DNR approves permit for Cape County ethanol plant

Renewable Power of Cape Girardeau has received the go-ahead to construct a projected 93-million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant on Nash Road from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR made public its approval of Renewable Power's air pollution control permit application Monday -- the permit was approved July 13. The plant will be at the southwest corner of Nash Road and County Road 217, just west of BioKyowa's Nash Road facility. The Renewable Power effort is headed by Phil Danforth in cooperation with Robinson Construction Company of Perryville, Mo., said Cape Girardeau Area Magnet director Mitch Robinson. Danforth has been in talks with Magnet and other local officials since 2003.

Calls to Danforth seeking more details about when construction might begin were not returned as of 5:15 p.m. Tuesday

The permit is the second approved in the Southeast Missouri area. The DNR approved a permit for Bootheel Agri-Energy, a proposed 120 million gallon per year plant planned for construction in the Sikeston industrial park, in March.

Permits for two other plants -- a joint venture between Ethanex Energy and SEMO Milling and a Scott County plant planned by First Missouri Energy -- are still pending.

Click here to view the permit.