Sierra Club calls on Republican congressman to block funds release to Mascoma project

In Michigan, the Sierra Club has called on Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Crystal Falls) to honor a promise on cutting federal spending by blocking $58 million in DOE funding for the proposed Mascoma cellulosic ethanol plant in Kinross.

The Club claims that the proposed project will generate excessive emissions, and will burn 33 percent more energy in production than the ethanol will ultimately provide.

Mascoma and Upper Peninsula forestry company JM Longyear have established the Frontier JV to build a 40 million gallon cellulosic ethanol plant. The plant has received bearly $50 million in state and federal funding to date; the Club is asking Rep. Benishek to block the remaining pledged funds.

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