POET Press Releases, News Links, & Events

POET, farmers kick off commercial biomass harvest for Project LIBERTY cellulosic ethanol (8/17/2010)

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

Project LIBERTY/Cellulosic Ethanol

Jeff Broin's speech at Biomass Kickoff
Aug. 17, 2010, Emmetsburg, IA

EMMETSBURG, IOWA -- Farmers and POET today celebrated the upcoming collection and delivery of 56,000 tons of baled corn cobs and light stover in the first commercial harvest for Project LIBERTY.

POET CEO Jeff Broin spoke to farmers about the important jobs and economic benefits that will result from this new revenue crop. In fact, area farmers have already received $100,000 in incentive payments to establish the new harvest system on their farm.

He also spoke about the growing importance of the American farmer.

"As biomass harvesting for cellulosic ethanol grows, America's reliance on foreign oil will wane and be replaced by a new reliance, this time on rural communities within our own borders," Broin said. "The American farmer will provide food, feed and fuel for the country at an unheard of rate."

Iowa Governor Chet Culver, who attended the event, talked about new opportunities that would be created throughout the economy. "We're really proud of the fact that this is happening in the great state of Iowa. Nowhere else in the world is this happening so quickly."

Biomass harvested for Project LIBERTY will come to a new biomass storage facility, which is under construction now in Emmetsburg. The 22-acre site will have capacity to house 23,000 tons of biomass bales. Construction of Project LIBERTY -- the planned 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant -- is slated to begin in early 2012 pending approval of a loan guarantee from the Department of Energy.

Farmers today also heard presentations from USDA, Iowa State University and Idaho National Laboratory. ISU discussed the latest data from Emmetsburg regarding soil nutrient and erosion control when harvesting biomass.

The partners have completed two years of testing on the area's soil with different harvest types, and results, along with those from 10 site-years of additional data, are showing that collecting biomass bales will not negatively impact good land.

Removing approximately one ton of biomass out of the average 4.26 tons available per acre will not require any drastic changes in fertilizer management for producers choosing to participate in the program, the researchers have found. This work will continue for future harvests. Additionally, as corn yields continue to increase in coming years, even more agriculture residue will be left behind on fields.

For more information about Project LIBERTY and POET's work in cellulosic ethanol, check out our new expanded cellulosic ethanol content at http://www.poet.com/innovation/cellulosic_ethanol.asp

About POET
POET is a leader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production. The 22-year-old company produces more than 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol and 9 billion pounds of high-protein animal feed annually from 26 production facilities nationwide. POET also operates a pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol plant, which uses corn cobs as feedstock, and will commercialize the process in Emmetsburg, Iowa. For more information, visit http://www.poet.com.

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New Press Release (8/10/2010)

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

Project LIBERTY/Cellulosic Ethanol

POET conducts biomass harvest research in Texas (8/9/2010)

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

Project LIBERTY/Cellulosic Ethanol

POET this week will begin harvest research in corn fields near Navasota, Texas to learn more about biomass collection for cellulosic ethanol production.

POET uses corn cobs and light stover to produce cellulosic ethanol at a pilot plant in Scotland, S.D. and will commercialize the process for Project LIBERTY in Emmetsburg, Iowa in early 2012.

This is the third year POET will harvest in Texas, which begins the harvest earlier in the year than other parts of the country. Researchers will monitor the biomass going through the combine during grain harvest and compare it to what is later baled for use in ethanol production.

POET will analyze composition and moisture content of the bales with a goal of learning how to get the maximum amount of cobs in each bale.

"We've learned a lot about harvesting biomass over the last few years in Texas, South Dakota and Iowa," POET Biomass Director Mike Roth said. "We will continue to add to our knowledge of the issue and share that information with farmers as they begin the commercial harvest for Project LIBERTY."

About POET
POET is a leader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production. The 22-year-old company produces more than 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol and 9 billion pounds of high-protein animal feed annually from 26 production facilities nationwide. POET also operates a pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol plant, which uses corn cobs as feedstock, and will commercialize the process in Emmetsburg, Iowa. For more information, visit http://www.poet.com.

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POET: Senate Energy Bill missed an opportunity to do something about foreign oil addiction (7/27/2010)

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:01 CST

General Press Releases

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced an Energy Bill with the stated goal of lessening U.S. addiction to oil. POET CEO Jeff Broin made the following comments:

By omitting Growth Energy's Fueling Freedom Plan from the Energy Bill, Senate leadership missed an opportunity to significantly lessen America's dependence on foreign oil. Instead of spending taxpayer money on unproven technologies, policy-makers should invest in the infrastructure that would allow for the expansion of the only renewable energy source that is displacing significant volumes of foreign oil today: ethanol.

