September 14, 2006

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today celebrated the grand opening of the new US BioEnergy Woodbury ethanol plant in Lake Odessa, reiterating the administration’s commitment to Michigan agriculture and developing and producing alternative energy in Michigan.
 
“Michigan is moving aggressively to increase production and use of both ethanol and biodiesel fuels,” Granholm said.  “Developing and producing alternative energy with companies like US BioEnergy is a key component of my plan to diversify Michigan’s economy.  The state that put the nation on wheels should be the state that makes those wheels independent of foreign oil.”
 
The US BioEnergy Woodbury plant employs more than 40 people and will use more than 16 million bushels of corn to produce 50 million gallons of ethanol annually.  The plant will also produce 160,000 tons of distiller’s grain, an animal feed co-product of the ethanol process.  The plant is located in one of the state’s agricultural renaissance zones.
 
Governor Granholm is continuing to work to make Michigan the alternative energy capital of the nation.  In the last nine months, nine ethanol and biodiesel plants have opened, broken ground or been announced.

Last week, Granholm announced the first round of grants from the 21st Century Jobs Fund with nearly $9 million being awarded to alternative energy products expected to create more than 750 jobs in the state.
 
Other actions Granholm has taken to promote biofuels in Michigan include:

• reducing the tax on ethanol and biodiesel so people can get a break from high prices at the pump;

• signing legislation providing incentives to service stations that install ethanol and biodiesel pumps;

• setting an aggressive goal of having 1,000 biofuel pumps in Michigan by the end of 2007; and,

• partnering with General Motors, Mejier, and CleanFUEL USA to significantly increase the number of stations where ethanol is available for purchase.