Milton ethanol plant draws closer to highly anticipated opening
(Published Monday, January 22, 2007 11:37:03 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Carla McCann Gazette staff
MILTON-Storage bins are full of grain, and only finishing touches remain before United Ethanol's $60 million plant begins production.
The plant is scheduled to open before March, said David Cramer, United Ethanol president.
"We have a good staff to run the facility," he said. "We're very excited about producing a return on the investment. We're looking forward to it."
Construction of the plant in the East Side Industrial Park has taken 18 months. When complete, it is expected to produce from 42 million to 52 million gallons of ethanol annually.
The Beaver Dam-based company received a permit from the state Department of Natural Resources last fall to increase production to 60 million gallons a year.
United Ethanol's $60 million plant in Milton's East Side Industrial Park covers a wide area as seen from the air last week. The plant plans to produce at least 42 million gallons of ethanol annually.
Dan Lassiter/Gazette Staff
"Our intent is still to produce 42 million to 52 million gallons of ethanol. If it works better than anticipated, then we could produce more," Cramer said in a previous interview.
The plant will use about 15 million bushels of corn annually and serve as another market for farmers.
The plant also will provide farmers a local source to buy dried distillers' grain for livestock feed.
"Farmers are committed to increasing corn acreage from 10 to 15 percent this year," Cramer said.
United Ethanol owns and operates 10 elevators that buy corn.
"We'll be working with local elevators to acquire corn, too," Cramer said.
Farmers also may haul corn directly to the plant for sale.
"The ethanol plant is right in their backyards," Cramer said.
Because United Ethanol is contracting to buy corn two years into the future, Cramer already knows much of the local plant's need will be filled by direct deliveries, he said.
"I'm pleased with how this will work," Cramer said.
When the Milton plant goes online, it will be the sixth ethanol facility operating in Wisconsin. United Ethanol already is working on construction of a second plant between Spring Green and Arena in Iowa County, Cramer said.
Though the ethanol industry has had peaks and valleys, demand for ethanol is good, Cramer said.
"A lot of ethanol is being exported to China," he said.
Like Cramer, the city anticipates reaping benefits from its new industrial park resident. The development is expected to offer jobs, boost the tax base and invigorate the agricultural economy, said city Administrator Todd Schmidt.
"We're looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the area, county and local community," Cramer said.
"This is a good area to have an ethanol plant."
A lot of corn
The United Ethanol plant in Milton is expected to use 15 million bushels of corn a year. That's enough corn to:
-- Fill 1,172 average-size homes.
-- Make a cone-shaped pile 200 feet tall and 600 feet across.
-- Use about 65 percent of Rock County's annual corn production.
