Biodiesel refinery proposed

Site: Indiana 110 at County Road 200 East

BY CHRISTINA M. SEILER

News Editor, The Sentinel

A Delaware corporation with offices in Indianapolis is proposing a 10 million gallon per year biodiesel refinery near County Line Landfill.

The Green Fuels LLC proposed site is on 32 acres owned by Jimmy and Suzanne Swan at the southwest corner of Indiana 110 and County Road 200 East.

Their request for a rezoning, from agricultural to industrial, will be on the Feb. 25 Fulton County Area Plan Commission agenda. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.; their hearing is at 8 p.m. The land is just east of an area rezoned for Indiana Renewable Fuels’ proposed ethanol plant.

Green Fuels LLC, 320 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, formed in 2007 to develop and operate alternative energy facilities. “The founders of Green Fuels have more than 10 years experience in developing and operating alternative energy facilities,” said Shane Blair, Fulton Economic Development Corp. executive director.

The Green Fuels refinery would employ eight people at first. “A second phase would be added within three months, adding capacity for an additional 10 million gallons and 10 new positions,” Blair said. “In total it is anticipated the facility will produce 20 million gallons of biodiesel and create 15 to 18 high-paying jobs.”

Blair said the company would pay “above the county average wage.”

He said the company plans a waterless processing plant. Feed stock, or the basic input at the plant, would be palm and soy oil and animal fats. The facility will be indoors and operate 24 hours a day, about 350 days per year.

The facility footprint, which contains the processing plant, product storage tanks, rail spur, setbacks, office building, parking, and roads, will occupy approximately 25 acres. The processing plant will sit on approximately three acres, Blair said.

Traffic impact will be primarily in the form of trucks, he said, with primary access off Indiana 110 and secondary access on County Road 200 East.

Truck traffic is estimated to be 25 semi-trucks per day, six days per week, and rail traffic is anticipated to be five cars a week.

Blair said Green Fuels has secured an option on the Swans’ property and expects to close on its financing before July.

“Green Fuels will be a great addition to the economic vitality of Fulton County for years to come,” he said. “We are excited to have the opportunity to bring a quality company, paying good wages to Fulton County.”