WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) joined federal and state officials today in announcing critical federal and state funding for a $250 million cellulosic ethanol facility to be constructed in Kinross.  The U.S. Department of Energy announced $26 million in federal funding being matched by $23.5 million from the state of Michigan for the Mascoma Corporation to develop a cellulosic fuel facility to produce ethanol from timber and grasses.

“Mascoma and the U.S. Department of Energy recognize the potential northern Michigan and our workforce hold for developing alternative energy sources,” Stupak said.  “Mascoma’s proposed cellulosic fuels facility will be the first of its kind in the nation to produce ethanol from timber.  This important federal-state-private partnership will put northern Michigan on the forefront of this developing technology, create hundreds of jobs in our community and the potential for many more.  I am pleased to have played a role in helping to bring this $250 million investment to Chippewa County.”

Mascoma’s Chippewa County plant will use timber fiber from Michigan's abundant forests to create cellulosic ethanol.  The plant is expected to create not only new jobs but also spur job growth in forestry, transportation and other related industries.

Stupak met with Mascoma officials as they were evaluating locations for the plant and has worked closely with the company and the Department of Energy to help secure federal funding. 

Stupak was a conferee on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and was instrumental in including language in that bill to expand the definition of biomass for ethanol production to include timber fiber.  As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, he continues working to expand the federal definition of biomass to allow timber harvested from federal lands to be used for the production of cellulosic ethanol.

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