Frank Denzler, Rushville Republican
Nearly 100 residents from the rural community of Glenwood recently met in the town's community center. The group came together to hear plans and have questions answered regarding a proposal for a nearby ethanol plant's planned arrival.
Troy Flowers of Whitewater Valley Ethanol explained that the plant, which will be located in Fayette County east of Glenwood and near Fayette County road 650W north of SR 44, recently applied for necessary permits and zoning requirements.
It is projected that the plant will produce 100 million gallons of the alternative fuel with construction slated to begin in the fall. The plant will employ 50 to 60 individuals when fully operational.
A number of questions from the rural community's residents centered on the water necessary for the plants operation.
Connersville Mayor Max Ellison said that currently the neighboring community has a daily excess of water as a result of business closings. He explained that plans are currently in the works to run water lines to the community of Orange as well as provide additional lines to the proposed ethanol site, and Glenwood, if necessary.
Ellison told those in attendance that meeting the water needs to Orange was his primary concern, Glenwood was second and the ethanol plant third.
In recent weeks attempts to locate water wells at the proposed ethanol site have proved futile and additional attempts at deeper depths are planned.
Others in the community voiced concerns on the amount of rail and road traffic that will increase as a result of the plant. At the meeting it was learned that traffic will roughly double in the Glenwood area to supply the corn necessary to meet operational needs.
It was reported that roughly 175 trucks will come and go at the 325 acre site on a daily basis and that the finished product will leave the site twice a week by rail and be stored on-site until transport.
According to Flowers, the corn necessary to produce the ethanol will be largely dependent on local farmers and gained from within a 50 mile radius of Glenwood.
"This (plant) will change Glenwood and the area forever. It will change it for the better. We want to be here and we want to build here," Flowers said.