There's one less thing standing in the way for
Frontier Renewable Resources' plans of constructing a new cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Kinross on the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula.
The company recently announced that the
Sierra Club has voluntarily withdrawn its petition for review of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment Air Permit.
"We commend the Department for thorough and rigorous review of Frontier's air permit," says Steve Hicks, CEO of Frontier Renewable Resources. "The Sierra Club's decision to withdraw is a responsible action that recognized the permit protected human health and environment."
Construction of the company's 40 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol biorefinery is planned for mid-2011 with plant start up in 2013. Frontier's investment brings 150 construction jobs and 70 full-time jobs to the U.P.
"While the petition did not impact the project timeline, it was an unnecessary distraction for the State of Michigan," says Hicks.
Frontier, owned by Mascoma Corporation and JM Longyear, is striving to be an innovative biofuels company committed to developing environmentally sustainable, low cost, low carbon biofuels from cellulosic biomass. The company plans to use their new plant to convert non-food renewable biomass feedstocks into cellulosic ethanol.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Steve Hicks, Frontier Renewable Resources
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