Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski cut the ribbon on the Pacific Northwest’s first commercial ethanol plant Friday in Boardman.

The plant, built by California-based Pacific Ethanol, will produce 40 million gallons of ethanol yearly to help meet the current City of Portland’s Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and will help supply fuel for the implementation of Oregon’s upcoming RFS slated to begin January 1, 2008.

In addition to supplying the Northwest fuel markets, the plant produces 350,000 tons of wet distillers grains, an important feed ingredient to Northwest dairy and beef producers.