|
SJH in the News
  Big Oil’s Biomass Play
Nature Biotechnology — November 2007
"Money is flowing into universities from the major oil producers. What is their agenda? Cormac Sheridan investigates." SJH Director, Michael Masterovsky, is quoted in this article on the move of ADM to partner with ConocoPhillips for cellulosic biofuel production.
Read More
New Ethanol Plants: Fact or Fiction?
Leverage World — March 16, 2007
Aventine Renewable Energy taps the high yield new-issue market for funds to expand its ethanol production capacity. The company’s planned growth comes as industry sources estimate that overall U.S. ethanol capacity will more than double within three years. But how many of these blueprints will come to fruition? SJH staff comments on the evidence of shifting sentiment and waning banker support in the heartland that suggests the answer will fall well short of projections.
Read More
Piecing Project Financing Together
www.ethanolproducer.com — November 2006
Obtaining financing for ethanol projects is much easier today than it was in
the industry’s early days. But there are still hurdles to clear, especially
with so many project developers clamoring for funding...Properly structuring a project via a feasibility study improves the chances of success, according to Mike Masterovsky, director of the renewable energy division for SJH & Co. A feasibility study looks at components such as proper location, grain sourcing strategy, and pricing of both feedstocks and products produced at an ethanol plant. Not all feasibility studies are created equal, however. Financiers want to know that a feasibility study has been completed by an objective source, one that is not involved in the project, Masterovsky says. Being able to produce ethanol is only one part of the project equation. Having contracts in place to sell both ethanol and distillers grains is another. ”Lenders now are looking to see that you have those offtake contracts,“ Masterovsky says.
Read More
Environmental Power Corporation Provides Business Update
From PR Newswire — September 13, 2006
”...The rapid rollout of our biogas/RNG facility ownership strategy brings with it growing capital needs. We have examined a variety of capital structures, and we believe that a tax-exempt bond offering would be an attractive method of financing our large—scale RNG facilities. We have executed an engagement letter with Ziegler Capital Markets Group, a national leader in arranging IDB tax—exempt bond financings, to market a tax—exempt bond offering to finance a portion of the four proposed RNG facilities in Texas. The financial feasibility study for this proposed financing was completed by SJH & Company, and the technical feasibility study was completed by R.W. Beck. We are hopeful that this proposed financing can be used as a template for the financing of similar facilities in other locations across the country.
Read More
Ethanol Supplies Not A Concern, Producers Say...SJH Comments
Eagle Tribune — April 26, 2006
Gas prices are likely to reach for the sky again this summer, but don
’t blame the increase on changes in how gasoline is blended...
...But a possible benefit to the current surge in ethanol prices is that it will encourage others to get into the business too, according to Mike Masterovsky, director of SJH & Co., an agricultural business consulting company based in Boston.
For example, Masterovsky points to companies like Aventine Renewable Energy Inc., which yesterday unveiled plans to build a large, new ethanol plant in Nebraska after filing for a $450 million initial public offering of stock late last month...
Read More
Ethanol Companies Look To Refuel Capital By Going Public
Investor's Business Daily — 4/10/2006
A lot of ethanol producers find themselves in need of cash, says Mike Masterovsky, director of energy consulting firm SJH & Co. Despite the industry's growth prospects, the S&P won't back any bonding for ethanol producers because of tax issues, he says. While oil companies have set tax incentives, ethanol's incentives are not set.
"These companies going (public) are looking at raising both capital from an equity position and also trying to have bonds established to help finance some of the build-out of this capacity," he said.
Read More
Harvard Business School Case Study on Mid-Missouri Energy
Harvard Business Online — 03/02/2006
SJH is pleased to announce that Harvard Business School published a Case Study on Mid-Missouri Energy. SJH conducted the Feasibility Study and Business Plan for Mid-Missouri Energy's 40 million gallon per year ethanol plant, which began production in February 2005 and has "met or exceeded all performance expectations."
Read More
Consultant Delivers Ethanol Report in Extensive Detail
News-Banner.com — Jan 20, 2006
City and county officials meet in joint session this morning to review a report prepared by outside consultant Jeff Kapell on the ethanol plant proposed to be built in Wells County.
Read More
Opportunities for Ethanol Production in the Northeast
http://www.ethanoltoday.com/pdf/Secondary%20story.pdf — March 2005
Several ethanol plant projects are proposed in the Northest region of the United States, each of which is encountering both the opportunities and the challenges that accompany ethanol production outside the Corn Belt.
Read More
Livestock Farmers Look to Organics
Cooperative Life Leader — February 2004
Read More
No Go Can Be a Good Show
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/jul03/value.html — Michael Doherty
Good feasibility study that accurately gauges the odds of success is essential for any co-ops considering a value-added project. Two central Illinois grain cooperatives recently contracted for an independent feasibility study, which ultimately determined that there was little chance for success for their proposal to process specialty tortillas for the Hispanic market in Chicago, despite growth of that market and increasing demand.
Read More
Consumer-Driven: Added Value New Income Stream
Delta Farm Press — January 2003
Read More
Marketing Alliances — Feasibility Study A Key First Step
Center for Rural Affairs — October 2002
Read More
Milk + Megawatts = Dairy Profit?
americanfarmer.com — September 24, 2002
Read More
Farms Fight Food Tracing
Register Washington Bureau — September 22, 2002
Read More
Farm Bureau Conference Explores Energy Alternatives
American Farm Bureau Federation — May 2002
Read More
Agriculture Has Great Opportunity Ahead
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation — April 1, 2002
Read More
Ethanol Need Could Add Up to 16% of U.S. Corn in Next Decade
Successful Farming — February 28, 2002
Read More
|
