Altra Inc. Breaks Ground on Advanced-Stage Ethanol Production Facility in Carleton, Nebraska

Altra Nebraska LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Altra Inc. (Altra), a California-based developer of renewable fuel projects, announced at a ground breaking ceremony held today, that the Company has commenced construction on what is expected to be one of Nebraska’s largest ethanol production facilities.

Breaking ground on the 360 acre Carleton facility, a $200 million project, continues Altra’s current phase of its strategic plan to build 500 million gallons per year (MMGY) of biofuel production capacity across the nation through the acquisition and enhancement of existing operating assets as well as the development of strategically located and permitted sites with state-of-the-art biofuel refining technology.

“Alternative fuels have been a boon to rural economies across Nebraska, and our state continues to be a leader in biofuels production,” Gov. Dave Heineman said. “We have the corn, we have the livestock, and we have the local know-how to help these facilities seize important economic opportunities for our farmers and ranchers.”

Located in south-central Nebraska, the Carleton facility is expected to benefit from the region’s prolific, low-cost corn production for processing ethanol, as well as the extensive dairy cow industry, for the sale of distiller’s grain, an ethanol co-product. Upon completion in mid-2008, the Carleton plant is expected to be operating at 110 MMGY of nameplate ethanol capacity. The Carleton facility is anticipated to create 50 new full time jobs in the region and generate millions of dollars of economic activity in the local and surrounding communities. Additionally, the Carleton facility is anticipated to utilize more than 36 million bushels of corn per year.

”In Nebraska, we’ve been at the forefront of ethanol production to reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies by growing our own,” said Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson. ”The addition of the Carleton ethanol plant brings us a step closer to our goal of replacing fuel from foreign oil fields with fuel from Nebraska corn fields.”

”Nebraska is a leader in ethanol production, and I am pleased that our state’s role in fueling the country will continue to grow with the establishment of this facility in Carleton,” said Nebraska 3rd District Congressman Tom Osborne.

”The state of Nebraska and the Carleton community have demonstrated a terrific amount of vision and foresight in providing strong support for the Carleton facility, and we are excited to break ground on this major facility,” said Larry Gross, CEO of Altra Inc. ”The South-Central region of Nebraska is a leading agricultural hub in the United States, that makes it a perfect place for us to locate our next major ethanol production and distribution facility.”

About Altra Inc.

Altra Inc., is acquiring and developing a portfolio of renewable energy projects. The company is focused on the production and sale of ethanol and biodiesel. Altra intends to become the leading integrated biofuels company with a national footprint, employing state-of-the-art manufacturing, processing technologies, and customer service disciplines. The company owns and operates California’s only large scale operating ethanol plant, located in Goshen, CA. The Company is also currently constructing a 60 MMGY ethanol facility located in Coshocton, Ohio, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2007, and an 88 MMGY ethanol facility in Cloverdale, Indiana, that is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2007. For more information, visit, www.altrabiofuels.com.