Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has announced that Range Fuels, Inc., a Colorado-based cellulosic ethanol company, will build Georgia’s first wood-based cellulosic ethanol plant in Treutlen County.

“Georgia will be a national leader in cellulosic ethanol, and Range Fuel’s investments here will be a major step forward helping us address our state’s long-term energy issues,” said Governor Perdue at the Georgia Agribusiness Council’s annual State Legislative Breakfast on Wednesday.

Range Fuels CEO Mitch Mandich said, “Thanks to Georgia’s environmentally sensitive stewardship of its forests for the past 50 years, Range Fuels can take what is traditionally considered a waste product, and turn it into a source of transportation fuel.”

Southeast Agnet’s Lee McCoy was at that breakfast in Atlanta and he interviewed Mandich right after the announcement was made.

Listen to that interview here. Mandich Interview (2:00 min MP3)