Ethanol production plant is still possible at site close to Nevada

As the Renewable Fuel Standard Amendment to the federal Energy Bill under discussion in Congress nears its final approval, a local co-op soldiers on with its plans to build a ethanol plant. East Kansas Agri-Energy, LLC, is planning on building a 20-million-gallon-a-year ethanol plant in Garnett, Kan., about 60 miles from Nevada. Currently they have raised a little over $9 million and have until January 24 to come up with the $14-18 million they will need to get this project underway. Jill Zimmerman, treasurer of the Board of Directors for East Kansas Agri-Energy said, "We're moving and continuing to work." This plant will use corn and seed sorghum to produce two products, denatured 200-proof alcohol and Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles. The DDGS is primarily used as high powered cattle feed that is 27 percent protein, 11 percent fat and 9 percent fiber. The ethanol produced by the Garnett plant will be mixed with gasoline to produce a more environmentally efficient fuel. Zimmerman said that with the Renewable Fuel Standard amendment added onto the Energy Bill the federal government is very interested in the expansion of ethanol as a fuel source and more than 20 states have passed legislation against the alternative to ethanol as a fuel additive, methyl tertiary butyl ether. MTBE is a petroleum based fuel additive that has been known to pollute groundwater. Senator Jim Talent, of Missouri, is very pleased to the effect that the Renewable Fuel Standard will have on agriculture. He remarked, in a press release, "It means the renewable fuels standard will pass, but also that the Senate is committed to ethanol as an important part of the nation's energy supply. It is a tribute to the power of the idea and to the people on the ground in Missouri and around the country who are making value-added agriculture work." Zimmerman feels that the Renewable Standard Amendment will be great for the ethanol industry but "Regardless of what happens in that arena there is a bright future ahead for us."