Update: Grafton ethanol plant could open with new fuel source

An ethanol plant.

Published Mar. 9, 2012: A Grafton, N.D., ethanol plant that closed its doors in 2007 could open this fall using sugar beets to make ethanol, rather than the traditional fuel choice of corn. The plant was purchased by Energae LP out of Clear Lake, IA., an energy investment group. The company will look for investors over the next few weeks and use that money to refurbish the plant. Energae is hosting meetings for sugar beet growers and others interested in the business next Wednesday, March 14, in Grafton. Read the story in the Grand Forks Herald.

Update: AgWeek reported yesterday (April 23) that Darrell Duane Smith, who was on the front lines promoting company investments in North Dakota, has resigned from Multi-Financial Securities Corp. after a complaint was filed by a client. The article investigated the representations made by Smith in investor meetings and also raised a few questions about the proposed plant. Read the AgWeek article on the proposed plant by Energae LP here.