Federal funding for biorefineries goes to Kentucky & Tennessee

The Department of Energy will invest up to $86 million over four years to support small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in Old Town, Maine; Vonore, Tennessee; and Washington County Kentucky. The biorefineries are expected to be operational within four years and produce approximately 10 percent (2.5 MMGY) of a commercial-scale biorefinery. The facilities will produce not only liquid fuels, but also bio-based chemicals and bio-based products. Last year DOE funded six commercial scale biorefineries focused on near-term commercial processes, while these small-scale pilot plants will "verify integrated operations at a reduced size with diverse feedstocks using novel processing technologies." The three plants will be operated by RES Pulp and Chemical LLC, Mascoma Corporation, and Ecofin LLC. The full announcement can be found here.