**Exhibit 10.1**

**ADVANCE WORK AGREEMENT**

**THIS** ADVANCE WORK AGREEMENT(this “Agreement”) is made as of this 12th day of March,2007, by and between Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (“Client”) andDelta-T Corporation (“Delta-T”) (Client and Delta-T are referred to herein asthe “Parties”)

**RECITALS:**

WHEREAS, Client wishes to expedite the purchasing ofplant equipment in advance of completing the negotiation of an engineering,procurement and construction (“EPC”) contract(s) with Kiewit Energy Company (“Kiewit”);

WHEREAS, Client desires to enter into an EPCContract(s) with Kiewit whereby it is contemplated that Delta-T will provide,certain engineering, procurement and technology services for up to three (3)ethanol plants, one (1) with a design capacity of 108 million gallons per yearand two (2) with a design capacity of 108 million gallons per year with thecapability of being expanded to a design capacity of 216 million gallons peryear, of undenatured anhydrous ethanol (the “Plants”).

WHEREAS, Client and Kiewit are presently negotiatingterms of the EPC Contract(s), and the Parties wish to arrange for the immediatepurchase of certain equipment, as identified herein at Exhibit “A”, by Delta-Ton Client’s behalf, prior to the conclusion of the negotiations of the EPCContract(s).

WHEREAS, Client authorizes Delta-T to begin, andDelta-T agrees to perform, the work described in the attached Exhibit “A” (the “Work”).  Delta-T shall perform the Work and Clientshall remit payment to Delta-T for the Work in the manner described in thisAgreement.

WHEREAS, the purpose of this Agreement is to (i) causeDelta-T to perform the Work in accordance with Exhibit “A” and this Agreement,and (ii) set forth the conditions pursuant to which Delta-T shall perform theWork and receive payments for such performance.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises setforth above and the promises contained in this Agreement, the Partiesacknowledge good and valuable consideration, and agree as follows:

**Article 1 — Undertakings; Relationship Among TheParties**  The Partieshereby agree to work together under this Agreement for the purposes of orderinglong-lead equipment that will be necessary for construction of the Plants, forwhich it is contemplated Delta-T Technology would be used, prior to Client’sfinalizing negotiations and entering into the EPC Contract(s).  The equipment for the Plants to be purchasedunder this Advanced Work Agreement,  theprogress payments, and the payment dates for such equipment, which have been agreed by the Parties as of the datehereof, are identified in Exhibit “A”. From time to time, as the Parties agree upon additional equipment to beordered by Delta-T pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, additional Exhibit “A’s”may be added hereto for such equipment, and said items shall also be deemed toconstitute “Work” as such term is defined in this Agreement.

1

----

**Article 2 — Each Party’s Responsibilities**  Each Party shall be responsible for thefollowing areas in furtherance of the Work:

Client shall forward the amounts specified in Exhibit “A”on the dates and in the amounts as specified in said Exhibit “A” covering theitems of equipment referenced in such Exhibit “A” via electronic wire transferto Delta-T in Williamsburg, Virginia SOLELY for Work to be performed under thisAgreement.  Upon receipt of the firstpayment set forth on Exhibit “A”, Delta-T shall promptly begin the Work andproceed to acquire the equipment which is the subject of such authorization inaccordance with the Exhibit “A’s” attached to (or hereafter added to) thisAgreement.  Delta-T shall promptly payall amounts received from Client by Delta-T to the appropriate vendors ormanufacturers of said equipment (less the portions of such amounts representingthe portion of Delta-T’s procurement fee included in such amounts).  Delta-T shall also promptly provide Clientwith written documentation from the vendors and manufacturers of the equipmentshowing payment of said invoices by Delta-T (redacting any cost data).  The parties acknowledge that the purpose ofthis Agreement is to perform the Work only, and not to address all of thepotential services to be addressed in the EPC Contract(s) for the Plants.  Accordingly, by agreeing to perform the Workdescribed herein, Delta-T does not guarantee the completion of all of theprospective services to be addressed in such EPC Contract(s).

It is agreed and acknowledged that Delta-T shall notbe required to perform any Work outside the scope of this Agreement unless theParties enter into a subsequent written agreement covering such additionalwork.

