County Lands World's First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

TBO.com (Tampa Bay Online)
By Jim Konkoly Highlands Today
Published: January 15, 2009

SEBRING - Verenium Corporation announced Thursday it will construct the world's first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Highlands County, in cooperation with Lykes Brothers supplying the biomass.

The process to produce cellulosic ethanol, based on technology developed by the University of Florida, uses renewable grasses for fuel production instead of food crops.

The plant, which will provide about 150 full-time jobs in the production of 36 million gallons of ethanol per year, will cost about $250 million to construct on the Lykes Brothers ranch, off State Road 70 east of US 27.

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