Editor’s note: The following is a merging of two very similar press
releases issued on July 13 and 24, 2007, by state Sen. Roger Kahn. Both releases
referenced Sen. Kahn’s ethanol-fueled car and the construction of a new ethanol
plant. Redundancies between the two messages have been omitted so as to create a
single, complete statement. Otherwise, the statements appear in their entirety.
State Sen. Roger Kahn drove his new ethanol-fueled Chevy Impala to the
Capitol [on July 24, 2007] for Senate session. Kahn’s vehicle runs on E85, an 85
percent blend of ethanol, a renewable energy source.
"It’s a great feeling to ride to work in a vehicle that not only represents
energy independence but supports our local economy as well," said Kahn,
R-Saginaw. "As we anticipate the construction of the state’s largest producer of
renewable resources, in Ithaca, it makes good sense to promote the value of
renewable resources while encouraging the creation of jobs in the community."
Kahn recently spoke at an event welcoming Liberty Renewable Fuels and its
building contractors to Gratiot County as they prepare to start construction on
Michigan’s largest ethanol plant. Numerous Michigan contractors will join lead
builder ICM on construction of the project. In addition to the estimated 400
construction workers needed to build the plant, 46 permanent jobs will be
created for operation and support of the facility.
"Today is a great day for the people of Gratiot County," said Kahn, R-Saginaw
Township, [on July 13, 2007]. "This plant will have a significant impact on both
short- and long-term jobs for mid-Michigan workers and support our local farmers
by requiring 40 million bushels of corn each year to operate. This is a terrific
achievement and I want to congratulate all parties involved on making this a
reality."
Expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008, the Ithaca ethanol
plant will be Michigan’s largest producer of renewable resources, producing 110
million gallons of ethanol annually. Additionally, the facility will generate
354,000 tons of distiller’s grains for animal feed. Five million vehicles in the
U. S. today are flexible fuel vehicles capable of running on a mix of 85 percent
ethanol and 15 percent gasoline commonly called E85.
"I own an E85 Chevrolet Impala, and I encourage every Michigan resident to
consider a renewable fuel vehicle when purchasing their next automobile," said
Kahn. "Alternative fuels like ethanol represent a positive collaboration between
Michigan’s agricultural and automotive industries that will rejuvenate our
struggling economy and take steps toward achieving America’s goal of energy
independence."
