Research Triangle.  As you have read in some of my previous posts, developers from California, Florida, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois (in particular) are pumping money into new commercial construction in the Research Triangle area.  From 2000 through 2005 the nation’s population grew 5.3%, North Carolina’s population grew 7.8% and the seven county Triangle region grew by 14.8%.  Developers expect three of the seven counties, Wake, Chatham and Johnston (in particular) to continue to show strong increases in population and commercial growth well into the forseeable future: especially as new segments are added to Interstate 540.  

John Fish - (919) 696-3474    Email: marvmax@mindspring.com  Web Site: www.JohnFish.com

Pittsboro, North Carolina.   Piedmont Biofuels of Pittsboro just opened a plant in Chatham County that is expected to produce 1 million gallons of biodiesel fuel annually.  The base of this fuel is - chicken fat!  Many area city garbage trucks and school buses burn B20 which is 80% petroleum diesel and 20% biodiesel. This blend sells for $2.80 to $3.00 per gallon but is only available at two gas stations in the area - both in Durham.  Two more biodiesel plants are currently going up in the state as well.  North Carolina consumers used 1.5 million gallons of biodiesel fuel in 2005.  Nationally, 78 million gallons were consumed in 2005, 300 million gallons should be reached this year and projections for 2007 are 750 million gallons.  This may only be a drop in bucket in this nation’s efforts to reduce our dependency on foreign oil but, in my opinion, any effort at all is to be commended.  Liquid chicken fat is mixed with methyl alcohol and a catalyst such as potash to change the fat into fuel.  Glycerin, a byproduct, can be purified and used in the chemical industry and for cosmetics.  I am told that if you follow a car that burns oil used to cook french fries you will be looking around to see where the fast food restaurant is.  What that translates into if you are following a “chicken fat express” I don’t know.

John Fish  (919) 696-3474   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com   Web Site: www.JohnFish.com

Chatham County Real Estate. Jim Goodnight, Tim Smith and “Bubba” Rawl are at it again.  Preston Development has purchased 2,000 acres South of Pittsboro and have an eagle eye on 1,000 more.  About all Tim and “Bubba” will say about their plans for the acreage is that it will have 2 golf courses.  As you know Tim and “Bubba”, with the backing of SAS Institute founder Jim Goodnight, developed Preston in Cary and put together the acreage package that is now Wakefield.  Jim is backing them in this venture as well. 

If you haven’t been keeping up with what is going on in Pittsboro it’s time you did.  Newland Communities, a developer out of San Diego, has an approved subdivision called Briar Chapel which will have 2,389 homes on 1,589 acres five miles South of Chapel Hill off of U.S. 15-501.  There will also be two schools and more than 500,000 square feet of commercial space.

John Fish  (919) 696-3474   Email: marvmax@mindspring.com  Web Site: www.JohnFish.com