Biofuel Plant in NC

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide a loan guarantee to Chemtex International, Inc. to construct a 20 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol refinery in Clinton, NC, that, according to the company, will create more than 300 jobs.  “This next-generation biofuels plant will put hundreds of people back to work while reducing our country’s dependence on foreign oil,” Hagan said.  “By choosing to open this facility in North Carolina, Chemtex is recognizing our state’s capacity to be a leader in alternative energy development…”  The Chemtex plant is slated to open in 2014 and will be the first-of-its-kind in North America. The facility is expected to create 65 full time jobs with estimated average salaries of more than $48,000 per year.  An additional 250 indirect jobs are also anticipated in areas such as feedstock supply, maintenance, and transportation. Unlike first-generation corn ethanol, the cellulosic fuel the Chemtex plant will produce will not impact food prices.