Louisiana courts energy startup that converts sugar cane waste to biofuel
$70 million green energy plant proposed in Iberia Parish
A source of biofuel called bagasse is a pulpy fibrous material leftover from crushing sugarcane or sorghum stalks to extract their juices for sugar harvesting as pictured here in Valle de los Ingenios, Cuba. (Photo via Ji-Elle/Creative Commons)
A company that turns sugar cane waste into a green biofuel is considering building a $70 million renewable energy facility in Iberia Parish, and the state is offering tax breaks and other perks to seal the deal.
Gov. John Bel Edwards on Monday announced that his administration has reached a preliminary agreement with Delta Biofuels, offering the company a generous incentive package that includes a $1 million performance-based grant, industrial tax breaks and workforce development services through Louisiana Economic Development. In exchange Delta Biofuels would build a 16-acre facility in Jeanerette and according to the governor’s news release, create 126 new direct jobs with an average salary of $62,500. An estimated 149 indirect jobs are also projected.