GOV. TAFT CELEBRATES GREENVILLE ETHANOL PLANT GROUNDBREAKING
DATELINE: GREENVILLE, Ohio
Gov. Bob Taft, R-Ohio, issued the following press release:
Gov. Bob Taft today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Andersons Marathon Ethanol's LLC new ethanol production facility in Greenville (Darke County). Once completed, the plant will create approximately 40 jobs onsite and will have the capacity to produce 110 million gallons of ethanol per year.
This is the Governor's fifth ethanol production facility groundbreaking this year.
"As fuel prices continue to be a concern and our energy needs grow, it's critical that we reduce our dependence on foreign oil and begin developing our own clean, affordable sources of energy," Taft said. "Today's groundbreaking confirms Ohio's strength as a national leader in agricultural production and reaffirms our commitment to renewable energy sources."
The State of Ohio, through the Ohio Department of Development, offered Anderson Ethanol a Job Creation Tax Credit, 166 Direct Loan, Ohio Investment in Training Program (OITP) Grant, Business Development Grant, Roadwork Development Grant and a Community Development Block Grant.
The Andersons Inc. is a diversified company with interests in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors of U.S. agriculture, railcar marketing, industrial products formulation, turf products production and general merchandise retailing. This facility will be Anderson's first ethanol plant in Ohio, and is the first one to be constructed by the Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between The Andersons, Inc. and Marathon Petroleum Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corporation.
The Taft Administration has worked to boost Ohio's position as a leader in the production and deployment of alternative fuels through the following efforts:
? In July 2006, Governor Taft signed House Bill 245 which implements key components of his energy plan including: investing an additional $1 million in the alternative Fuel Transportation Grant Program to bring more E85 and biodiesel pumps to the state; increasing the state's commitment to using alternative fuels in state government by requiring all new state vehicles to be flex-fuel models capable of using both gasoline and E85; and doubling the state's commitment to using E85 to 60,000 gallons a year by January 2007.
* At that bill signing, the Governor, General Motors and Kroger announced a partnership to bring more E85 pumps to gas stations around Ohio.
* Last year, Governor Taft signed an executive order directing the Ohio Department of Transportation to use at least one million gallons of bio-diesel fuel and 30,000 gallons of ethanol per year, and to purchase only new cars that are able to run on both unleaded fuel and ethanol.
* Taft's Jobs Cabinet has enabled the Ohio Departments of Development and Agriculture to work with agencies to streamline processes for potential ethanol plants to deal with the state, an effort that was able to assist Coshocton Ethanol.
* In his 2004 State of the State Address, Taft established the biofuel industry as a key sector for Ohio and announced a specific goal to attract ethanol producers to the state.
* In 2002, Taft signed into law Senate Bill 144, creating the Ethanol Incentive Board and making ethanol plants eligible for Ohio Air Quality Development Authority financing.
Contact: Mark Rickel, 614/644-0957.