Allan Gerlat, News Editor

January 23, 2012

1 Min Read
USDA to Fund Solid Waste to Biofuels Plant in Iowa

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to fund a solid waste to biofuels plant in Iowa.

The USDA has made a conditional commitment of a $25 million loan for Catonsville, Md.-based Fiberight LLC to build a 55,00-sq.-ft. facility in Blairstown, Iowa, the USDA said in a news release. The facility will produce cellulosic ethanol by converting municipal solid waste and other industrial pulps into advanced biofuels. It will also use conventional renewable biofuel made from seed corn waste.

Officials expect the facility to produce 3.6 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. The process will use a cellulosic microbe to produce up to 15 percent more ethanol than traditional fermentation technology. Fiberight estimates the project will create 38 jobs and save another 16. Total cost of the project is estimated at $59.5 million.  

"This project is another step the Obama administration is taking to support production of a new generation of renewable fuels, in order to build an active biofuels and biomass production industry in every region of the country," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

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