Washington state is on track for it’s first ethanol plant.

US Ethanol of Vancouver has announced that subsidiary Northwest Renewable broke ground Wednesday on a 55 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in Longview, Wash. When completed, the plant will be the first large-scale facility in the state of Washington to produce ethanol, an alternative fuel typically made from corn.

According to US Ethanol, the plant is expected to begin producation in June 2008.

“We are excited to break ground on this facility, as this is a major step forward in bringing an alternative fuel source to the Pacific Northwest and lessening our country’s dependence on foreign oil,” said Elie Makad, chairman of US Ethanol and Makad Corp., the Longview site’s developer. “Our integrated approach to ethanol production and distribution will ultimately bring locally produced US Ethanol™ branded products, including E85 fuel, direct to consumers along the Interstate 5 corridor.”