By MIKE PERKINS, Huntington Herald-Press Editor
Biodiesel and ethanol fuels would be produced at a facility at Huntington's northeast edge should a Fort Wayne company complete a project a local official says "may well be the largest single economic development investment undertaken in the county."
NuFuels announced Wednesday that is is "considering" building a biofuels manufacturing plant in the city. The "campus" it envisions could cost between $150 million and $200 million and would occupy approximately 100 acres NuFuels has optioned at Park 24 industrial park, U.S.-24 East and Thurman Poe Way.
On Thursday, Mayor Terry Abbett told The Herald-Press he believed the plant could provide approximately 100 of what NuFuels CEO Joe Bellavance described in a news release as "good jobs."
"In the meetings I've had with (NuFuels) the talk has been about 100 or so jobs," Abbett said.
"We're excited about the possibility of this project being located in Huntington," Bellavance said in the statement. "In addition to millions of dollars of investment in facilities, the project will bring dozens of good jobs and a 'crown jewel' for our chosen community. Area farmers stand to benefit as well, because we will purchase millions of bushels of their corn."
Ethanol is derived from a fermentation process using corn. Biodiesel fuel is produced differently, through a chemical reaction that yields both the fuel and another marketable byproduct, glycerin. Raw materials for biodiesel production include soybean oil and other agricultural materials.
Bellavance said Thursday that the campus would also include a research and development facility.
NuFuels' release addressed environmental concerns raised by several people, most recently by County Council member Dwight Brautigam during the council's Monday night meeting, since word of the project surfaced publicly nearly two weeks ago.
Wherever the plant will be located, Bellavance said, NuFuels "will be exemplary environmental stewards. Biodiesel and ethanol are clean-burning alternative fuels that are produced from domestic, renewable resources. Neither contains petroleum, and both fuels are biodegradable."
"If the project is completed as described, it may well be the largest single economic development investment undertaken in the county," Carol Pugh, executive director of Huntington County United Economic Development (HCUED), said Thursday. "It could result in a significant positive economic impact for the citizens of Huntington County. HCUED has no reason to believe that NuFuels will not be a responsible corporate citizen and comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the health, safety, and welfare of Huntington County citizens."
NuFuels' announcement stated that the company "will employ the best available environmental control technologies to confirm to strict regulations from the EPA and Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The company anticipates installing state-of-the-art thermal oxidizers, baghouses, and wet scrubbers, and it will be a model recycler."
In a statement released late Thursday morning, Abbett welcomed the NuFuels announcement, and addressed the environmental worries.
"Huntington is a growing community and we need to be ready for new industries," he said. "Do we need new jobs? Absolutely. Do we need the tax revenues? Absolutely. The ground that the company is looking at has been zoned for industry. Huntington was fortunate to be chosen over several other communities. We want to be known as a pro-industry community and not an anti-industry community.
"My first concern is the safety of our residents," his statement continued. "I would not support anything that would be detrimental to the community's welfare. The information that I have received regarding this operation has been very positive. Š I want to affirm to the neighbors and the residents in the area that we will do everything in our power to assure that this plant will be safe to the citizens and the environment."
NuFuels said most ethanol plants are classified by the EPA as "minor emissions sources," discharging less than 100 tons of pollutants per year.
"Most gasoline-powered cars emit about 6 tons of pollutants in a year," its statement continued, "which means that the emissions from an ethanol plant are probably less than the emissions from vehicles in an average neighborhood."
The land under option is most of the unoccupied acreage from Thurman Poe Way east to Old Fort Wayne Road and from south U.S.-24 to the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks. Six acres under option extend west of Thurman Poe Way, allowing access to nearby fuel storage facilities.
"Those options cover real estate zoned 'manufacturing and 'heavy manufacturing'," said the HCUED statement. "The project that NuFuels has discussed (a biofuels campus) seems to be allowed within the existing zoning designation and is consistent with other facilities adjacent to the potential site."
Abbett said that HCUED officials plan to visit Palestine, Ill., on the Indiana line south of Terre Haute, to tour a new ethanol plant.
"The plant is located next to a high school and a new elementary school is also scheduled to be built next to the high school," he said. "There are also several housing additions in the area."