August start set for Port of Tampa ethanol plant

August start set for Port of Tampa ethanol plant Construction on a new ethanol plant at the Port of Tampa is set to begin in August, an Associated Press report says.
   The $80 million ethanol production plant, which state officials see as the start of a new industry that would impact elements of the Florida economy from ports and shipping to agriculture, has been in the works for some two years. It is being built by U.S. EnviroFuels LLC and is expected to have an annual capacity of 40 million gallons a year.
   The State of Florida has allocated $100 million to boost ethanol and has encouraged alternative fuel producers. State officials are hopeful ethanol producers would use sugar cane and other Florida agricultural products, offering competition to corn-based Midwest ethanol plants.
   EnviroFuels intends to use corn to begin with, but company officials are investigating the use sugar cane. Sugar cane is the primary source of the booming Brazilian ethanol market.
   The plant at the Port of Tampa is the first of its kind in the state, but the report said EnviroFuels has plans for a second plant in the Jacksonville area.
   The company said Florida-produced ethanol will be ready for use in Florida gas stations by October 2007.