Print edition: 
Poet opened its cellulosic ethanol pilot plant in Emmetsburg, Iowa, a year ago, the cost to produce one gallon has been cut 43 percent, the company said today.
The cost is now $2.35 per gallon, down from $4.13. Poet said its goal is to push it below $2 per gallon before starting up a commercial-scale plant.
The reduction came from cutting energy use, enzyme costs, raw material requirements and capital expenses, Poet said.
The pilot plant has produced 20,000 gallons of cellulosic ethanol since beginning operations Nov. 18, 2008. Cellulosic ethanol is produced from corn cobs and fiber from corn kernels.
The federal government has called for the industry to produce 1 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol by 2010 and 16 billion gallons by 2022.
Poet, which is based in Sioux Falls, S.D., has its marketing division in Wichita.
