By Erik Potter, Post-Tribune staff writer
Lake County, Ind., got scooped by Pike County, Ky.
The eastern Kentucky community is entering into contract negotiations with Agresti Biofuels, formerly known as Indiana Ethanol Power, to construct a first-of-its-kind, 1,500 ton-per-day garbage-to-ethanol plant.
Work on the plant is expected to start next year.
The Lake County Solid Waste Management District has been talking for two years with two garbage-to-ethanol companies, including Indiana Ethanol Power, about bringing a garbage-to-ethanol plant to Lake County. The other bidder for the 20 year contract is Genahol-Powers 1 LLC.
The solid waste board is expected to review the trash-to-gas proposals at tonight's meeting in the Lake County government complex's auditorium at 7 p.m.
Lake County Commissioner and solid waste district member Gerry Scheub, D-Schererville, said he expects the board to approve preliminary contracts with both garbage-to-ethanol companies.
Scheub said the ability to observe work and operations at the Kentucky plant, which is identical to the one being proposed for Lake County, will be valuable for solid waste district members who have been extra cautious about going ahead with the novel garbage processing plant.
"I just hope they get it in fast so we can see how they do and see if it works," Scheub said about the Kentucky plant.
According to a written statement released by Pike County, average wages of the approximately 120 permanent employees at the plant will be $42,000 a year, translating into $29.4 million per year in the local economy.
Pike County officials also noted the endorsement Indiana Ethanol Power's ethanol conversion process received by Northwest Indiana's Duneland Sierra Club chapter in their praise for the project.
Negotiations in Lake County have slowed over the summer as the parties have hammered out a preliminary contract.
If approved tonight, the contracts would be open for 30 days of public comment, after which the board could modify, drop or approve the contracts.