biomass materials such as cellulose and waste products. Plymouth Oil is a kosher- certified plant and produces kosher- grade corn oil that is sent to a refiner in Memphis. " So our corn oil could end up on any domestic table or even throughout the world," Hoffman says. All kosher products are shipped out on kosher- approved trucks and railcars. The livestock feed portion of Plymouth Oil's business is sold to local livestock producers. The sister companies are a boon to the local and regional economies. They are both consumers and suppliers to local operations. For instance, they purchase corn from local farmers and local elevators. The companies require about 60,000 bushels of corn daily, which are used to produce ethanol, corn oil, and between 400 tons and 900 tons of livestock feed. " We're certain that we contribute about $ 6 million of extra income for farmers in the local and regional community," Hoffman says. A third company, CHEC ( Community Health and Energy Center), also began operating about a year ago with the intent of assisting Plymouth Energy to become an advanced bio- refinery. CHEC is working on methods to sequester carbon dioxide, since the process of producing ethanol does release some carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. " But the next year when the corn is planted again, the corn absorbs all of that carbon dioxide right back out of the atmosphere," explains Hoffman. " We're certain we will discover a way to sequester the carbon dioxide." CHEC is also developing methods to produce livestock feed from algae. The consumer market may soon have a new product, thanks to the continued research and development going on at the companies. " Eventually we may do an upgrade at Plymouth Oil to produce a corn germ food supplement similar to wheat germ," Hoffman announces. " Corn germ is very delicious and nutritious; I even had some for breakfast this morning from some of the test products we just produced here. Corn germ contains the embryonic protein of the corn kernel, and its fiber content is the kind that reduces cholesterol. It is also gluten- free." He notes that this product is still a few years away from being introduced to the market. " We believe this company has a lot of potential for future developments like this." Hoffman emphasizes that the main message of the Plymouth story is that the companies represent a food and fuel business. " We're proud to be playing a role in the food, agricultural and bio- fuel arenas," he says. " We're here to enhance the regional economy while supporting our regional farming community." The Plymouth Energy complex, consisting of 12 buildings, also produces 175,000 tons of wet and dried distillers grains for sale to livestock and feedlot operations in local and regional markets. The company operates its own fleet of 150 railcars that operate on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway lines. The company is awaiting delivery of an additional 60 railcars for its ethanol business. Plymouth Oil was a $ 31 million project involving the construction of seven buildings totaling 16,000 square feet of space. When fully operational, the company will employ about 25 people. Hoffman explains that most every company making ethanol today grinds the whole corn kernel, running that kernel through ground flour through the ethanol- producing plant. " About 15 percent of the kernel does not contribute to making ethanol, but it is still ground into the mix," he says. " It really just takes up space in the process. What we do is remove that part at Plymouth Energy and send it up to the secondary process at Plymouth Oil to make the food- grade products." When corn is processed into ethanol, only the starch within the kernel is used, leaving behind all the protein, amino acids, fat, minerals and vitamins that are used as a quality livestock feed. So the production of ethanol does not limit the food supply. Future technological developments will enable ethanol to be produced from Plymouth Oil LLC JANUARY 10 www. bus- ex. com 209 AGRA Industries, Inc.' s ( AGRA) core business model has evolved with a complete emphasis on niche industrial agriculture markets with experience and expertise in steel fabrication and construction going back to the early 1960s. This winning combination of equipment manufacturing and construction know- how, coupled with stringent construction safety procedures, has allowed AGRA to become a premier steel fabricator, equipment supplier, and general contractor to the feed, seed, grain, and biofuels industries. AGRA's ever broadening imagination to provide design- build solutions for green industry processes has earned it the durability by design T reputation, making AGRA your logical choice for a successful construction project. AGRA Industries, Inc.