Tennessee is going green...at least, one biofuel plant in eastern Tennessee is working vigorously towards that goal. It’s an experimental plant, and small scale, but it has great potential.

What makes this plant different is that rather than using edible plants like corn to make ethanol, this plant is using corn cobs and switchgrass to make fuel. The weed-like switchgrass grows easily in poor soils and could make previously undesirable soil valuable. Edible crops like corn can be used for food instead of fuel, and previously unusable, unedible grass can take its place as a source for ethanol.

The plant is located in Vonore, TN and is only capable of producing 250,000 gallons a year. It’s more of a trial laboratory than a large scale production site at this time, but that could all change quickly if the conditions are right. With any luck, (and maybe some political pressure) Tennessee may well be on its way toward being a leader in the green revolution.