Tennessee legislature committee OKs $11 million for Genera project, ending communications flap

In Tennessee, the state legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee voted 11-1 to approve $11 million for the demonstration cellulosic ethanol project by state university spin-off Genera and Dupont. The project is constructing a plant in Vonore that will ultimately utilize switchgrass as a feedstock.

The Digest reported previously on a flap between the Governor and the legislature, with several legislature members saying they were misled about the scope and timing of the project, a charge which was hotly denied and refuted in detail by the Governor. The changes to the project, which have now been funded, had been previously approved by the State Building Commission.

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