Abby Lietz, Herald Journal Reporter
REYNOLDS - BioTown is once again in the biorenewable energy spotlight with Wednesday's official announcement that VeraSun Energy Corp. will build its sixth ethanol biorefinery in Reynolds.
The nation's second-largest producer of ethanol, Brookings, S.D.-based VeraSun has been working with Reynolds and White County officials for more than a year on the deal, which will bring a 110 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant to Reynolds by the end of 2008, along with approximately 60 full-time jobs.
The biorefinery will be constructed on 273 acres northeast of Reynolds and site preparation will begin sometime next month. Construction is expected to take 16 months.
"I think they're on a pretty fast schedule. They want to get this up and going; I think they're ready to roll," said Reynolds Town Council President Charlie VanVoorst after Wednesday's announcement. "We've known this was a possibility for awhile but it's a farm community and we're tickled to death."
Don Endres, CEO of VeraSun Energy, said the partnership between his company and the Reynolds and White County community is one that will yield benefits for all involved.
"The long-term sustainability of renewable energy is important as our country moves to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, provide a cleaner environment and generate economic growth in rural agricultural communities," he said. "Governor Daniels, the State of Indiana and the community of Reynolds are to be commended for their efforts in establishing BioTown's vision and turning it into reality."
Said Daniels in a statement, "VeraSun is making a commitment to Reynolds and the BioTown project that continues our state's focus on renewable energy sources."
VeraSun has three biorefineries already in operation in Aurora, S.D., Fort Dodge and Charles City, Iowa, and two others under construction in Minnesota and Iowa. With the completion of the Reynolds plant, which will be similar to VeraSun's other plants, annual ethanol production for the company will jump to 670 million gallons per year.
VanVoorst said the Reynolds biorefinery will be an asset to not only the Reynolds economy but White County's as well. The plant will process approximately 39 million bushels of corn and on top of ethanol produce 350,000 tons of distillers grains, a high-protein animal feed source.
"When farmers make money, we all make money," said VanVoorst. "We'll have 50-plus jobs and some of them will be local people hired. It's a boost White County needed. It's a great thing to happen and we welcome them with open arms. I think our whole community is excited."
The community first met VeraSun in January when presentations were made to the public during land rezoning procedures. At that time infrastructure changes were proposed, including the closure of CR 25E from CR 100N, south to CR 25N, and a section of CR 50N from CR 25E extending a quarter mile to the east. Also proposed was the creation of a new county road, CR 50E, from U.S. 24 north to CR 100N.
VeraSun predicts as many as 75 rail cars of ethanol and 60 cars of distillers grains could be going out of the plant each week. Between 600 and 800 semi trucks bearing corn could come into town each week as well.
VanVoorst said the solutions to those traffic concerns have been addressed and White County Commissioner John Heimlich said Wednesday he expects preliminary engineering work to soon be completed for the new county road.
"Then we'll have something more concrete," said Heimlich, who added the road won't be built until next year.
While further details of the project are forthcoming, said VeraSun officials, VanVoorst noted corn for the plant will come from other counties in the state and possibly from beyond, hinting that corn production in White County should be on the rise.
The plant and BioTown as a whole are seen as contributors to President Bush's goal to reduce the nation's gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years through the production of 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels.
"We'll grow more corn and less soybeans. I think we're gonna do great from this," said VanVoorst. "Maybe ethanol is not the long-term answer but it's a start."