[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CELLULOSIC ETHANOL TECHNOLOGY

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                            HON. TIM MAHONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. MAHONEY. Madam Speaker, tonight, I rise to honor two companies in 
Florida's District 16 who are on the leading edge of cellulosic ethanol 
technology and encouraging the use of crops other than corn to help 
meet the energy needs of our country--Citrus Energy, LLP and Alico, 
Inc.
  Recently, each of these companies was awarded a $2.5 million grant 
from the Florida Department of Agriculture in recognition of their 
efforts to establish a meaningful renewable energy industry.
  With their state grant, Citrus Energy, based in Clewiston, Florida, 
plans to convert citrus peel, pulp, seeds and membrane into 4 million 
gallons of ethanol a year. I commend Citrus Energy President Dave 
Stewart for his commitment to finding alternative energy sources and 
for looking to by-products that are abundantly available to help meet 
our country's needs.
  Similarly, Alico, Inc. located in Labelle, Florida, plans to use its 
grant to build a 7.5 million-gallon-a-year plant to produce ethanol and 
electricity. Alico intends to use high-fiber sugar cane and agriculture 
wastes, such as hurricane debris to make ethanol. I also commend Alico 
President John Alexander for his commitment to helping this great 
country find alternative energy sources through agricultural by-
products.
  It is exciting that both of these companies have recognized the 
potential resources that Florida can contribute to their efforts, and I 
am particularly pleased that they both have chosen to locate their new 
energy plants in District 16. Their endeavors will provide economic 
benefits to these communities and will provide substantial 
environmental and economic benefits for our entire country.
  With the price of corn at $4.00 per bushel, it is imperative that 
American companies recognize the importance of diversifying our ethanol 
portfolio and the potential that our American farmers can contribute to 
those efforts. These two Florida companies are just the beginning of 
what I hope will become a burgeoning industry throughout our great 
State of Florida and our country. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that adequate 
funding is provided for the research and production of bio-fuels and 
alternatives to corn ethanol.

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