturing plant
(http://meredianinc.com/our-process/microogranism-fermentation/)
To inquire about our wide range EB-5 services such as our best-in-class Matter of Ho-compliant business plans, please contact us at info@ecouncilinc.com.
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[1] Matter of Ho is a 1998 precedent decision issued by the Administrative Appeals Office that set forth the requirements for an EB-5 compliant business plan.
[2] Renewable resources are naturally replenished over a relatively short period of time, and include sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat.
[3] http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2011/07/26/big-chicken-pollution-and-industrial-poultry-production-in-america
[4] http://news.mongabay.com/bioenergy/2008/09/worlds-largest-biomass-plant-running-on.html
[5] Polyhydroxyalkanoates (or PHAs) are linear polyesters produced in nature by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids. They can be combined with other materials to produce a wide variety of biodegradable plastics.
[6] Black plastic sheets farmers use to prevent weeds, protect crops, and increase yield