LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — A Lakewood, Colo.-based company is marking the groundbreaking of its biorefinery in Boardman, Ore., that will turn poplar trees into cellulosic ethanol.
ZeaChem Inc. was holding a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for its plant. It would produce up to 250,000 gallons per year of ethanol. Production is expected to begin next year.
ZeaChem says building and operating the plant will create almost 300 direct and indirect jobs.
The U.S. Department of Energy has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to projects aimed at making fuel out of non-corn products. ZeaChem is receiving $25 million in stimulus money from the department for its biorefinery.
