BioOil plant planned for Arkansas

ARKANSAS: Biofuel plant to be built by Canadian company

Dynamotive Energy Systems Corp. of Vancouver's new U.S. subsidiary will be Dynamotive USA Inc. The company plans to build a $40 million biomass-to-biofuel plant in the El Dorado area. Sawdust from Springhill Land & Timber of Taylor will be used as a "feedstock" to produce a product called BioOil, which can be used as a replacement for certain types of heating oils.

"It's an exciting thing. It's a new technology, and it's something that Gov Beebe campaigned on," Don Wales of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce told ArkansasBusiness.com.

And the 60 jobs created will be high-paying jobs, equivalent to chemical plant and oil refinery plant jobs -- there's definitely money in going green.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislature to take up ethics bills today

FLORIDA: State House approves bill that weakens growth regulations

GEORGIA: Harbors, wildlife refuges to get stimulus funds

LOUISIANA: Senate approves changing megafund law

KENTUCKY: State joins others struggling with unemployment payments

MISSISSIPPI: Opinion: Sid Salter: Mississippi needs Section 5, voter ID and early voting

NORTH CAROLINA: State's retirement system loses $4 billion

SOUTH CAROLINA: Earmarks -- Republicans Brown, Clyburn made the most requests

TENNESSEE: Gas tax hike could be added to bills this legislative session

VIRGINIA: State's Democrats welcome Sen. Specter to the party

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to: info@bettersouth.org