Washington State is nearing construction on its first commercial-scale fuel ethanol facility. Vancouver, Wash.-based <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usethanolnw.com">U.S. Ethanol LLC</a> announced today its subsidiary, Northwest Renewable LLC, broke ground on a 55 MMgy ethanol plant in Longview, Wash.
 
 A groundbreaking ceremony was held the first week of December. Initial site work is expected later this month on the plant, which is expected to start production in June 2008, according to the company. 
 
 Vancouver-based Makad Corp. is developing the project. The company is an international project developer and consulting firm specializing in the development of industrial and commercial projects. 

 
 Makad subsidiary Makad Construction Corp. and Memphis, Tenn.-based Lurgi PSI are providing engineering and construction services for the project, according to Project Director Tawni Camarillo.
 
 Camarillo said the project could be the first of several projects spearheaded by Makad Corp. The company plans to produce and distribute ethanol-blended fuels along the Interstate 5 corridor, which runs from the Canadian border to Sacramento, Calif. "We are excited to break ground on this facility, as this is a major step forward in bringing an alternative fuel source to the Pacific Northwest and lessening our country's dependence on foreign oil," said Elie Makad, chairman of U.S. Ethanol and Makad Corp. "Our integrated approach to ethanol production and distribution will ultimately bring locally produced U.S. Ethanol branded products, including E85 fuel, direct to consumers along the Interstate 5 corridor."
 
 The plant will be a tenant in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mintfarm.com">Mint Farm Industrial Park</a>. According to the park's Web site, the location is served by a Cowlitz & Columbia short line and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. The site is also located on the Columbia River.
 
 Lansing Trade Group will procure the 19 million bushels of corn per year needed for the project. U.S. Ethanol said 6 million bushels will come from local sources with the remaining 13 million shipped from the Midwest. Lansing will also market the plants distillers grains.
 
 Camarillo said an ethanol marketer has been contracted, but she didn't disclose the company's name. 
 
 The project appears to be the first to take advantage of the state's renewable fuels standard, which was signed into law in 2005. By Dec. 1, 2008, at least 2 percent of total gasoline sold in Washington must be denatured ethanol. The state's Department of Ecology may increase the requirement to 10 percent if sufficient raw materials are available within the state to support production of ethanol at higher levels.
 
 Dave Nilles is Online Editor for Ethanol Producer Magazine. Reach him at <a href=mailto:"dnilles@bbibiofuels.com">dnilles@bbibiofuels.com</a> or (701) 373-0636.

 
 Posted: 2:10 p.m. CST Wednesday, December 6, 2006

U.S. Ethanol officials celebrate their Longview, Wash. plant's groundbreaking

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U.S. Ethanol Chairman Elie Makad (right) celebrates the groundbreaking of his company's ethanol plant with Longview, Wash. mayor Dennis Weber

U.S. Ethanol ready to work on Washington plant

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