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15.B. S. STATUS REPORT ON NEW PLANET ENERGY (NPE) <br />Director of Utilities Erik Olson noted that this item was a follow-up to the January 13, <br />2009, Board of County Commission meeting, at which staff provided an update on New Planet <br />Energy Florida (NPE), which had been potentially selected to create within the County, an <br />ethanol production facility utilizing Landfill wastes. Director Olson recalled that New Planet <br />Energy (NPE) had entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with INEOS, to form a new company, <br />INEOS New Plant BioEnergy LLC (INPB). He reported that since INPB is a privately held firm, <br />and does not divulge financial audited information, staff had been unable to access its financial <br />records to determine the financial viability of INPB to undertake the Project. Director Olson <br />stated that INPB has recently proposed to begin Phase I of operations by utilizing the brush, <br />rather than the Class I raw landfill material, to create the ethanol, and explained why this would <br />greatly reduce the County's liability. Director Olson then reiterated staff's dilemma regarding <br />the lack of financial information on INPB. <br />Chairman Davis remarked that it seemed the only thing the County would be <br />jeopardizing in this situation would be the brush going to the Landfill. <br />Director Olson agreed with Chairman Davis, revealing that it would not be until Phase II <br />when the material from the Class I Landfill would be utilized. He stated that the key was to <br />protect the County on the basis of contractual limits set with whatever action it takes. <br />Commissioner Solari pointed out that once Phase I of the Project is initiated, and before <br />any substantial risk to the County, INPB would be acquiring financial records which could be <br />audited, as part of its Agreement with the County. <br />4 <br />March 24, 2009 <br />S.W.D.D. <br />