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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Michigan Tech tapped for Michigan's first Center of Energy Excellence

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Technological University has been selected to partner with Michigan State University and the Mascoma Corporation in Michigan’s first Center of Energy Excellence, Governor Jennifer Granholm announced at a press conference in Lansing on June 27. The Center will be eligible for a $15 million grant from Michigan’s 21st Century Jobs Fund.

Michigan Tech, Michigan State and Mascoma will work with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and J.M. Longyear -- a Marquette-based company that owns more than 65,000 acres of forest land in the Upper Peninsula -- to develop the state’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant. The plant will be located in Chippewa County, south of Sault Ste. Marie.

Cellulosic ethanol offers a clean-burning and economical alternative to petroleum-based fuel and ethanol made from corn.... Read the complete article by Jennifer Donovan on the MTU Web site.

Editor's Note: U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) hailed the announcement that Mascoma will be locating a new cellulosic ethanol plant in Chippewa County. The plant is expected to create not only new jobs but will also spur job growth in forestry, transportation and other related industries. As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Stupak is working to expand the federal definition of biomass to allow timber harvested from federal lands to be used for the production of cellulosic ethanol.