Montgomery County ethanol plant ahead of schedule

Construction on the ASAlliances Biofuels Ethanol Production Facility being constructed in Linden is ahead of schedule.

"We weren't supposed to be finished with construction until September," Project Manager Jim Theodore, of Fagen, Inc., said.

Fagen is the contractor in charge of constructing the $100 million project, which will bring an ASAlliances Biofuels Ethanol Production Facility to Linden. The ethanol plant will work hand in hand with Cargill, who will purchase and store the grain for ASAB.

Theodore said that the construction process has gone smoothly. He said that there are only minor projects left to be completed, including finishing some piping and doing some electrical work.

"We are 81 percent complete," said Theodore.

Theodore said that the contract completion date was scheduled for September 2007, but they will complete the project months ahead of schedule.

"We have scheduled a start-up date for May 28," said Theodore.

The plant is one of four built by ASAB, a venture between AS Alliances, Demeter Enterprises, Fagen and United Bio Energy. Another plant is being built in Tipton County. The other two are located in Nebraska and Ohio.

Montgomery County is not the only county receiving an ethanol plant. According to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana has announced or is currently constructing 17 ethanol plants in 15 different counties around the state.