The groundbreaking ceremony for a new biomass plant in southeast Georgia is shining a light on what state officials hope will be more to come.

Governor Sonny Perdue joined other officials Wednesday to get construction rolling on a wood pellet manufacturing plant in Waycross. The facility is a joint venture of a German and Swedish company. Pellets made in Georgia will be exported to Europe.

State officials say the construction of this plant gives Georgia great exposure in the green power industry.

Jill Stuckey is executive director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Energy:

“This is the largest pellet facility being built in the world, and we’re getting attention all over the world. We’re getting calls from many countries looking to utilize our resources."

Stuckey says with at least 75 jobs and $150 million in investment, the Waycross plant gives a boost to Georgia’s timber industry.

Tags: Southeast Georgia, renewable energy, Waycross, green energy, wood pellets, biomass