(Sioux Falls, S.D.)– The U-S Energy Department is putting more money behind its call to make cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive within five years.
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Tuesday announced plans to invest up to 200 million dollars over the next five years to help companies develop small bio-refineries that can produce alternative fuel from things other than corn kernels–from grass, corn stalks and wood chips.
The Energy Department earlier awarded 385 million dollars in grants to six companies hoping to build the nation’s first large-scale cellulosic ethanol plants.
One of those companies is Sioux Falls-based Poet–formerly called Broin. It’s planning to modify its ethanol plant in Emmetsburg to use the entire corn plant, not just the kernel.
(Story from the Associated Press).
