Ga. Peaches touted as future fuel source

[jpak]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060804/ap_on_bi_ge/farm_scene;_ylt=AmZ6KWHzvZPxNrojRaRSYtms0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MzV0MTdmBHNlYwM3NTM-

TIFTON, Ga. - Part-time farmer Jimmy Griner hopes his ever-so-fragrant, crystal-clear, 180-proof moonshine can help solve the nation's energy problems.

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Plans are under way to build a $132 million plant in Camilla, about 175 miles south of Atlanta, that would produce 100 million gallons of ethanol a year from corn. Another company is considering a $150 million to $200 million plant in south Georgia that would make 50 million gallons of ethanol annually from the cellulose in wood.

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With almost 25 million of Georgia's 37 million acres covered with forests, there's a big push to produce ethanol from pine trees. But experts say the technology for doing it on a commercial scale is still years away.

The state already generates 18 million dry tons of waste wood each year, including limbs and tree tops, Georgia Forestry Commission director Ken Stewart said. The amount of ethanol available from the waste wood alone — 80 gallons per ton — would be enough to replace 18 percent of the gasoline and diesel fuels consumed in the state each year, he said.

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[leveymg]

1. Great. As the price of gas goes up, so does peach cobbler.

Another reason to be cheerful. Not.