A leader in low-carbon cellulosic ethanol production has announced that their demonstration facility in Rome, NY is now producing non-food cellulosic biomass ethanol.  Completed in Rome, the plant is one of the largest nationally that converts non-food biomass into ethanol.

Biomass feedstocks include wood chips, grasses, residual corn stalks and sugar cane bagasse.

Funding for building the plant included grants from the State of New York, The New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Power Authority (NYPA), as well as several universities.  Construction completed in December 2008.

Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito (D/WF-Rome) says “This innovative collaboration between the private and public sectors has led to more jobs for this community, and we can look forward to more economic development opportunities…”

For more on this story, click here, and learn more about Mascoma Corporation and their plans at www.mascoma.com.