Moses Lake ethanol plant expands

Earth Biofuels expansion to make six times more ethanol fuel

MOSES LAKE — A Texas biofuels company plans to operate an ethanol plant from Moses Lake beginning this summer.

Dallas-based Earth Biofuels, Inc., recently announced its wholly-owned subsidiary Earth Ethanol, Inc., is entering an agreement to construct and operate an ethanol production facility near Moses Lake.

Earth Ethanol beneficially owns 80 percent of the facility, located at 720 Road N., and is projected to be able to produce approximately 36 million gallons of ethanol per year, when construction is completed by the end of 2007.

The project renovates and expands an existing ethanol plant built in 1992 with an original capacity of producing approximately 6 million gallons per year.

Earth Biofuels Director of Corporate Communications Shawne Horn said the facility is going to be expanded, beginning with a 12 million gallon capability in June and expanding to an ability of making 36 million gallons by the end of the year.

The facility is being upgraded with state-of-the-art processes and controls, and the ability to process both corn and barley as feedstock for the ethanol production. The ability to operate on two grains helps reduce the exposure to rapidly changing corn or barley prices, according to a release from Earth Biofuels.

"We chose to locate in Moses Lake because of the existing facility, but also because it is in close proximity to Seattle," Horn said. "Seattle/Tacoma is the largest gasoline market in that area of the nation — 2.7 billion gallons."

Horn said she had not seen an estimate for the price of the expansion project. Partnering with Liquafaction in Grant County is part of Earth Biofuels' plan to become a premier biofuels company in the United States she added.

"Earth Biofuels is looking forward to doing business in Grant County and establishing a positive presence in the community," she said.

The number of employees the plant will employ is unknown, Horn said.

"What is certain is we will be hiring the best and the brightest minds in the industry," she said.

In addition to Earth Biofuels' controlling interest, it manages operations at the Moses Lake facility.