Posted July 6, 2007, at 1:18 p.m. CDT

Colorado-based Range Fuels has received a construction permit for a facility in Soperton, Ga., that is expected to be the first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in the United States. The plant would convert wood waste from Georgia's forestry industry into 100 MMgy of cellulosic ethanol. Groundbreaking on the first phase of the project—expected to produce 20 MMgy—will take place this summer and begin production sometime in 2008. The timeline on expanding production to 100 MMgy has yet to be announced.

Based in Broomfield, Colo., Range Fuels is funded by Khosla Ventures LLC and will market the cellulosic ethanol in Georgia through blenders based in Savannah and Macon.