Ethanol site moves ahead

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to build the nation's first commercial plant that will convert grass cuttings, wood chips and other organic waste into ethanol. Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

Located near the Lancaster landfill, the $30 million plant proposed by BlueFire Ethanol will convert bio-waste into the gasoline additive that helps reduce air pollution, greenhouse gases and dependence on fossil fuels.

"This project will be the first on a commercial scale in the U.S.," said Chip Clements, a consultant to BlueFire and president and owner of Clements Environmental Corp. in Los Angeles. "I think this is really the future of our nation as far as the drive for (sustainable energy).