California Ethanol + Power

IMPERIAL — Groundwork is underway on a biomass and biofuel facility about midway between Imperial and Brawley just outside the Mesquite Lake Enterprise Zone off Keystone Road.

California Ethanol + Power’s Sugar Valley Energy project proposed for 136 E. Keystone Road, Brawley, is expected to produce 68 million gallons of low-carbon, fuel-grade ethanol, 40 megawatts of electricity, and 737,000 cubic feet (737 MCF) of biomethane.

The 160-acre project is set to begin construction sometime in mid-2021.

It is also estimated to sustain 1,200 direct and indirect agriculture jobs annually and about 9,000 construction jobs, both directly and indirectly.

“We are now virtually at the goal line and have carefully budgeted every dollar to where it’s best accelerating the remainder of the pre-development phase,” said David Rubenstein, president and chief executive officer of California Ethanol + Power.