**Notwithstanding anything to the contrary containedherein, it is agreed and understood that all payments made by Client to Delta-Tunder this Agreement shall be credited dollar for dollar towards the ContractPrice under the EPC Contract(s) for the applicable Plants for which theequipment which is the subject of the Work pertains.**

**Article 3 — Assignment**

3.1           Delta-Thereby agrees that, upon its receipt of payment for the cost of any equipment(as more specifically described in Exhibit “A”) and delivery of such equipmentto the Plant site designated by Client, or such other location designated byClient, it shall assign all of its rights, title and interest in and to theequipment to Client.  Further, Delta-Tshall include language acceptable to Client in its agreements and purchaseorders with any vendors or manufacturers of equipment requiring each suchmanufacturer or vendor to execute reasonable and appropriate documentationevidencing the assignment of ownership, the assignment of all warrantiesdelivered in connection with said equipment, and the assignment of all otherrights, title and interest in and to the equipment to Client upon writtendemand.  Delta-T shall identify andassign to Client all warranties received in connection with the Work.  If any such warranties are not assignable,then to the extent Delta-T receives any warranties from the equipment vendor ormanufacturer, Delta-T shall warrant the same to Client.  In addition, upon Delta-T’s receipt of eachpayment applicable to any equipment set forth on Exhibit “A”, Delta-T herebygrants to Client a first priority security interest in all of Delta-T’s rightsor interests in such equipment up to the amount of such payment and agrees toexecute such documents as Client may request in order to more fully perfectsuch security interest. In the event Delta-T fails to complete purchase of saidequipment, Client shall have the right to assume any and all contracts and/orpurchase

2

----

orders for purchase of said equipment, as well as topursue any other remedies against Delta-T for breach of contract.  Except as provided herein, neither Client norDelta-T may assign or delegate this Agreement or any of its rights orobligations under this Agreement to any third party without the written consentof the other party.

**Article 4 — Confidentiality**

4.1           EachParty agrees that all data, processes, equipment, technology, know-how, design,specifications, financial information, or other information disclosed to it bythe other Party under this Agreement shall be maintained as confidential.

4.2           Allobligations to adhere to the previously executed Confidentiality Agreement(s)between the Parties shall remain in full force and effect during the term ofthis Agreement (as to the information which is the subject of Article 4.1above), or beyond if provided in such Confidentiality Agreement(s).

**Article 5 — Rights In Data**

5.1           Nothingin this Agreement shall be interpreted as granting a license to use ortransferring any intellectual property rights of any Party, including but notlimited to, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and patents, unlessspecifically stated in a separate writing signed by the Parties.

**Article 6 — Term of Agreement**

6.1                                 ThisAgreement shall terminate upon the earliest occurrence of any of the eventslisted below:

(a)                                  theParties mutually agree in writing to terminate this Agreement; or

(b)                                 ifeither Party breaches this Agreement for any reason other than non-paymentwhich is covered under Article 6.1(c), the non-breaching party may terminatethis Agreement in the event that the breaching party has not cured such breachwithin ten (10) business days of receipt of written notice of such breach fromthe non-breaching party; or

(c)                                ifClient fails to make full payment to Delta-T of any amount owed by the due datespecified in Exhibit A, Delta-T may terminate this Agreement if Client has notmade such payment within five (5) days of Client’s receipt of written noticefrom Delta-T of such failure to make such payment; or

(d)                                 completionof the Work under this Agreement; or

(e)                                  uponprior written notice by Client to Delta-T; or

(f)                                    ifan EPC Contract or EPC Contracts are not executed within one hundred eighty(180) days from the date of this Agreement for one or more Plants applicable toall of the Work which is the subject of this Agreement, and Client elects toterminate this Agreement by written notice to Delta-T.

3

----

In the event of termination in accordance with anysubsection (a), (b) or (f) of this Article 6, any payments made to Delta-T byClient and not expended in furtherance of the Work (after subtracting Delta-T’sprofit, overhead and contingencies) shall be refunded to Client within ten (10)business days of said termination.  Inaddition, in the event of termination in accordance with Article 6.1(a),  6.1(b) or 6.1(f), Client shall have theoption to assume all of Delta-T’s rights and obligations for the purchase ofany or all of the equipment included in the Work, and in the event Clientexercises such option, Delta-T shall cooperate with Client in having Delta-T’srights and obligations with respect to the equipment for which Client hasexercised such option, transferred to Client.

In the event that an EPC Contract is executed anddelivered, all Work performed hereunder applicable to the Plant which is thesubject of such EPC Contract (with Client to designate to Delta-T theapplicable EPC Contract to which the Work, or portion of the Work, asapplicable, pertains) and all payments made hereunder with respect to such Workshall be treated as Work performed and payments made under such EPCContract.  In addition, the Partiesacknowledge that all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreementapplicable to the Work performed, or to be performed, hereunder applicable tothe Plant which is the subject of such EPC Contract shall be superseded andreplaced in their entirety by the terms and conditions of such EPC Contractfollowing the issuance by Client of the Notice to Proceed under such EPC Contract,including without limitation, the provisions of Articles 10. and 11.  **As set forth in Article 2,however, all payments under this Agreement applicable to Work for one of thePlants shall be credited dollar for dollar towards the Contract Price under theEPC Contract applicable to such Plant.**

**Article 7 — Integration**

7.1           Exceptas otherwise provided, this Agreement, together with all Exhibits attachedhereto, represents the entire and integrated agreement between the Parties withrespect to the subject matter referenced herein.  It supersedes all prior agreements withrespect to the Work except the Non-Disclosure Agreements referenced above.

