<b>By VICKI JOHNSON<br>
Ohio Correspondent</b> </p><p>

LEIPSIC, Ohio - POET Biorefining plans to open its first ethanol plant in Ohio Jan. 10 with tours and an appearance by Gov. Ted Strickland.</p><p>
The $105 million Leipsic plant is the 22nd ethanol plant to be opened by the company based in Sioux Falls, S.D.</p><p>
The grand opening is open to the public at the facility, 3875 SR 65, Leipsic.</p><p>
In addition to Strickland, Mike Wagner, executive director of the Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association, plans to speak. Guided tours are planned to open the day’s events at 9:30 a.m., followed at 10:45 a.m. by a flyover from the Vanguard Squadron, the world’s only 100 percent ethanol-powered aerobatic fleet.</p><p>
After the speakers at 11 a.m., lunch is to be served at Lock 16 Restaurant from noon to 1:30 p.m. and tours resume at 12:30 p.m. and run through 2:30 p.m.</p><p>
Attendees also can see a life-sized replica of an ethanol car from the Indy Racing League co-sponsored by POET.</p><p>
Public parking is available at the Fogle Center, PG&T Trucking and the Marathon Station. Buses are to run to and from the public parking places and the facility throughout the day. People are asked to carpool because parking is limited.</p><p>
POET’s Leipsic plant is designed to produce 65 million gallons of ethanol per year from more than 22 million bushels of corn from the area and provide about 40 jobs with an annual payroll of $2 million. After the plant is operational, POET’s annual production capacity is expected to be 1.17 billion gallons, the largest capacity of any ethanol producer in the world.</p><p>
POET has two additional plants under construction in Marion and Fostoria, Ohio.