Alon refinery gets APCD permits; is Bakken crude now heading for Bakersfield?

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD) announced yesterday its final approval of construction permits for the Alon refinery, located alongside Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield. As a result, the (rail)road is now paved for the facility to receive crude oil deliveries by rail car, including, but not limited to, controversial shipments of Bakken crude from North Dakota.

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http://www.examiner.com/article/alon-refinery-gets-apcd-permits-is-bakken-crude-now-heading-for-bakersfield

HECA fights back against Sierra Club

In a fiery response yesterday to recent efforts by the Sierra Club and others to force the California Energy Commission to terminate its permit application, legal counsel for the Hydrogen Energy California (HECA) project said that almost all of the objections were irrelevant and presented several reasons why the termination request is unjustified.

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http://www.examiner.com/article/heca-fights-back-against-sierra-club

CaHSRA announces workshop for small businesses

 The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CaHSRA) has just announced a free, small business certification workshop for those hoping to get involved with the massive state transportation project. The workshop will be held on Friday, March 27, 2015 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Kern County Builders' Exchange, 1121 Baker Street, Bakersfield.

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http://www.examiner.com/article/cahsra-announces-workshop-for-small-businesses

CEC gives two local dairies $8 million for manure to energy projects

Two local dairies will benefit from California Energy Commission (CEC) grants totaling $8 million for the development of manure to energy projects. The CEC announced on Wednesday that American Biogas Electric Company was awarded two grants of $4 million each for projects at Bakersfield's Lakeview Farms Dairy and Buttonwillow's West Star North Dairy.

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http://www.examiner.com/article/cec-gives-two-local-dairies-8-million-for-manure-to-energy-projects

Sierra Club formally asks CEC to terminate HECA permit application

The troubled Hydrogen Energy California project (HECA) sustained another blow to its chances of becoming a reality today as a result of actions by environmental opponents. In a March 3, 2015, letter to the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (commonly referred to as the CEC), the Sierra Club and two local citizen's groups formally requested that the agency terminate the application for the project. According to the Sierra Club, the project applicant, SCS Energy California LLC (SCS), has failed to diligently follow through with several tasks and submit requested documentation for over 18 months.

Read more at the link below:

http://www.examiner.com/article/sierra-club-formally-asks-cec-to-terminate-heca-permit-application