Local Cincinnati Post article might interest some ...

Ohio remains without any operating ethanol plants despite several well-publicized attempts to build them.

That could change within the next year, officials said. Up to five plants should begin producing the corn-based fuel next year, said Jamie Gentry, agribusiness liaison with the Ohio Department of Development.

"We should go from zero gallons produced to 394 million almost over night," Gentry said.

Five plants are under construction in Allen, Coshocton, Darke, Fayette and Putnam counties. They are expected to create about 330 jobs. A sixth plant is under consideration in Harrison County.

Two of the plants, one near Coshocton in eastern Ohio and another near Lima in northwestern Ohio, should be making fuel by November, according to the plant's developers.

Ethanol production is expected to double as new plants are built to turn corn into the fuel that is blended with gasoline. Private investments in ethanol plants have soared in the last year as government leaders have called for more production of renewable fuels. About $450 million in government loans and state-backed bonds helped start the projects in Ohio.
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