Waste-to-ethanol projects move forward

A number of waste-to-ethanol projects have gained momentum in recent months. The project that California, U.S.-based Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc is developing, involves a proprietary gasification technology for the production of ethanol from synthesis gas (syngas). Fulcrum is expected to begin building a 10.5 million gallon per year commercial-scale plant close to Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., in early 2010. Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.-based Agresti Biofuels is also developing an MSW-based plant, to be situated in Pike County, Kentucky. The company expects to start construction in late 2009 or early 2010 as soon as financing is obtained. The plant will have an initial output of about 1.5 million gallons per year and eventually as much as 25 million gallons per year. (November 30, 2009)