Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue welcomed a new phase in ethanol production to his state with Range Fuels’ groundbreaking of the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant this week.

“Georgia is proud to partner with Range Fuels to lead the nation in delivering cellulosic ethanol as a solution to America’s dependence on foreign and fossil fuels,” said Governor Perdue. “Our abundance of natural resources, as well as our growing bioenergy research and development community and access to global markets firmly establish Georgia at the forefront of the national movement to a higher level of renewable energy.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman also attended the ceremony Tuesday at the site of the plant in Soperton, Georgia.

“Together, the Department of Energy and Range Fuels are blending science and technology in order to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. The biorefinery soon to stand on this site is the result of President Bush’s initiatives to expand the use of homegrown alternative fuels, protect the environment, and enhance the nation’s energy security,” Bodman said.

The first two phases of the Range Fuels project, in which the Department of Energy is playing a cost-sharing role, is projected to process 1000 tons per day of wastewood to produce about 30 million gallons of biofuels and chemicals.