10/17/07 Idaho Ethanol plant up and running

In 2004 the JR Simplot Company shut down its two ethanol production plants in Idaho. Today, the Caldwell plant is back in operation, this time as Idaho Ethanol Processing, a subsidiary of British based ED&F Man Holdings. SIEWERT "Some of the work we did was to add more flexibility by putting a grain system on the front end of the plant. We've also added a tank farm and new load out area." Idaho Ethanol's plant manager Stan Siewert says they're licensed for five million gallons of ethanol annually and Simplot potato waste, some grain and locally grown corn provide the feedstock. Some of that ethanol goes to Treasure Valley outlets but the rest is destined for Reno, Portland and Spokane. SIEWERT "We are actually looking at phase two here of a 15 million gallon a year capacity a couple of years down the road." The ethanol production consumes the carbohydrates from corn but it leaves the protein, fiber and fat for animal feed. SIEWERT "There's both a soluble product and then there's a centrifuge product or a cake. We're producing both of those and they're being marketed locally." Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott