54 Mgy ethanol plant closing in on launch announcement in North Carolina ; targets MTBE, not gasoline

February 4, 2008

In North Carolina, Beaufort County officials said that negotiations are underway for the purchase of a 200-acre site near Aurora for a 54 Mgy ethanol plant. The plant, which has been proposed at a 108 Mgy capacity but has yet to secure financing, is promoting ethanol as a substitute for MTBE rather than gasoline, MTBE, used as an oxidizer, was found to be contaminating groundwater at near-toxic levels.

In North Carolina, the new Biofuels Center of North Carolina held its first meeting yesterday, and set a goal of eliminating the state’s dependence on 5.6 billion gallons of imported fuels by as soon as 2018. The Biofuels Center will identify next-generation crops and processes for biofuels, building on the advantages provided by North Carolina’s robust $60 billion agriculture industry platform.

North Carolina continues to position itself for US biofuels leadership through research into advanced feedstocks. In September, the General Assembly appropriated $5 million for a state biofuels center in Oxford. The center will research cellulosic ethanol. North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership called for $25 million in biofuels research funding as well as an annual appropriation of $500,000 to fund biofuels workforce development and public education programs.

Among Tarheel State biofuel research and education initiatives, the Central Carolina Community College will offer a two-year, biofuels associate degree program. The Alternative Energy Technology: Biofuels program and related certificates will commence in fall 2008. Courses will include biofuels analytics, biofuels waste management, renewable energy technology, chemistry, electrical control systems, welding, bioprocessing practices, and small business development.

Local producers and officials say they are confident of reaching the 10% state biofuel mandate for 2017 without experiencing the distribution problems encountered in the Midwest. The state’s focus on biodiesel production, which can be shipped using existing fuel pipelines, was a positive factor cited in meeting the state’s production and consumption goals.

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Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Producer News