2 La. biofuel plants planned

PROPOSED: A subsidiary of Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group Inc. is proposing two biofuel plants in West Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes at a initial first-phase price tag of $175 million each, with initial production of 100 million gallons annually each of biodesel fuel and ethanol.

POTENTIAL: Plants could expand to 1 billion gallons of biodiesel and 500 million gallons of ethanol, lifting the total investment to $1.5 billion.

BENEFITS: Initial phase for each plant creates 300 construction and 60 permanent jobs, with ripples through the economy. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge gains income from land leases and cargo handling. Farmers get a new market for sugar cane, corn, sorghum and other grains used for making the biofuels. Consumers have alternatives to high-priced gasoline and diesel fuel.