Replacing Oil

POET's Cellolosic Ethanol Pilot Plant

Within 10 years of it’s Emmetsburg, Iowa plant’s projected completion date the world’s largest ethanol producer plans to become even larger. In a speech to the National Press Club in Washington D.C. CEO Jeff Broin ”By 2022, POET plans to be responsible for 3.5 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol production by adding the technology to our existing facilities, licensing our technology to other producers and finally, transferring our technology to other forms of biomass such as wheat straw, switchgrass and municipal waste.”

The ethanol giant still has several hurdles to clear to make this happen however, including a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Since congress has set a target of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol by 2022 it would be hard to imagine POET not receiving the DOE’s support. Their main worries I imagine are possible back lash from taxpayers that are subsidizing US ethanol production.

Read the rest of the press release here along with recorded audio of Jeff Broin’s speech.

I suppose I should be grateful to see the DOE dole out 10 million dollars to Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. Corp. to build a new truck manufacturing plant in Kansas City, but my blood pressure is still rising. GM received billions and the Chevy Volt is still not in production. Smith Electric on the other hand is very likely going to take this Department of Energy grant and effectively.

Coca-Cola and other large companies are already using Smith’s all elictric delivery vehicles, however they’re currently built in Europe. It’s very likely this investment will pay off for the local economy, I just wish I could say the same for the rest of the Recovery funds.