2008 Woodie Awards
Power plant converts corn to fuel for vehicles
By: Adam Louis
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: State
Northwest Ohio is getting greener, and it has nothing to do with the melting snow.
Poet Energy, LCC, the largest ethanol producer in the world, opened the first ethanol plant in Ohio in Leipsic.
Poet plans to build two more plants in Marion and Fostoria. There are no plans to build in Bowling Green at this time.
Village administrator Jim Russell said the ethanol plant would provide a significant economic boost for the community.
"21 million bushels [annually sold to Poet] is going to change the price on corn," Russell said. "That's going to mean 10 or 15 more cents per bushel than [farmers] would have received otherwise. It's a win-win situation."
The $105-million plant will provide about 42 jobs for the community.
"It's important to have good reception from the community," Director of Site Development Bob Berens said. "We couldn't be happier from a company standpoint."
Ohio Corn Growers Association board member Mark Schwiebert said in addition to a new and large corn market due to the ethanol plant, some farmers have invested in the plant as owners, producing more income.
Before the ethanol plant, about 95 percent of Ohio's corn was shipped to the southeastern states as livestock feed, Schwiebert said.
Ohio, although sixth in the nation for corn production as of 2006, is a late newcomer to ethanol production. Not
counted among the number of early ethanol industry adopters, Ohio did not receive government funding or subsidies to build the plants, Schwiebert said.
"Ohio still doesn't have production subsidy, but [other state subsidies] have expired and leveled that playing field now," Schwiebert said.
The bill that made ethanol plant construction possible was the Ohio Biofuels Bill which passed on May 9, 2006. The bill also funded the construction of more E85 pumps. E85 stations pump a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, according to the RFA. The 40 E85 stations in Ohio were previously supplied with ethanol from other states. There is one E85 station in Bowling Green, located at 12818 E. Gypsy Lane Road.
Poet Energy, LCC, the largest ethanol producer in the world, opened the first ethanol plant in Ohio in Leipsic.
Poet plans to build two more plants in Marion and Fostoria. There are no plans to build in Bowling Green at this time.
Village administrator Jim Russell said the ethanol plant would provide a significant economic boost for the community.
"21 million bushels [annually sold to Poet] is going to change the price on corn," Russell said. "That's going to mean 10 or 15 more cents per bushel than [farmers] would have received otherwise. It's a win-win situation."
The $105-million plant will provide about 42 jobs for the community.
"It's important to have good reception from the community," Director of Site Development Bob Berens said. "We couldn't be happier from a company standpoint."
Ohio Corn Growers Association board member Mark Schwiebert said in addition to a new and large corn market due to the ethanol plant, some farmers have invested in the plant as owners, producing more income.
Before the ethanol plant, about 95 percent of Ohio's corn was shipped to the southeastern states as livestock feed, Schwiebert said.
Ohio, although sixth in the nation for corn production as of 2006, is a late newcomer to ethanol production. Not
counted among the number of early ethanol industry adopters, Ohio did not receive government funding or subsidies to build the plants, Schwiebert said.
"Ohio still doesn't have production subsidy, but [other state subsidies] have expired and leveled that playing field now," Schwiebert said.
The bill that made ethanol plant construction possible was the Ohio Biofuels Bill which passed on May 9, 2006. The bill also funded the construction of more E85 pumps. E85 stations pump a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, according to the RFA. The 40 E85 stations in Ohio were previously supplied with ethanol from other states. There is one E85 station in Bowling Green, located at 12818 E. Gypsy Lane Road.
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