Wisconsin cites United Ethanol for 178 permit violations; EPA action, fines loom

In Wisconsin, the state Department of Natural Resources cited United Ethanol for violations of 178 items out of 371 in its permit, resulting in the ethanol producer being named a “high-priority violation”. The plant says that it is working closely with the DNR to resolve the items where it is out of compliance. However, the designation means that the plant has 270 days to come into compliance or the case may be referred to the US Environmental Agency, ad be exposed to fines of between $10,000 and $25,000 per days as well as resident lawsuits.

Wisconsin background

North Prairie Productions said in a letter to shareholders that it is abandoning its 45 Mgy, $42 million biodiesel plant project for the Evansville area, citing high feedstock prices.

The US Energy Department most recently awarded $114 million in grants to cellulosic ethanol projects in Missouri, Oregon, Colorado and Wisconsin. The demonstration projects were proposed by ICM, for a plant in in St. Joseph, Missouri; Lignol Innovations, for a plant in Commerce City, Colorado; Pacific Ethanol, for a plant in Boardman, Oregon; and Stora Enso North America for a plant in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Pacific Ethanol received $24.32 million, while the others received $30 million.Last February, the Department of Energy awarded $385 million to six cellulosic ethanol projects. They were Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, for a facility in Colwich, Kansas; ALICO Inc., for a facility in LaBelle, Florida; BlueFire Ethanol, for a facility located in Corona, California; POET, for their “project liberty” facility in Emmetsburg, Iowa; Iogen Biorefinery Partners, for a facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Range Fuels, for a facility in Soperton, Georgia.

Gov. Jim Doyle said that the state will award $150 million over 10 years from the Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund, to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy. The governor called for the state to generate 25 percent of its power and fuels from renewables by 2025.

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