By Staff
DEWITT - Millions of Michigan motorists will be hitting the highways for the 4th of July holiday weekend and as they do, Michigan's corn producers would like to emphasize the importance of extending the U.S. gasoline supply and lessening the country's dependence on foreign oil.
Consumers can lessen the country's dependence on foreign oil by asking for ethanol, America's homegrown renewable fuel, as they fill up at gas stations across the country.
Ethanol, 200 proof alcohol, is a renewable fuel made from corn.
Ethanol is blended in gasoline at either 10 percent or for some specially produced vehicles, at 85 percent levels.
All vehicles are warranteed to burn 10 percent ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles are warranteed to burn up to 85 percent ethanol blends.
For a complete listing of E-85 capable vehicles, visit www.e85fuel.com.
Over the past five years, Michigan's ethanol use has steadily increased, meaning Michigan consumers are catching on to the idea that ethanol is not only good for their cars and the environment, but that it is also an economical option.
Michigan's production of ethanol is also on the rise with the announcements of several new ethanol plants.
Last month, Marysville Ethanol, LLC announced plans to build a plant in Marysville Mich., northeast of Detroit. On June 14th, Great Lakes Ethanol, LLC also announced plans to build in Riga Township near Blissfield, Mich. A third plant, Superior Corn Products, LLC located in Lake Odessa, Mich., began moving dirt for site preparation in May. Currently, Michigan has one operational ethanol plant, Michigan Ethanol, LLC in Caro, Mich., which produces over 40 million gallons of ethanol annually and utilizes about 20 million bushels of locally-grown corn. All proposed plants for the state are of similar capacity to Michigan Ethanol, LLC. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, last year Michigan corn producers harvested 1.9 million corn acres, with each acre yielding an average of 134 bushels for a total crop of 254 million bushels. Currently, about 13 percent of 2004's corn crop was used for in-state ethanol production, which will increase threefold in the next year.
One bushel of corn will yield 2.8 gallons of ethanol. Unlike gasoline, ethanol is a renewable resource since it is made entirely from corn grown annually in 26 states. "Ethanol is an excellent alternative fuel source and increased consumption will in turn lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create alternative fuel options for consumers. In addition, expansion of the ethanol industry will create new markets for corn and create additional jobs which helps strengthen local economies," said Noel.
Agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan, followed by tourism at a close third. According to AAA, the July 4th holiday is the heaviest travel period during the summer, with 2004 estimates reaching 39.4 million Americans traveling 50 or more miles. Of the 39.4 million travelers, 87 percent traveled by motor vehicles, making it one of the highest gasoline consumption times all year. "If you and your family are planning to be among the millions of road warriors this holiday weekend, help lessen our country's dependence on foreign oil and show your patriotic spirit by purchasing America's homegrown renewable fuel, ethanol," added Noel.
Headquartered in DeWitt, CMPM is a legislatively-established statewide program that utilizes one-cent per bushel of Michigan corn sold. Investments are made in the areas of research, education and market development in an effort to enhance the economic position of Michigan corn producers. CMPM works cooperatively with the Michigan Corn Growers Association, a grassroots-membership association representing the state's corn producer's political interests.
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For Immediate Release Contact: Jody E. Pollok
July 8, 2005 Phone: (517) 668-2676
Michigan Corn Producers Salute Marysville Ethanol, LLC
DEWITT, MICH. - Michigan's corn producers salute Marysville Ethanol, LLC. The group which announced its plan to construct a $95 million ethanol plant northeast of Detroit, will utilize approximately 18 million bushels of corn to produce over 50 million gallons of ethanol annually. Increasing ethanol production is important for a state that has increased its ethanol consumption from 29 million gallons in 1999 to over 150 million gallons in 2003.
Ethanol, 200 proof alcohol, is a renewable fuel made from corn. Ethanol is used as an additive in gasoline at either the ten percent, or for some specially produced vehicles, at 85 percent levels. All vehicles are warrantee to burn up to 10 percent ethanol and flexible fuel vehicles are warranteed up to 85 percent ethanol blends. For a complete listing of E-85 capable vehicles, visit www.e85fuel.com .
Marysville Ethanol, LLC is a private partnership of investors and Michigan energy companies that are working in cooperation with the City of Marysville, the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The group announced plans to build the plant on a site near the center of the current 230 acre Marysville Hydrocarbon's industrial complex. Construction of this plant will provide employment for 600
construction workers over a 16 month period, as well as 45 permanent jobs for the facility. Marysville LLC must still request the Marysville City Council to petition the State of Michigan
for the establishment of an agricultural processing renaissance zone which will provide the company tax relief in its preliminary stages. It is projected that construction of the plant will begin late this year and the plant will be operational by early 2007.
Headquartered in DeWitt, CMPM is a legislatively-established statewide program that utilizes one-cent per bushel of Michigan corn sold. Investments are made in the areas of research, education and market development in an effort to enhance the economic position of Michigan corn producers. CMPM works cooperatively with the Michigan Corn Growers Association, a grassroots-membership association representing the state's corn producer's political interests. For more information on CMPM and MCGA visit the web site at www.micorn.org .
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Contact: Dave Nelson, Board Chairman
Midwest Grain Processors LLC
515-571-6838
Jeff Ehlert, Board Chairman
Great Lakes Ethanol, LLC
517-263-5660
For immediate release (June 14, 2005)
Investment moves Michigan ethanol plant forward
RIGA, Mich. - Officials with a developing southeastern Michigan ethanol plant have announced an agreement for the purchase of a membership interest in Midwest Grain Processors LLC, an established ethanol company in northern Iowa. The transaction is expected to be completed later this month.
Jeff Ehlert of Blissfield, Mich., announced Tuesday, June 14, that Great Lakes Ethanol LLC had reached an agreement with MGP LLC of Lakota, Iowa, which will speed the development of GLE's planned 50 million gallon ethanol plant near Riga, Mich.
GLE was formed in January 2004 with more than 300 members from Michigan, nearly 98 percent of whom are farmers. Ehlert, chairman of the GLE board of directors, said the goal of the company was to provide a value-added agriculture opportunity for farmers in the state. Officials expect the ethanol plant to increase corn prices in southeastern Michigan by as much as 5 cents a bushel.
Groundbreaking for the $85 million plant is anticipated in July 2005, with production expected to begin in the fall of 2006. The plant is anticipated to have a staff of 37 employees and will use approximately 17 million bushels of corn annually. In addition to the 50 million gallons of ethanol, the plant will produce 145,000 tons of dried distillers grains (DDGS), a high-protein livestock feed, as a co-product of the ethanol process.
Ehlert and Kemper say that joining with MGP LLC will help bring the plant into production more quickly and will provide an experienced management team to operate the facility.
MGP LLC is one of Iowa's first farmer-owned ethanol plants. The company began production in November 2002 and is owned by nearly 1,300 farmer-members in 11 states. It currently processes 17 million bushels of corn into more than 50 million gallons of ethanol each year, with production set to double in December with the completion of a $50 million expansion project currently under way and MGP's existing facility in Lakota, Iowa.
The addition of GLE will bring MGP LLC more than halfway to its goal of 300 million gallons of production by 2008. MGP LLC board chairman David Nelson of Belmond, Iowa, said that the addition of the Michigan plant also provides the company with greater marketing opportunities.
With production in both Iowa and Michigan, the company will be one of the few in the ethanol industry positioned to efficiently serve both the East Coast and West Coast energy markets.
More information about MGP is available online at www.MGPethanol.com.