Cellulosic (m)Ethanol Plant

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I was always befuddled about us chasin' corn liquor when we have trash to burn.....

Government backs ethanol plant

By Sam Hananel

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday it will invest up to $76 million for construction of a cellulosic ethanol plant in Kansas, one of the first of its kind in the nation.

Chesterfield, Mo.-based Abengoa BioEnergy Biomass will build and operate the plant, which would produce 11.4 million gallons of the biofuel per year. It is expected to be built near Wichita, but the exact location is still being decided.

The money from the Energy Department is part of a $385 million investment it is making in six new cellulosic ethanol plants around the country.

Funding for the projects is part of President Bush's plan to make cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive with gasoline by 2012 and reduce overall gas consumption by 20 percent over 10 years.

"Success in producing inexpensive cellulosic ethanol could be a key to eliminating our nation's addiction to oil," Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said in a written statement. "By relying on American ingenuity and on American farmers for fuel, we will enhance our nation's energy and economic security."

The Bush administration wants to increase the use of renewable and alternative fuels in cars and other vehicles to 35 billion gallons of ethanol per year by 2017.

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said the investment would help the rural economy in Kansas while reducing dependence on foreign oil.

"This technology is cutting edge and represents the next wave in renewable energy," Roberts said.

Abengoa BioEnergy Biomass already plans to spend about $188 million on a separate 100-million-gallon-a-year ethanol plant in Colwich, near Wichita.

Earlier this month, the Colwich City Council voted to approve construction for the larger plant, despite the objections of some residents who fear pollution and truck traffic.

Abengoa BioEnergy already operates a 25-million-gallon ethanol plant in Colwich that it bought five years ago from High Plains Corp.

Cellulosic ethanol is made from nonfood plants such as corn stover, cereal straws, switchgrass and industrial plant waste such as saw dust and paper pulp. While it requires a complex refining process, cellulosic ethanol contains more net energy and produces lower greenhouse emissions than traditional corn-based ethanol.

The new cellulosic ethanol plant in Kansas would use 700 tons per day of feedstocks to produce ethanol and enough energy to power the facility. It is scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2010, with a total estimated cost of more than $300 million, according to a company statement.

"Kansas' diverse agricultural base will provide more than enough crop residues and energy crops needed to supply the cellulosic needs for this new plant," said Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., who was part of the push to get the grant.

03/01/2007; 02:39:51 AM

Now, if we'd put some pot in the pot......