[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23773]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          MID-MISSOURI ENERGY

 Mr. TALENT. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 
upcoming groundbreaking on Saturday, October 4, 2003, for construction 
of Missouri's third farmer-owned ethanol plant, Mid-Missouri Energy 
Ethanol Plant, which will be located in Malta Bend, MO.
  Mid-Missouri Energy, the farmer-owned cooperative that is building 
the plant, began its grassroots efforts in early 2002 and has since 
added over 720 farmer-investors. This plant will process 15 million 
bushels of corn each year, producing 40 million gallons of ethanol 
annually, creating more than 35 new jobs in Saline County. It will 
boost the value of locally grown corn and generate revenue for the 
farmers who have invested in the cooperative. In addition, the site 
preparation and construction of the plant will provide a boost to the 
area's economy. This plant is being built at a cost of $60 million, and 
it is expected to be in operation by Spring 2005.
  The technology for ethanol-blended fuel will only get better as the 
distribution network continues to grow. Ethanol is already marketed in 
a number of places at the same price as gasoline, and its increased use 
will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help agricultural 
producers. There are currently 73 ethanol plants in the country, with 
the capacity to produce 2.9 billion gallons annually. The Malta Bend 
plant is one of 13 new plants under construction, which represent more 
than 400 million gallons per year of new ethanol production. I am 
confident the energy bill that emerges from the Congress will retain 
the Renewable Fuels Standard, which will double the production and use 
of ethanol over the next ten years.
  I am proud of the hard work and commitment that the farmers of Mid-
Missouri Energy have shown in getting this plant built. Their efforts 
are crucial to helping our agricultural industry in Missouri and 
providing jobs and growth for the Missouri economy. I am pleased to 
congratulate them, as well as the farmer-investors of Missouri's two 
operative ethanol plants, Northeast Missouri Grain, LLC and General 
Triangle Energy Cooperative, for all that they have done to support 
Missouri job creation and economic growth.

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