ATLANTA -- The country's first commercial factory to turn timber byproducts into fuel for cars will be built in Southeast Georgia, according to an announcement made this morning by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

He told a breakfast meeting of the Georgia Agribusiness Council that Range Fuels Inc. will begin construction immediately on a $200 million plant in the tiny town of Soperton.

Range CEO Mitch Mandich said the location was chosen because of its plentiful trees and closeness to fuel blending operations in Macon and Savannah that could use the ethanol as a gasoline additive.

Soperton, between Vidalia and Dublin, will gain 69 jobs paying in the area of $40,000-$80,000 a year.

"When you prove that concept, others are going to come to the state," Perdue said.

Indeed, Jill Stuckey, director of alternative fuels investment for the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, said more than 50 companies are currently looking at building biofuel plants in the state.

Beyond the jobs created is the impact the plant could have on the state's energy consumption and dependance on imported petroleum. Perdue said the impact could be profound.

"This will change the geopolitical balance," he said.