An energy bill that addressed America's oil addiction would adopt Growth Energy's plan to redirect and phase out the ethanol tax credit and use those funds to install blender pumps and put millions of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) on the road over the next five years. This would create a level playing field for transportation fuels, allowing ethanol to continue creating jobs and decreasing our country's dependence on foreign oil without continuing to rely on government support.

By neglecting to build out the infrastructure for American ethanol, this energy bill represents an opportunity missed to make a significant dent in America's oil imports.

About POET
POET, the largest ethanol producer in the world, is a leader in biorefining through its efficient, vertically integrated approach to production. The 22-year-old company produces more than 1.6 billion gallons of ethanol annually from 26 production facilities nationwide. POET recently started up a pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol plant, which uses corn cobs as feedstock, and will commercialize the process in Emmetsburg, Iowa. For more information, visit http://www.poet.com.

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Biomass Kickoff Event Celebrates Next Step For Project Liberty (8/19/2010)

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

from the Emmetsburg Reporter/Democrat

Growing to fill the need (8/19/2010)

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

from Spencer Daily Reporter (Iowa)

Poet Opens Door for Farmers to Deliver Stover, Cobs (8/17/2010)

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

from DTN/Progressive Farmer

Leading edge technology in NW Iowa to turn harvest garbage into fuel (8/17/2010)

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

from KTIV-TV (Sioux City)

POET to kick off biomass harvest 2010 (Emmetsburg, IA)

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:01 CST

Event Date(s): 8/17/2010
-- POET will recognize farmers' first foray into commercial biomass harvesting for Project LIBERTY's cellulosic ethanol at a kickoff event Tuesday in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Project LIBERTY is POET's planned 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg, which will use corn cobs and light stover as feedstock.

Farmers in the area this year will harvest more than 56,000 tons of biomass for POET. Many more farmers have inquired about contracts for future harvests as Project LIBERTY startup approaches in 2012. Eventually, POET will need about 300,000 tons of biomass annually.

POET has also begun construction on a 22-acre biomass storage system that will have the capacity to house 22,000 tons of feedstock for Project LIBERTY. Project LIBERTY construction is scheduled to begin in early 2011.

Tuesday's event will feature speeches from guests including Iowa Governor Chet Culver and POET CEO Jeff Broin. Information for farmers will be presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (biomass harvest incentives), Iowa State University (soil sustainability) and Idaho National Laboratory (biomass storage).

Speakers and presentations begin at 10 a.m. Attendees can browse booths of equipment manufacturers and presenters over the lunch hour. Lunch will be provided. The event will be on a site just to the south of POET Biorefining -- Emmetsburg.

U.S. Ag Secretary, Ohio governor to visit POET plant (POET Biorefining - Marion (Ohio))

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:01 CST

Event Date(s): 7/20/2010
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland will visit POET Biorefining -- Marion (Ohio) on Tuesday.

Vilsack and Strickland will take a tour of the plant at 9 a.m. and discuss issues important to the ethanol industry with POET team members. Vilsack last visited a POET plant when he accompanied President Barack Obama in an April visit to POET Biorefining -- Macon (Mo.)

There will be no press conference at the event; however, the media is welcome to attend to take photographs. Media should arrive by 8:30 a.m.

Governor's Ag Development Summit (Sioux Falls, S.D. - Sioux Falls Convention Center)

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:01 CST

Event Date(s): 6/30/2010
Advancements in engineering have led to unprecedented efficiency in ethanol production, and more is on the horizon. That is the message from POET Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations Jeff Lautt during a session next week at the "Governor's Ag Development Summit" in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Lautt will join Raven Industries Vice President Matt Burkhart in a discussion titled "Advancements in Engineering and Renewable Energy" on Wednesday, June 30 at 1: 15 p.m. The event will take place at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Improvements in science and technology have helped POET become one of the most efficient producers in the industry. In the last decade, POET has cut its energy use by almost one third. Since the company was formed in 1988, POET's water use has dropped by 80 percent. POET has also developed valuable co-products, such as high-protein animal feed known as Dried Distillers' Grains and Inviz, a zein product that can replace petroleum-based films and adhesives.

Renewable Energy Finance Forum - Wall Street (New York - The Waldorf-Astoria)

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:01 CST

Event Date(s): 6/30/2010

Renewable Energy Finance Forum - Wall Street

POET CEO Jeff Broin will discuss challenges, opportunities and strategies for success in the ethanol industry during the 7th Annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum - Wall Street next week in New York.

Broin will join other business and government leaders for the event, dubbed "the meeting place for financiers, investors and renewable energy project developers to network, strike deals and drive forward the future of the industry."

Broin will speak on Wednesday, June 30 at 1:45 p.m. EST in a session titled "CEO insights." He will join four other CEOs in the renewable energy sector in addressing questions such as:

What do you see as the major challenges facing the renewable energy industry at the moment?
How have you responded to the difficult economic climate over the last 18 months?
What do you see as the most significant opportunities for renewable energy companies and investors over the next year?