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RENEWABLE FUELS |
Iowa ranks first in the nation in ethanol production and second in biodiesel production. (IDED) Mid Iowa Growth Partnership’s region is home to eight ethanol plants, one under construction and two biodiesel plants. Among the region’s plants is POET located in Emmetsburg Iowa. POET was selected by the US Department of Energy for an $80 million grant for its Project LIBERTY. POET’s conversion and expansion of its Emmetsburg plant will allow it to produce 125 million gallons of ethanol and position POET to be the first commercially viable cellulosic energy plant in the world. (IDED)
Mid Iowa’s partnerships and collaborations with Iowa State University, Iowa State University Extension, it’s three community colleges, county farm bureaus, NRCS offices, county and state producer groups, ag suppliers and regional cooperatives position Mid Iowa to be ready and respond to the biofuel technology industries emerging needs.
Mid Iowa possesses a potential workforce of over 300,000 capable of supporting the business needs rising from the biofuel industry. Iowa Workforce Development’s laborshed data, details the region’s Labor Characteristics for Bio-diesel & Ethanol. Supporting this workforce are three community colleges providing biotechnology and biorenewable fuels technology programs as well as providing companies with support to develop customized training programs.
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