Los Angeles Approves BlueFire Bid to Build $30 Million Rubbish-to-Enthanol Plant

Los Angeles County officials today approved a proposal by BlueFire Ethanol to build what might be the first commercial facility in the U.S. to process biowaste into ethanol.

Members of the county's regional planning commission voted today to issue a permit to BlueFire Ethanol of Irvine, Calif., to build a $30 million facility in Lancaster, 70 miles northeast of downtown L.A.

Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in thermometers, but it's largest single use today is as a fuel for internal combustion engines and as a fuel additive.

BlueFire President Arnold Klann said the plant would be the first commercial facility in the nation to make ethanol out of wood chips, paper and other biowaste.

Construction of the plant, which would be located next to a landfill, is expected to begin this fall.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by

Scott Doggett July 23, 2008, 4:36 PM

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Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Fuel Economy