President Barack Obama will visit Poet Biorefining, Macon, MO, tomorrow, April 28, as part of his "White House to Main Street Tour" through Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.
The President is to take a plant tour and talk with Poet team members "about what they are experiencing during these tough economic times and share ideas for rebuilding our economy in the long term," according to a White House press release. The President will also tour a local farm and speak with the family.
The Macon plant, in May 2000, was the first ethanol plant in Missouri to begin operations, first producing 15 million gallons per year. It expanded in 2003 to a capacity of 46 million-gallons-per-year. The plant also produces dried distillers' grains and carbon dioxide for market as part of the ethanol production process. Poet is also working to produce cellulosic ethanol. See “Cellulosic Ethanol: Poet Estimates 3.5 Billion Gallons/Year By 2022.”
"We appreciate President Obama's long-time support for ethanol, and we're anxious to show him how efficient production today is providing valuable fuel for our nation," Poet CEO Jeff Broin says. "I am proud that Poet plants provide 1.6 billion gallons of renewable fuel annually for the United States. That fuel is produced by our 1,500 team members, who are working hard to reduce oil imports each day at facilities across rural America."
Attendance at the visit is by invitation only. But Poet will post video, audio and photos of the event on its Web site: http://www.poet.com.