Company Eyes Hemp as Feedstock for Biofuel, Power Generation

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) An alternative energy company looking to build multiple energy beet-to-biofuel plants in Kentucky recently became the first corporation to join the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative Association. Although federal rules currently prohibit the growth of hemp in the U.S., Patriot Bioenergy Corp. sees value in industrial hemp for biomass blending with bituminous coal for power generation as well as a possible cellulosic feedstock for biofuels.
... The company’s interest in hemp is multifaceted, as the plant can be used to create multiple products, ranging from biodiesel from hemp seed oil to clothing or rope from the fibers. The vision is that hemp could help the company generate revenue from multiple sources as part of its energy park concept. Hemp has a high yield per acre, meaning it can produce large amounts of biomass on a smaller footprint. “That’s the most attractive thing about this,” Ford said. READ MORE