(Emmetsburg)– Sioux Falls-based POET says it will have a special event this coming Tuesday (Aug. 17th) to announce the kick-off of its first commercial biomass harvesting for Project Liberty’s cellulosic ethanol project at its Emmetsburg plant.
POET officials say farmers in the area are expected to harvest about 56,000 tons of biomass, and that many more farmers have inquired about contracts for future harvests. Eventually, they say POET will need about 300-thousand tons of biomass every year.
POET has also started construction on a 22-acre biomass storage system that will have the capacity to house 22,000 tons of feedstock for Project Liberty.
Construction on Project Liberty is to start in 2011.
Tuesday’s event will feature speeches by Governor Chet Culver and POET CEO Jeff Broin. Information for farmers will be presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Iowa State University Extension and Idaho National University.
Booths of equipment manufacturers will also be available.
Speakers and presentations begin at 10:00 a.m. A lunch will be available.
The event will be held on a site just of POET Biorefining near Emmetsburg.
