NORTH MANCHESTER - Governor Mitch Daniels, a representative for Senator Richard Lugar and POET CEO Jeff Broin were outside North Manchester Thursday for the grand opening of a new ethanol plant.
"I get a special thrill and satisfaction when prosperity comes to one of our smaller communities," said Daniels. "There has never been a better time for money and hope to be invested in small towns."The grand opening, which was open to the public, included a flyover by the Vanguard Squadron that is completely powered by ethanol, speeches from Daniels, Broin and Lugar representative Cathy Gallmeyer, and public tours of the new facility.
The plant is two miles south of North Manchester on CR 800N. The plant is POET's 24th ethanol production facility, and the company's third facility in Indiana. The North Manchester plant is equipped with POET's patent-pending BPX process that eliminates the need for heat in the cooking process of producing ethanol, reducing energy usage by 8 to 15 percent when compared to conventional ethanol plants. It also will have equipment to eliminate nearly all its air emissions.
POET is the largest producer of biofuels in the world, producing more than 1.4 billion gallons of ethanol each year.
"Right here in North Manchester, we are making a difference," Broin said. "The ethanol that will be produced in this facility will displace over 60 million gallons of fossil fuels annually - decreasing our dependence on foreign oil and saving consumers money at the pump."
"With its third Indiana facility, POET is quickly becoming a household name in our small towns," Daniels said. "This new North Manchester facility means more good jobs and an important market for our Hoosier farmers."
Daniels also said Indiana is quickly becoming one of the leaders in alternative fuel producers in the United States.
"Our state intends to lead," Daniels said. "This plant is another step forward in (Indian's goal of) national leadership (in biofuel production)."
The new plant will use 22 million bushels of corn from the area to produce 65 million gallons of ethanol and 178,000 tons of Dakota Gold Enhanced Nutrition Distillers Products per year. Ethanol marketing for the facility is provided by POET Ethanol Products and byproducts are marketed by POET Nutrition. Rail access is through Norfolk Southern. The $130 million facility employs 42 people with an annual payroll of more than $2 million.
