Georgia Ethanol Plant Sold, at Taxpayers' Loss

By Dan Chapman

The failed Range Fuels wood-to-ethanol factory in southeastern Georgia that sucked up $65 million in federal and state tax dollars was sold Tuesday for pennies on the dollar to another bio-fuel maker with equally grand plans to transform the alternative energy world.

LanzaTech, a New Zealand-based biofuel company, paid $5.1 million for the plant in Soperton. Its main financial backer: Vinod Khosla, a California entrepreneur who also bankrolled Range Fuels, and helped secure its government loans, before Range went bust last year.

LanzaTech hasn’t received the same type of loans, but the company has received $7 million from the U.S. departments of Energy and Transportation to assist in the development of alternative fuels.

Read the rest at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

27 Responses to Georgia Ethanol Plant Sold, at Taxpayers' Loss

  1. Rob N. Hood January 7, 2012 at 8:08 am #

    The main reason ethanol became an option in the first place was for the farm vote. It has been a failure all along and should be abolished.

  2. NEIL F. AGWD/BSD January 8, 2012 at 9:08 pm #

    Ethanol has been around for a long time I doubt that it can be abolished. I don’t even think ethanol should be abolished. But the subsidies should though, definatly

  3. Rob N. Hood January 9, 2012 at 11:45 am #

    Well, that’s what I meant actually. Without the subsidies it would be abolished. IF something non-detrimental or wasteful could replace Corn, like switch grass, MAYBE it would be better- but I’m dubious about that too because of the energy involved in creating ethanol is greater than the end product.

    • NEIL F. AGWD/BSD January 9, 2012 at 10:13 pm #

      Not to mention the amount of water it takes.

  4. Joe January 10, 2012 at 12:56 am #

    Ethanol would not be abolished without a subsidy it simply would slowly go away.(Cost/benefit). Corn prices would drop immediately. Unfortunately some farmers would go under. The old 80/20 rule. Bet on 80% of your revenue (ethanol to a farmer on corn) and you are toast absent a subsidy. Simple econ 101.

  5. Rob N. Hood January 10, 2012 at 7:57 am #

    Ok so I used the wrong word… you guys sure like beating a dead horse. And no- I don’t believe any farmer would go under for that alone. Farmers are generally well subsidized, perhaps even too much so (corp. farms) with the exception of dairy farmers.

  6. Rob N. Hood January 10, 2012 at 1:41 pm #

    Two political candidates walk into a bar. The first one is a liar. The second one is not. Which one would you vote for? Neither. The second one doesn’t exist.

  7. Joe January 15, 2012 at 12:30 am #

    Depends on the person. I assume you always tell the truth? Finally, the impression by probably 50% of the people I know, you are not far off the mark. A problem all politicians unfortunately have isn’t it, good bad or otherwise.

  8. Rob N. Hood January 17, 2012 at 8:01 am #

    1. It’s joke. 2. I believe it’s “congress,” or some such entity, named in the on-going polls, that has a current APPROVAL rating of 7%. 3. Lying politicians ARE NOT “good” or otherwise.

  9. Joe January 18, 2012 at 3:03 am #

    Nor is our Leader. Our “polished politician” called our President, or is that King? Years ago I gave up a beautiful vacation awaiting a contract from a major client and my neighbor went in my place. Called doing business Our leader, not leading, demanded “it be done” before he left. By the way, we the people are his “Clients.” Seems he forgot that. He’s toast in November.

  10. Rob N. Hood January 18, 2012 at 9:45 am #

    It sounds to me like you are describing G. Bush’s presidency. Keep in mind I am not a current fan of Obama. I like to stay real and non-deulsional. Our country is indeed toast- it just circles the drain slower while the Dems are in control. The end result will be the same no matter what- unless a majority of the public wakes up and demands real change and accountability, not to mention electoral reform.

  11. Joe January 22, 2012 at 3:30 am #

    November shall tell. Impatiently awaiting the day.

  12. Rob N. Hood January 23, 2012 at 5:26 pm #

    And IT will change NOTHING. What did the Repubs do that was so wonderful when they had the chance…? Anything different from any other administration since Reagan. Nope. And Obama is basically more of the same. Wake up, there’s no REAL difference. They are for themselves and the elite that create and bribe them. It’s a ruse, a game for them- and very lucrative too. Unless you are a multi-millionaire they don’t care one whit about you. And even then they will eat you alive if you aren’t careful.

