Ethanol Plant Shuts Down

Georgia's largest ethanol plant is closing for a week following an accident. First United Ethanol on Camilla in south Georgia says a ruptured evaporator joint caused a major steam blow off Tuesday. The plant opened only a few months ago and makes ethanol from corn. The plant says it was likely a faulty valve but a full investigation is underway.

(Atlanta Business Chronicle)

Tropical Storm Fay could hurt Georgia farmers

As Tropical Storm Fay makes its way through South Georgia, farmers there are doing the best they can to save their crops.
Farmers in Southwest Georgia ran combines through the night to get their corn out of the fields. Tropical Storm Fay is bringing heavy winds and rain to the area. High winds can topple corn stalks and heavy rains can cause plants to rot in the fields.
With higher corn prices brought on by ethanol production, Georgia farmers planted over 300-thousand acres this year. A cool spring and a hot, dry summer has already hurt this year's crop. A flood could make the situation much worse.
This years crop could bring in more than 200-million dollars for Georgia's farmers, and much of that crop is grown in South Georgia.

Groundbreaking for Soperton ethanol plant

Ground is set to be broken for Georgia’s first large-scale ethanol plant, to be located in Treutlen County. The plant will produce 20-million gallons of ethanol a year—eventually the owners of the plant, Colorado-based Range Fuels, expect to produce 100-million gallons a year. Ethanol will be made using wood-waste from the timber industry. Corn is typically used as feedstock for production. The plant will cost about 225-million dollars to build, and bring about 70 jobs to Soperton.

Ethanol plant clears hurdle

The nation’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant is a step closer to breaking ground in Soperton. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the state has granted Range Fuels a commercial permit for the site in Treutlin County, southwest of Swainsboro. It’s set to break ground this summer. The Colorado-based company says the plant will produce more than a 100 million gallons of ethanol a year using – not corn – but wood chips. The chips will come from wood waste from Georgia’s timber industry.