Panda Ethanol, the Texas energy company which was first to spark area excitement over a possible ethanol distillery in the area, has renewed its option to buy ground east of Gilman.

Iroquois West School Superintendent Larry Eyre, said Tuesday that the firm confirmed its interest in a recent letter to the district, including that it plans construction to begin in 2008.

If that date holds it will be a busy year for energy plant construction in The Daily Journal area. Last week, two other ethanol companies and a biodiesel firm pegged '08 as the kick-off year for construction just south of Kankakee.

At least part of Panda's delay has been deciding how to dispose of treated wastewater. The current plan is for it to be piped 10 miles to the Iroquois River, Eyre noted.