  13. Rob N. Hood January 23, 2012 at 5:27 pm #

    I confess- I don’t know what a “whit” is. Just sounded good at the time.

  14. Rob N. Hood January 24, 2012 at 8:11 am #

    i.e. “artistic” license, for those of you who are stuck in figurative concrete, it is nothing to get too excited about- e.g. bigger fish to fry, life is short, etc. etc…

  15. Joe January 26, 2012 at 11:02 pm #

    You have a dictionary. Cool!

  16. Rob N. Hood January 27, 2012 at 9:07 am #

    Actually Joe, the above would suggest that I didn’t bother to look up the word. Just laziness on my part really. That’s what I would be guilty of, if anything.

  17. Ian January 29, 2012 at 8:33 pm #

    Just because one thing fails doesn’t mean to throw it all away and give up on finding renewable energy. The worst that happens when we do is we no longer have to rely on unsatble or despotic governments for our energy needs

    • Dan McGrath January 31, 2012 at 10:16 am #

      No. The worst thing that happens is our economy collapses under the weight of burdensome regulations and skyrocketing energy prices. When the cost of energy goes up, so follows the cost of EVERYTHING.

      • Rob N. Hood February 2, 2012 at 8:32 am #

        See Ian? They are soooo smart, they’ve thought of everything… not. Just re: their measly bank accounts, that get pimped by the elite either way.

  18. Joe January 31, 2012 at 1:09 am #

    Aren’t we all?

  19. Rob N. Hood January 31, 2012 at 8:24 am #

    No, not if you are a Republican or Libertarian…according to FOX et. al. you/they rule the world, and it would crumble to dust without you/them. Or so we are led to believe.

  20. Rob N. Hood February 2, 2012 at 8:35 am #

    Oh, and note to Dan: our economy IS collapsing (in slow motion) due to decades, if not more, of Americanized capitalism. You all need to stop the cult-like zombieism about it, wake up, and clear your heads. We will need you to assist with the transition of the USA to something better and more sustainable. Or not.

  21. Joe February 2, 2012 at 11:47 pm #

    I’m a capitalist and proud of it. Without corporations, LLC’s et al, you would not have a job or opportunity to earn as much as you wish if you have an idea, work hard etc. Oops, working hard is a bad statement according to the left wing that wait by the mailbox each month for their entitlement check. Capitalists don’t look towards hand outs/entitlements. I ate 29 cent per pound bag of potatos when I started. No TV, one clock radio, one cheap suit, tie and shirt. No shades on windows, no furniture other than a mattress at night. No welfare, check from the State or funds from family. I lived with which I had. I was well below the poverty line bar none.

    That said, opportunity was there for me to take called work and I took it no matter what was called for. Ever bend sheet metal for a 1.68 hour for 60 hours a week. Ever work for what was called Chinese over-time? (1/2 your hourly if you exceeded 40 hours.) That’s how I started. It’s called life Mr. Hood. You should look out the window each morning and enjoy what you have thanks to capitalists like me that earned it. We employ people like you with no questions asked because we have been in your shoes but we never let you know it. You simply assume we are the bad guys don’t you? Life never changes when it comes to envy never working for a qoal does it? Suggest you change your mindset?

  22. Rob N. Hood February 3, 2012 at 12:02 pm #

    Another platitudinous lecture from a successful “capitalist”. So, the system has worked for you, and that is that, right? Very narrow-minded thinking isn’t it? I will not elaborate on that, or any of this, because to you “captialism” is your religion (regardless of any other you may also practice). It is a cult, and you are one of its pawns in the class war. They allow you just enough of the spoils to keep you fat and sassy. And that’s all it takes for some people.
    P.S. I don’t assume you are a bad guy. The real bad guys (and gals) are the ones you worship.

  23. Joe February 7, 2012 at 1:13 am #

    I only worship one called, “God, My Savior.”

  24. Rob N. Hood February 7, 2012 at 8:19 am #

    Coulda fooled me. Be careful though cuz you can’t fool Him/Her.

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