Iowa needs $2 billion in coal-fired electricity production to supply power for ethanol; critics say coal use “ungreens” ethanol

Two coal-fired electricity plants, in Marshalltown and near Waterloo, have been proposed in Iowa to provide electricity for the growing collection of Iowa ethanol plants. Critics say that ethanol’s need for coal-powered electricity makes the case that it is not a green fuel.

Alliant Energy, co-owner of the Marshalltown project, said that the needs of the ethanol plants can only be solved at this point in time by nuclear, natural gas or coal, and that natural gas is not economical while nuclear has been taken off the table due to environmental concerns. The proposed plants would cost $1 billion each.

Last week, Xethanol Corporation announced that it would invest $500,000 in Consus Ethanol for its cogeneration project that would provide power for its ethanol production process from waste coal, that would have a $0.48 per gallon cost advantage over comparable ethanol plants in the Midwest powered by natural gas. The Pittsburgh-based facility will distribute fuel to East Coast markets, which have higher prices for ethanol.

In another approach to solving emissions problems at coal-fired power plants,  Linc Energy and Bio Clean Coal said they would joint venture on an algae-based biodiesel plant in Australia using CO2 emissions from coal-fired electricity generation.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

China, Indonesia sign 4 agreements for expansion of Indonesian fossil fuel use; one biodiesel development agreement

In China, the Chinese and Indonesian governments have signed agreements on a total of eight mining and energy projects worth $3.13 billion. Among the deals, a total of five energy projects including f...

Iowa corn ethanol job creation rate 87% lower than expected, says report

In Iowa, the Sierra Club and Worldwatch published Destination Iowa, which found that a 50 Mgy corn ethanol plant creates 133 direct and indirect jobs. The Des Moines Register reported that local commu...

Georgia greenlights conversion of coal-fired plant to biomass; will generate 96 MW of biopower

In Georgia, the state Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Georgia Power Company's request to convert the Plant Mitchell Unit 3 to a 96 MW biomass power plant, from coal. The unit will utilize woo...

EcoPlus gets go-ahead to produce “white coal” from fats, grease in California

In South Carolina, EcoPlus has received approval from the Berkeley County Council to construct a "white coal" plant that would create a coal-like substance for electricity production, using waste fats...

Prison power: Sierra Club aims to increase biomass, reduce coal in Wisconsin prisons

In Wisconsin, the Sierra Club is pursuing an agreement with the Wisconsin prison system to reduce emissions by introducing more biomass to partially replace coal-fired power. A plan for the system not...

Gore calls for 100 percent renewable electricity by 2018

In a speech at Constitution Hall in Washington, former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore called for the United States to switch all national electricity production to renewable resources, incl...