July 9 , 2007
Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
I’ve had the opportunity to attend two grand opening celebrations for new ethanol plants in recent weeks and it was great to see these facilities in full operation.
The event held for the ethanol plant in Mead was eagerly anticipated by many here in our state and around the country who work in the areas of biofuels, agriculture and conservation.
The fact that so many people were interested in this project is just one indication of how truly groundbreaking this particular ethanol plant is in the arena of biofuels. All those involved in the project deserve congratulations on their efforts to advance new technology in agriculture and biofuel development.
The Mead plant is first in our state – and the first in the world – to combine an ethanol plant with a cattle feedlot with and a waste treatment system that captures methane to use it in the ethanol production process. Having this closed-loop system in place means that little or no outside energy is needed to run the plant.
It also ensures this plant is far more energy efficient than traditional ethanol plants, with estimated energy and transportation costs up to 50 percent lower than those of a conventional facilities.
The advanced technology at work in Mead is helping move Nebraska into the forefront in the renewable fuels arena. It is also an example of the innovation needed to take our nation’s biofuels industry to the next level.
The continued growth and success of our nation is linked to our natural resources and the ability to generate cleaner, more efficient energy using the resources at our disposal. We must continue to take a pro-active role in building our nation’s energy future and projects such as this are just one example of how Nebraska is leading the way.
The reason our ethanol and biofuels industry continues to grow is because we have a ready supply of the materials and natural resources needed for ethanol production. With an abundance of corn, a strong livestock industry that can utilize distillers grains, reliable and low-cost utilities, and access to rail and surface transportation that is readily available in Nebraska; much of the infrastructure needed to support new production is already in place in our state, which why we’ve seen such remarkable interest in the expansion of our ethanol industry in recent years.
In fact, the plant in the town of Jackson is a perfect example of the local interest our agricultural community has had in expanding Nebraska’s ethanol production. Organizers began an equity-raising campaign and quickly met their goal of raising the $36 million needed in just two weeks time. The success of that effort was a strong indicator of the level of support for the plant and the result is that the Jackson facility is truly a community venture.
The expansion in biofuel production is having a dramatic and positive impact on our state economy. These two plants combined created 118 jobs in communities with just a few hundred residents each. With the two additional plants that have finished construction this summer and eleven other facilities hoping to be up and running by the end of the year, rural Nebraska is preparing for an incredible expansion in job creation in the months to come.
