Energy Crops to Cover Missouri Landscape

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri, February 19, 2008 (ENS) - Farmers plan to sow thousands of acres of switchgrass, high-biomass sorghum and other energy crops over the next three years near St. Joseph, Missouri to support a next-generation biorefinery that will be developed here.

The demonstration-scale biorefinery being engineered by ICM, Inc., based in Colwich Kansas, will produce cellulosic ethanol from biomass crops rather than corn.

On January 29, Department of Energy officials announced up to $30 million in supplemental funding for the planned facility. The project includes participation from academic institutions, government and other technology providers.

The Energy Department will invest up to $114 million over four years in the biorefinery projects with the goal of making cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive in five years. Other funding recipients include Lignol Innovations, Inc.; Pacific Ethanol, Inc.; and Stora Enso, North America.

Announcing the funding, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said, "Advanced biofuels offer tremendous promise for helping our nation to bring about a new, cleaner, more secure and affordable energy future."

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