Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Tennessee hopes cellulosic ethanol refinery brings jobs

By TESA NAUMAN
Tennessee Correspondent

VONORE, Tenn. — Tennessee wants to lead the way to a greener future where combustible fuels are concerned, and it took a major step in that direction last month with the opening of one of the nation’s first cellulosic ethanol demonstration plants.

About 400 people attended a grand opening held at the end of January for the $50 million, 74,000 square-foot facility located in Vonore. The plant – which began startup and fuel production in December 2009 – has the capacity to produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol from corncobs, switchgrass and other plant materials.
It is preparing for commercial production by 2012, according to officials at DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE) and the University of Tennessee/Genera. DDCE was established in May 2008 as a joint venture of DuPont and Danisco. The company teamed with Genera Energy LLC, formed in 2008, which is wholly owned by the UT Research Foundation.

The cellulosic ethanol industry is under federal mandate to deliver 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel per year by 2022, of which 16 billion must come from cellulosic sources. The idea for Tennessee to enter the world of biofuel stems from the UT Biofuels Initiative, which brought about the teaming of DDCE with UT/Genera in order to establish a supply chain, and then create more biorefineries that will increase farm income and rural development across Tennessee.
The new industry has the potential to provide new jobs and millions of dollars to local economies annually in new farm and business revenues, and to establish a thriving industry in the United States, according to officials.

“This is potential to meet some of the challenges we have in terms of energy independence and finding renewable domestic sources of transportation fuel,” explained Jennifer Hutchings, director of communications for DDCE.

Genera officials said switchgrass is an ideal biomass crop for Tennessee because it yields 6-8 dry tons per acre and can grow on land that may be unsuitable for other row crops, with little need for fertilization. Tennessee has the potential to produce more than a billion gallons of ethanol each year, replacing 30 percent of the state’s current petroleum consumption.

Farmers have contracted with the university to grow the switchgrass that the refinery turns into fuel, which is blended with gasoline and used as an alternative “green” fuel.

This April, UT will contract an additional 4,000 acres of switchgrass production. That will bring the total amount of switchgrass produced in the state to nearly 7,000 acres.

“I’m really thrilled with the rapid process we have made,” said Dr. Kelly Tiller, president and CEO of Genera Energy. “This is a huge step toward demonstrating the viability of this industry, not only from the technology standpoint but the economics of it. I’m really pleased to see this piece of the puzzle come together.”

An advantage of growing switchgrass in Tennessee is that crops can be grown on land that generally isn’t used for growing other crops; thus, no other marketable crops are sacrificed in order to grow it. Also, farmers can use their existing equipment and don’t need to buy expensive new equipment to harvest it, Tiller said.

Perhaps switchgrass’ biggest advantage as a crop is that it can withstand harsh weather conditions. It has successfully come through record drought and flooding conditions the state has seen over the last several years.

“Once it’s established, it is a very hardy plant. I think that minimizes risk for the farmers,” Tiller said.

2/10/2010