A company with ambitious plans to have ethanol plants in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska is now planning to file for bankruptcy after being unable to raise $1.5 million in necessary interim financing.

Ethanex Energy at various times announced plans to buy Midwest Renewable Energy in Nebraska and build plants in Waltonville, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri and northeast Kansas. (see previous Domestic Fuel posts)

According to the Kansas City Star, the Kansas-based company has ceased operations and dismissed all but three of its employees.

The company website is no longer up.