Construction begins on largest ethanol plant in Wisconsin

Officials broke ground today a $100 million ethanol plant in Jefferson, Wisconsin. The refinery is to be the largest ethanol plant in the state.

The whole gold shovel thing was even more symbolic than usual, given that part of the new plant will actually be built on top of an old feed mill, malting plant and talapia fish farm.

Renew Energy will spend $100 million to add new tanks and turn the facility into Wisconsin's largest ethanol refinery, intended to be capable of producing 130 million gallons of ethanol a year. It expects to employ 150 people, double the headcount of the old plant.

There was no shortage of speakers willing to talk about how great this was. "By finding and permitting a new use for this 100 year old plant we're fostering the finest form of recycling and reusing our existing resources," says Jefferson County Chairperson Sharon Schmeling.

Governor Jim Doyle took advantage of the occasion and falling gas prices to fire a shot at both politicians and oil companies. "I heard one columnist recently wrote - made a lot of sense - the way to keep oil prices down is to schedule an election every three months."

But what may be remarkable are comments by Renew CEO Jeff White, who said they found no opponents throughout the whole permitting process. "The community here has been nothing but supportive about this ethanol plant."

That's a stark contrast to the battles still going on just a few miles away in Milton, where the locals have been fighting an ethanol plant there.

"I guess it surprises me still that there are communities that fight over this," says Doyle.

The Governor and White say as more plants go online the public's fears go away.

"People had some fears about ethanol plants that simply are not substantiated," says White.

"The technology keeps getting better and better so the old debate about whether an ethanol plant is more or less polluting I think is pretty well laid to rest," says Doyle.

The plant is expected to be completed by next July.