Tenn. to spend $40M on ethanol plant

Memphis Business Journal
July 24, 2008

DuPont and the University of Tennessee will partner to build a pilot-scale biorefinery in East Tennessee.

Gov. Phil Bredesen announced the deal in Nashville at a press conference today. He and the General Assembly set aside $40 million in the fiscal 2008 budget to build a biomass ethanol plant. The governor and the Legislature set aside $72 million in the 2007 budget for the production of biomass ethanol and related research. Earlier this year, Bredesen established the Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy to focus on further development of clean energy technologies.

The bio-refinery will be located in Vonore, Tenn., southwest of Knoxville. It will be a state-of-the-art research and development facility for cellusosic ethanol. The design of the biorefinery will incorporate the flexibility to operate on different biomass feedstocks -- corn stover; cobs and fiber; and switchgrass.

"Our technology is ready and we are eager to get the steel in the ground," John Pierce, of DuPont Danisco Technology Leader, said in a statement. "Now targeting two optimal biomass feedstocks, we are ready to take our technology to the next level of commercial viability."

Bredesen said the move creates new markets and new opportunities for Tennessee farmers. He said the investment "will position Tennessee for the economy of the future and bring more good paying, high quality jobs to rural areas."