In March, North Carolina Governor and Coalition member Jim Hunt announced a $1.4 billion plan to build three ethanol
plants in eastern North Carolina. Each of the plants is expected to produce 60 million gallons yearly, which would make the state one of
the nation's larger ethanol producers.
The plants would also be unique in the feedstocks being used. According to the governor, 60 million bushels of locally-produced sweet potatoes would be mixed with 22 million bushels of corn to produce the ethanol. The white sweet potatoes used in the plant will be inedible, but should increase sweet potato production five-fold. The project also involves several other components: a 250-mile natural gas line connecting cogeneration power plants. The ethanol plants will use steam generated by the cogeneration facilities. The governor estimated that each ethanol/cogeneration plant would employ 400 people.
The ethanol plants are expected to be located in Martin, Greene and Onslow counties. The plants are expected to be operational by fall 2003. More information is at http://www.governor.state.nc.us/News/PressReleases/Default.asp
