$80M for Biofuel Plant

Georgia's first cellulosic ethanol plant now has an 80-million-dollar boost. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the loan to Range Fuels in Soperton in Treutlen County in south Georgia.

The money is authorized under the 2008 farm bill as part of the Biorefinery Assistance Program. The program provides loan guarantees to develop, construct and retrofit viable commercial-scale biorefineries producing advanced biofuels. The program is designed to create energy-related jobs and economic development in rural America.

The plant is expected to produce an estimated 63 jobs. When fully operational in 2010, the plant is expected to produce approximately 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year.

Ethanol plant delayed

A Colorado-based company is delaying the opening of its ethanol plant in Soperton. One year ago Range Fuels broke ground on the nation's first cellulosic ethanol plant in Soperton. It was supposed to be finished by the end of the year. Now design changes and construction delays mean the first ethanol will not flow until 2010.
Range Fuels CEO, Dave Aldous, says they are still committed to the project and that a recent plunge in oil prices will not change their plans.

"Hopefully the lower oil price doesn't distract too many people in the short term from the long term objectives of energy independence, because the price will go up."

Soperton is also called the 'Million pines City.' Cellulosic ethanol is made by turning wood waste into fuel. The plant expects to employ 100 people when it opens.