Eastern Ontario gets long-sought ethanol plant

Eastern Ontario gets long-sought ethanol plant

What was a distinct possibility became a firm reality yesterday when GreenField Ethanol confirmed it has started construction of a $150-million ethanol plant near the Port of Prescott in the shadow of the international bridge.

Financing is in place, technical requirements have been met, and contractors have been hired, said Bliss Baker, Greenfield vice-president of corporate affairs, during an announcement in an office at the port.

WORK UNDERWAY

While preparatory work is underway, Baker said it won’t be until early spring until tangible signs of the 200 million litre per year plant become obvious.

Baker was surrounded for the occasion by area MP Gord Brown, MPP Bob Runciman, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal mayor Larry Dishaw, Prescott mayor Suzanne Dodge and several other ecstatic dignitaries.

In addition to creating attractive economic spinoffs, the Johnstown facility will employ 50 people in a job-challenged community.

With ethanol distilling plants already located at Chatham and Tiverton, and another plant about to open at Varennes, Que., the Johnstown operation will be GreenField’s largest when it comes on stream by mid-2008.

HELD OFF FOR YEARS

Baker told the Sun that GreenField — formerly Commercial Alcohols — held off for years on its desire to locate in corn-rich Eastern Ontario while it monitored the protracted progress of Seaway Valley Farmers Energy Co-operative in trying to start up an ethanol project in Cornwall.

“When it just wasn’t happening for Seaway Valley, we finally decided to go ahead,” said Baker who has been busy lining up “hundreds” of contracts with corn producers for future delivery.

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