DuPont's Cellulosic Ethanol Project in Iowa Slowed by Labor Shortage

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Mechanical completion of DuPont Industrial Biosciences' cellulosic ethanol project in the city of Nevada, Iowa, has been delayed until March due to labor shortages. Completion had been set for January 1. DuPont Industrial Biosciences (Itasca, Illinois) is a subsidiary of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (NYSE:DD) (Wilmington, Delaware).

Much pipe work still needs to be completed. Pipefitter and millwright shortages have caused delays.

When commissioned in the second quarter, the plant will be able to produce 30 million gallons per year of second-generation fuel ethanol. The project has a total investment value of $275 million.

A recent survey published by the Associated General Contractors of America (Arlington, Virginia) said 84% of the contractors in the Midwest are experiencing shortages of carpenters, equipment operators and laborers.

Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said, "It is good news that construction employment is now rising in two-thirds of the nation's metro areas, but now that the unemployment rate for construction workers has fallen to a seven-year low, it has become a major challenge to find qualified workers in many fields."

Construction employment in Iowa totaled 76,800 in 2014, a 6% increase from 2013.

The global second-generation biofuels market is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 49.4% from 2014 through 2020. The market is expected to be valued at $23.9 billion in 2020.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities.