Missouri
ethanol celebrates grand opening
Amy
Dunlap, posted Oct. 2, 2006
A
large crowd welcomed the fourth ethanol plant in Missouri
on Sept. 25 with the grand opening of Missouri Ethanol in
Laddonia. The plant was built by Broin Companies of South
Dakota and the East Central Agricultural Products.
The day began with a flyover of the Vanguard Squadron, a group
of experimental aircraft that runs entirely off of ethanol.
Public tours of the plant took place during the day along
with many distinguished speakers.
Speakers included U.S. Senator Kit Bond, U.S. Senator Jim
Talent, U.S. Congressmen Kenny Hulshof, Mo. Ag. Director Fred
Ferrell, Mo. Senate President Pro. Tem Micheal Gibbons, MO
Senator John Cauthron, MO House Speaker Rod Jetton and Gary
Marshall, CEO of Mo. Corn Growers and Mo. Corn Merchandising
Council. Other speakers were Brian Jennings of American Coalition
for Ethanol, Matt Hartwig of Renewable Fuels Association and
Jeff Broin, CEO of Broin Industries.
Senator Talent, according to a press release, is excited about
Missouri Ethanol. “Missouri farmers continue to be leaders
in the renewable fuels industry, and I applaud their commitment
to decreasing our dependence on foreign oil,” said Talent.
Governor Matt Blunt in a guest editorial in the grand opening
brochure, also expressed his joy about the new plant. “Annually,
Missouri’s ethanol plants will consume more than 55
million bushels of corn and expected to raise the value of
Missouri’s corn by $41 million at the farmer level.
It is estimated farmers can expect a 5 to 15 cent per bushel
price increase for corn as the demand for ethanol increases,”
said Blunt.
Broin
Companies, according to a recent press releases, is the nation’s
largest ethanol producer. The Missouri Ethanol plant will
be the 16th ethanol plant and the second one in Missouri that
is managed by the Broin companies. The company currently has
three more ethanol plants in construction around the country.
ECAP,
Northeast Missouri Grain LLC. and their partners joined with
Broin to make Missouri Ethanol possible. According to ECAP,
they are the new generation of cooperatives.
Missouri
Ethanol is expected to be running at full-force in mid-October.
The plant is expected to produce 45 gallons of ethanol from
17 million bushels of corn annually.
