US-based ethanol producer POET LLC has broken ground at its Marion, Ohio (OH) corn ethanol facility expansion that will over double the annual production capacity from 70 million US gallons (≈ 265 million litres) to 150 million US gallons (≈ 568 million litres).
With the groundbreaking that took place August 15, site work has officially begun on the project that was announced in May with completion slated for Q3 of 2018. The US$120 million project will also increase production of dried distillers grains (DDG) from the current 178 000 tons (≈ 161 479 tonnes) annually to approximately 360 000 tons (≈ 326 586 tonnes).
The expansion is the largest project in the Marion area since the construction of the original POET Biorefining – Marion plant in 2008. The project will have a profound impact on the local economy, including 225 temporary construction jobs and 18-21 new permanent jobs at the site. It also adds new corn demand at a time farmers sorely need support.
This expansion will add 26 million bushels (≈ 660 435 tonnes) of new corn demand annually for the local area and create new jobs and economic activity for rural Ohio. In recent years, I know farmers are struggling with low commodity prices, which is creating lower farm incomes and decreasing land values. Biofuels have been the only real growth sector for ag commodities in the past decade. We will need to see biofuels increase as a percentage of the US and world fuel supply, and as a percentage of our gas tanks to stabilize worldwide ag prices and land values. We are excited that the Marion plant expansion can play a small role in this important arena, said Jeff Broin, CEO, POET during the groundbreaking ceremony.
