State touts bioenergy

Construction began today on Georgia’s first wood-based ethanol plant … and environmental officials are using it to lure other biofuel plants. State marketers will begin using a new slogan -- "The Bioenergy Corridor" -- to draw alternative energy companies to Georgia. With timber prices sagging, the state hopes tree farmers can earn additional revenue by selling their otherwise unusable wood waste as fuel to alternative energy plants. Colorado-based Range Fuels is building a plant in Soperton in Treutlin County.

Governor in Tifton for renewable energy conference

Governor Sonny Perdue is in Tifton today to attend a three-day conference on renewable energy. The Southeast Bioenergy Conference is targeting farmers, business people and others looking to jump into the growing renewable energy market. Conference organizers with the University of Georgia say nearly 80 bioenergy companies are considering opening in, or relocating to the state. Georgia is seen to have many untapped bioenergy sources, such as pine forests and byproducts from agriculture.