In Michigan, The Michigan Milk Producers Association and Canadian Dairy Distillery celebrated the groundbreaking of a $41 million ethanol plant in Constantine, Michigan. The plant, lauded as America’s lowest carbon-intensity dairy ethanol facility, aims to produce 2.2 million gallons of ethanol annually by converting 14,000 tons of milk permeate, a dairy byproduct.
Key figures at the event included MMPA Board Chairman Doug Chapin, MMPA President & CEO Joe Diglio, and Dairy Distillery CEO Omid McDonald. McDonald emphasized the innovation behind transforming milk permeate into low-carbon ethanol, highlighting the project’s sustainability impact.
The new facility is expected to offset 14,500 tons of carbon annually, equivalent to 5% of the carbon footprint of the milk processed at Constantine. “This project underscores our commitment to sustainable practices and benefits the communities we serve,” said Diglio.
Funded partially by a $2.5 million grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the project also received support from Pathward®, N.A., and CoBank. Ethanol production is slated to begin in 2025, marking a significant advancement in the dairy industry’s sustainability efforts.
Tags: Canadian Dairy Distillery, Michigan, MMPA
Category: Fuels
