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June 29, 2001

Proposed ethanol plant gets grant

MOSES LAKE, Grant County (AP) -- Developers of a planned ethanol plant have received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Pacific Rim Ethanol Co. received one of five grants issued this week by the agency to promote renewable energy resources.

Pacific Rim officials had hoped to break ground last July on 45 acres about three miles east of Moses Lake, but couldn't raise enough money to finance the $133 million plant.

A public offering last year netted only $3 million of a hoped-for $15 million, president and chief operating officer Doug MacKenzie said.

Ethanol is most commonly used as an additive to boost gasoline octane levels.

Pacific Rim would be the first in the United States to use barley and wheat for ethanol production. Company officials expect to buy at least half the grain from Washington growers.

With $500,000 from the grant and another $500,000 from an investor, MacKenzie said, the company can go forward with engineering plans and focus on how to finance the plant.

If built, the plant would employ 70 to 90 workers and have a $2.25 million annual payroll.




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