$3 million state grant to support Pacific Ethanol sorghum program

By Mark Glover

Monday, Jul. 28, 2014

Pacific Ethanol Inc., the Sacramento-based marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels, has been awarded a $3 million matching grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a sorghum feedstock program.

PEI said the program will be a collaboration that also includes Chromatin Inc.; the Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University, Fresno; and the University of California’s Kearney Research and Extension Center. Chicago-based Chromatin develops sorghum for agriculture and other markets.

Among sorghum’s many applications is its use as a primary ingredient in the production of biofuels.

Officials said the PEI collaboration also includes the California In-State Sorghum Program to support production of low-carbon ethanol.

Neil Koehler, PEI’s president and CEO, said in a statement that the grant will help “the long-term development of sorghum feedstock for advanced biofuel production at both our Madera and Stockton facilities.”

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/28/6587831/3-million-state-grant-to-support.html#storylink=cpy