POET receives $6.85 million

The Messenger (Fort Dodge, Iowa)
By LINDSEY ORY Messenger staff writer
POSTED: September 30, 2009

U.S. Department of Energy increases original grant award

POET is working with farmers and equipment manufacturers to create corn cob collecting machinery. The corn cobs will be converted to a cellulosic ethanol at POET’s new addition to its biorefinery in Emmetsburg slated to open in 2011.
EMMETSBURG - POET hit the jackpot.

Monday it was announced the company will receive a $6.85 million increase to an existing grant given by the U.S. Department of Energy - the first of two scheduled subsidies.

The second infusion of money - $13.15 million - is expected next year.

The money is intended to help establish a market for corn cobs as POET's Project LIBERTY, a cellulosic ethanol plant specializing in corn cob biomass, is to be built in Emmetsburg.

"The increase to the existing grant will help accelerate equipment production for collection of corn cobs and give farmers incentive to adopt new farming techniques," said Jim Sturdevant, POET director of project LIBERTY.

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