The New Gold Rush

Even though it's been up and running for about two weeks, the largest ethanol plant in California, Pacific Ethanol, celebrated its official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday. The event was held at Pacific Ethanol's new digs at the Port of Stockton. This new state-of-the-art facility is projected to produce 60 million gallons of ethanol per year by processing 21 million bushels of corn annually. The company, with its additional plants in Madera, California, Boardman, Oregon and Burley, Idaho, aims to produce 220 million gallons of ethanol annually, which will dramatically increase the availability of this renewable fuel to all Americans.

Furthermore, the Stockton plant will produce 500,000 tons of a waste by-product from the manufacturing of ethanol, called wet distiller's grain, which in turn will be used to produce a high-protein feed product for dairy farms.

The Pacific Ethanol plant will be a great economic boost by creating new green collar jobs, as well as a local presence that promotes an incentive for people to switch to alternative fuel sources. A strong addition to the Stockton area, the plant should offset some of the recent economic struggle in the region. With its $150 million investment in Stockton, the plant will employ 38 workers in its early stages.

Since Stockton was founded in the late 1840's and grew as a supply center during the California gold rush, it's only appropriate that it be a major part of the new eco-gold rush by producing ethanol from golden corn.