**Article 8 — Governing Law**

8.1           ThisAgreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of theState of Virginia.

**Article 9 — Consequential Damages**

9.1           Inno event shall either Party, or their related companies be liable to each otherfor loss of profits or revenue; loss of use; loss of opportunity; loss ofgoodwill; cost of substitute facilities, goods or services; cost of capital; orfor any special, consequential, incidental, or indirect, punitive, or exemplarydamages resulting in any way from the performance of this Agreement, unlesssuch damages are caused by a violation of the confidentiality provisions ofthis Agreement.  For the avoidance ofdoubt, the foregoing shall not be construed to mean that Delta-T is notobligated to deliver the equipment it has agreed to provide to Client pursuantto the terms hereof.

4

----

**Article 10 — Limitation of Liability**

10.1  In no caseshall Delta-T have any liability under this Agreement in excess of insuredclaims and amounts paid by Client hereunder.

**Article 11 — Indemnification**

11.1         Delta-T,to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall indemnify, defend and holdharmless Client, and its officers, directors, employees and agents from andagainst all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, including attorneys’ fees andexpenses, for bodily injury, sickness or death, and property damage ordestruction to the extent resulting from the acts, errors or omissions of anyof Delta-T’s officers, agents, employees, Delta-T’s subcontractors or any otherperson for whose acts any of them may be liable, or for breach of thisAgreement by Delta-T.

11.2         Client,to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall indemnify, defend and holdharmless each of Delta-T, officers, directors, employees and agents from andagainst claims, losses, damages, liabilities, including attorneys’ fees andexpenses, for bodily injury, sickness or death, and property damage ordestruction  to the extent resulting fromthe acts, errors or omissions of Client, its officers, directors, employees,agents, and Client’s separate contractors or anyone for whose acts any of themmay be liable, or for breach of this Agreement by Client.

**Article 12 — Progress Updates**

12.1         Delta-Tshall provide Client with monthly, written updates during the term of thisAgreement setting forth quantity and vendor information for equipment for whichorders****have been placed.  Delta-T shall also provide Client withupdates on any cancellation fees associated with purchased equipment.

**Article 13 — Counterparts**

13.1         ThisAgreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by differentparties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed anddelivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shallconstitute but one and the same instrument.

13.2         ThisAgreement shall not be construed as creating a formal business entity of anykind, or as creating a joint venture, partnership, agency, fiduciary oremployment relationship among the Parties. No Party shall have the authority or right, and no Party shall holditself out as having the authority or right, to assume, create or undertake anyobligation of any kind whatsoever, express or implied, on behalf of or in thename of another Party without the express written consent of such other Party.

5

----

**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**,the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement, effective as of the date firstwritten above.

**AVENTINE RENEWABLE ENERGYHOLDINGS, INC.**
| By:                          | /s/ Jeffrey A. Moery    |   |
|------------------------------|-------------------------|--------|
| Title:                       | VP Plant Construction   |   |
|                         |                    |   |
|                         |                    |   |
| **DELTA-T CORPORATION**      |                    |
| ** **                   | ** **              |   |
| By:                          | /s/ James T. Callahan   |   |
| Title:                       | Chief Operating Officer |   |
|                         |                    |   |
|                         |                    |   |
| **KIEWIT ENERGY COMPANY(1)** |                    |
| ** **                   | ** **              |   |
| By:                          | /s/ Bradley J. Kaufman  |   |
| Title:                       | President               |   |
|                              |                         |        |  |

----

(1)             ThisAgreement is executed by Kiewit Energy Company (“Kiewit”) solely for thepurposes of evidencing its agreement that, if an EPC Contract is dulynegotiated and entered into between Kiewit and Client with respect to a Plantfor which all or any portion of the Work hereunder pertains, Kiewit agrees thatthe payments made under this Agreement shall be credited to any applicable EPCContract price and the provisions of the EPC Contract shall govern such Work,to the extent a design and procurement subcontract between Kiewit and Delta-Tfor such Plant  is duly negotiated andentered into, and further provided that such credit and the provisions of theEPC Contract shall apply only to the extent of the Work applicable to the scopeof such EPC Contract, as agreed by Client, Kiewit and Delta-T.  Kiewit’s obligations under this Agreement arestrictly limited to this acknowledgement, and Kiewit shall have no obligationto enter into an EPC Contract or any other agreement with Client or Delta-T,except to the extent it may do so in its own, sole discretion.

6

----

Exhibit A

The confidentialinformation has been omitted and filed separately with the Securities andExchange Commission.

1

----