Welcome to

Soon, grass in Florida will be used to make cellulosic ethanol.

The state gave Verenium, a Northeastern energy company, seven million dollars to build a plant that will turn grass into fuel. The plant will be built in Highlands County and company officials expect to be creating ethanol by 2011. Verenium President Carlos Riva said his company will make Florida a key player in ethanol production.

“Traveling down this path, I believe, will enable us to produce more food, more fuel, and lower carbon emissions all at the same time. Here’s a way to produce the next generation’s environmentally friendly bio-fuel all while creating new jobs for local economies at a critical time and in a region where it’s desperately needed,” said Riva.

Besides creating construction jobs, the plant will bring more than 140 full time employees.