New Ethanol Plant Is Good Economic News For Highlands County

Finally, some good economic news. And boy do we need it.

The state is providing $7 million to a Cambridge, Mass., company that will produce biofuel and be a $300 million facility. There's nothing to dislike about this economic stimulus and it will be money well spent for the state and for our country's need to gain more energy independence.

Verenium is taking advantage of Florida's "farm to fuel" effort to use agricultural production to create energy. The technology is much more advanced than corn ethanol plants in other parts of the country. In fact, it's the first of its kind in the country.

Cellulose ethanol technology provides biofuels without harming or removing food crops. Instead of corn or other grains, this method uses grasses and other plant material that doesn't need extra water and that are extremely renewable.

The plant is expected to create 140 full-time jobs and produce 36 million gallons of biofuel a year. Construction will begin in the second half of this year and production will begin in 2011.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson hailed the grant and deal to build the plant as a big first the step for Florida. He wants this to be the first of many such biofuel operations that do not harm existing agriculture and produce more revenue for the state and its residents. Eventually he wants to see Florida produce 3 billion gallons of ethanol fuel.

Highlands County needs any economic boost, and this certainly will be one. The jobs required to build the plant, as well as the full-time jobs created, will give some relief to unemployed folks desperately needing work. It also will help other businesses already here.

From an energy standpoint, it's critical America create all kinds of alternative fuel, especially the kind that will be produced in Highlands County. As long as the environmental impacts are minimal, this is a big win for our county.

Let's hope this good news is the first of a lot of good news. We all could use something positive these days.