Mahoney Honors Local Companies for Cutting Edge Work in Alternative Energy

Mahoney Honors Local Companies for Cutting Edge Work in Alternative Energy

Congressman Tim Mahoney (FL-16) today honored local Florida companies on the leading edge of alternative energy technology. Citrus Energy, LLP of Clewiston, and Alico, Inc. of Labelle each received $2.5 million from the Florida Department of Agriculture to help continue their work to develop a robust renewable energy industry. Alico, Inc also received a $33 million grant from the Department of Energy, yesterday, to assist in building an ethanol plant in Labelle, FL.

"I commend these companies for their cutting edge work in the renewable energy industry. This kind of innovation has the potential to turn Florida into a major alternative energy producing-state," said Congressman Mahoney.

Congressman Mahoney submitted the following extension of remarks to the Congressional Record today.

Extension of Remarks

Congressman Tim Mahoney

March 1, 2007

Thank you, Madame Speaker.

Tonight, I rise to honor two companies in Florida's District 16 who are on the leading edge of cellulosic ethanol technology and encouraging the use of crops other than corn to help meet the energy needs of our country - Citrus Energy, LLP and Alico, Inc.

Recently, each of these companies was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture in recognition of their efforts to establish a meaningful renewable energy industry.

With their state grant, Citrus Energy, based in Clewiston, Florida, plans to convert citrus peel, pulp, seeds and membrane into 4 millions gallons of ethanol a year. I commend Citrus Energy President Dave Stewart for his commitment to finding alternative energy sources and for looking to by-products that are abundantly available to help meet our country's needs.

Similarly, Alico, Inc. located in Labelle, Florida, plans to use its grant to build a 7.5 million-gallon-a-year plant to produce ethanol and electricity. Alico intends to use high-fiber sugar cane and agriculture wastes, such as hurricane debris to make ethanol. I also commend Alico President John Alexander for his commitment to helping this great country find alternative energy sources through agricultural by-products.

It is exciting that both of these companies have recognized the potential resources that Florida can contribute to their efforts, and I am particularly pleased that they both have chosen to locate their new energy plants in District 16. Their endeavors will provide economic benefits to these communities and will provide substantial environmental and economic benefits for our entire country.

With the price of corn at $4.00 per bushel, it is imperative that American companies recognize the importance of diversifying our ethanol portfolio and the potential that our American farmers can contribute to those efforts. These two Florida companies are just the beginning of what I hope will become a burgeoning industry throughout our great State of Florida and our country. I look forward to working with my Colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that adequate funding is provided for the research and production of bio-fuels and alternatives to corn ethanol.

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