AE Biofuels starts construction of pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Montana

In Montana, AE Biofuels has commenced construction of a cellulosic ethanol commercial demonstration facility in Butte. The plant will use switchgrass, grass seed straw, small grain straw, and corn stalks alone and in combination with a variety of traditional starch and sugar sources at its 9,000 square foot pilot plant facility. The plant is expected to be operational by June 2008, using enzyme technology acquired from Renewable Technology in 2007.

Recently, Targeted Growth and Green Earth Fuel formed a joint venture to develop a 100 Mgy biodiesel plant in Montana, using camelina as a feedstock. The venture, which will be called Sustainable Fuels, plans to sign up to fifty Montana farmers to grow the feedstock. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, and Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester were on hand for the announcement. Camelina, also popularly known as gold-of-pleasure, is a feedstock that has low input requirements and can be produced more cheaply than other feedstocks such as soy.

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