Washington – Representative Mike Ross (AR-04) along with U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor announced today that Delta Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Producers, LLC, of Lake Village will receive a $97,500 Rural Development grant from the United State Department of Agriculture.  The funds will be used to assess the feasibility of cellulosic ethanol production from sweet sorghum in Arkansas.

“Across the country and here in Arkansas, Americans are now experiencing the effects of our nation’s current energy crisis,” said Ross. “Arkansas is well poised to become a national leader in the biofuels industry, and I am hopeful these funds will help to spur these industries in our state. A key component of any comprehensive energy plan should be a major investment in alternative and renewable fuels like cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel that can be made right here in Arkansas.”

“Our nation must focus on a long-term investment strategy in renewable and alternative energy sources,” said Lincoln, who is part of a bipartisan group of Senators working on a comprehensive proposal to reduce gas prices, lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and strengthen America’s economy. “The funds awarded to Delta Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Producers will help our state become a leader in testing alternative sources of energy.”

“Commercializing cellulosic ethanol is a win-win opportunity for Arkansas farmers, rural communities and conservationists,” said Pryor.  “This sweet sorghum grant is a positive step for both our economy and overall energy security.  I’ve always been a strong believer in finding alternative fuels.  Earlier this summer my amendment to increase cellulosic energy research was signed into law as part of the Farm bill.”

Sweet sorghum is a resilient grass cultivated in temperate climates and warm regions that tolerates drought extremely well and contains a large, lignocelluloses-rich stalk that is completely irrelevant to its use as a food crop. The latest studies demonstrate that sweet sorghum could produce eight times as much energy as is expended in growing it and massive amounts of cellulosic ethanol could be produced from already existing sorghum plantations.

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