Michigan May Be First State To Make Wood Ethanol Commercially

BY ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

A Massachusetts company wants Michigan to become the first state with a commercially viable cellulosic ethanol plant that would use woodchips as its primary feedstock.

Mascoma Corp. announced Thursday that it intends to build an ethanol facility that would use trees and wood waste products to create vehicle fuel by the end of 2009. A final site has yet to be announced, but Mascoma officials have narrowed the prospects to several cities in northern Michigan.

Detroit Free Press, July 22, 2007