(Emmetsburg)– The city of Emmetsburg is getting some special recognition for its affiliation with the biofuels industry.
Biofuels Digest, an industry publication, has dubbed Emmetsburg as “Community of the Year”, citing the fact the city is home to POET Energy’s Project Liberty cellulosic ethanol plant that’s currently under construction. The 25 million-gallon-per-year plant will use corn cobs and light stover as feedstock.
The magazine says the city is deserving of the honor “for the transformation of its economy through corn and cellulosic ethanol.”
Emmetsburg City Administrator John Bird says the city is honored by the distinction, adding they are fortunate POET chose the city for the site of Project Liberty. He adds the company is a great corporate citizen, saying they’re honored to “claim them as our neighbor and friend.”
Officials with POET Energy say area farmers harvested 56,000 tons of biomass this fall. They say by the plant’s scheduled start-up in 2012, farmers will be delivering about 300,000 tons to process into ethanol.
