$200 M Cellulose-to-Ethanol Production Facility Planned in Iowa

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46636

New construction on a $200 million commercial scale bio-refinery, designed to use advanced corn fractionation and lignocellulosic conversion technologies to produce ethanol from corn fiber and corn stover, is slated to begin early next year. Once completed in 2009, Voyager Ethanol in Emmetsburg, Iowa, will reportedly turn out 11 percent more ethanol from one bushel of corn -- and 27 percent more ethanol from an acre of corn -- while using 83 percent less energy than a traditional corn-to-ethanol plant.

Known as Project LIBERTY, which stands for Launch of an Integrated Bio-refinery with Eco-sustainable and Renewable Technologies in Y2009, the plant's current 50 million gallon per year conventional corn dry mill infrastructure will be converted into a 125 million gallon per year cellulose-to-ethanol production plant.

Work on the new facility is slated to begin in February 2007 with a commercial production timeline set approximately 30 months later.

"Thanks to our commitment to renewable fuels, we are changing Iowa's economic landscape. This new facility in Emmetsburg is a solid investment in emerging renewable fuels technology. By finding new ways to produce ethanol, we are providing new jobs to Iowans and cementing our position as the leader in renewable energy," said Governor Vilsack at a recent press conference in Des Moines.

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[HereSince1628]

1. Changing the economic landscape and Iowa's soil structure?

Between Monsanto killing all that isn't crop and "total harvest" I'm wondering just how Iowa will keep any organic matter in the soil? Any soil scientists out there in the DU?

[jpak]

2. ahem...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x73104

:hi:

[DU9598]

3. Keep an eye on Gov-elect Chet Culver

The centerpiece of his campaign was to follow in Governor Vilsack's footsteps toward making Iowa not only the foot capital of the world, but also the energy capital of the world. Amazing things are happening very quickly here in Iowa and at our state universities. Gov-elect Culver will have an amazing record here in a few years that will bring him national exposure - that with the fact he is a great, young progressive leader.

[jpak]

5. As I have said before

The party that puts money into the pockets of rural folks will get their votes...

"Democrat" Party renewable energy policies will change Red states to Blue states - and keep them there.

ChimpCo Big Oil, Big Gas and Big Nuclear policies will not.

[HereSince1628]

10. I think you're exactly right on that. n/t

[HereSince1628]

4. That's coming from the company spokesman. Should we trust that?

It's counter-intuitive to think removing more organic matter (euphemistically called crop residue) is going to result in maintaining organic matter in the soil.

I'd sort of like to know how that actually works.

[JohnWxy]

6. I'm not a farmer but I wonder how much crop residue has been traditionally plowed under

and how much has been removed to be burned. With Low-till/ No-till farming it is the practice to leave some residue on top to reduce soil erosion and evaporative losses but my understanding is that this is a relatively small part of the total.

[HereSince1628]

9. Depends on the farmer. Around me in S. Wisconsin dairy farmers

sometimes bale the corn stalks for bedding.

Some of my older neighbors still disc all the residue to chop it and then plow it under in the fall.

[jpak]

8. The study recommended no-till cropping and only 30% removal of stover/straw

leaving 60% of the residues on the field.

(which would produce 5 billion gallons of ethanol per year)

[JohnWxy]

7. This is coming along a bit quicker than had generally been predicted. Great news! REcommended.

[freethought]

11. This is some good news! Now, if only we could

legalize the growing of industrial hemp as a cellulose source.

[4dsc]

12. Please read the small print

Looks like they are going to MIX corn and other materials to make ethanol, not a purely cellulosic ethanol plant.. They will get a very small percentage of ethanol with you corn stover's and such..

So I wouldn't break out the cake and candles yet!! This is not the cellulosic in its pure form..