NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — DuPont is announcing the opening of an ethanol plant that will make the fuel additive from corn stalks, leaves and cobs instead of the grain itself.
The $225 million refinery in central Iowa is touted as the world’s largest cellulosic ethanol plant, which is designed to make 30 million gallons annually once it’s in full production next year.
Friday’s opening of the plant comes at a challenging time for the ethanol industry, which has been battling the petroleum industry over how much ethanol the government will require to be used in the nation’s automotive gas supply.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to come up with its final recommendations next month after proposing to cut the renewable fuel standard from levels Congress set earlier.
Situated in a prime agricultural location, the $225 million cellulosic ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa will be among the first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in the world. The plant will convert corn stover (corn cobs, leaves and stalks) to 30 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol annually.
DuPont is collaborating with more than 500 local farmers to gather, store and deliver 375,000 dry tons of corn stover each year.
Stover will be harvested from 190,000 acres of farmland within 30 miles of the plant.
Proximity to Iowa State University and DuPont Pioneer research locations enables further research, collaboration and innovation.
The plant’s fully integrated end-to-end production system will be available to license globally.
