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FCEDC working on possible new biomass plant
Published 10/28/2009 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
Finney County economic development officials are negotiating with a renewable energy business that is interested in constructing a nearly $150 million biomass plant within county limits.
Finney County Economic Development Corp. President Eric Depperschmidt told board members during a public meeting this morning that his group is aiding the renewable energy company in researching possible site locations, as well as their acreage and transportation needs. Communication between local officials and the company began earlier this month.
Depperschmidt said he could not release the name of the manufacturing renewable energy company due to confidentiality agreements signed between the two parties.
Depperschmidt said after the meeting that the company could utilize up to 10,000 acres of crops for biomass production if the project materializes. He also communicated his hopes at the public meeting this morning that Sunflower Electric Power Corp. officials are working closely with state and Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials to obtain the much-contentious air quality permit required to build and operate a coal plant in the county.
"At the very best-case scenario, the permit will be granted in late February or early March. But it probably won't be until the end of the (state's) legislative session near the end of June," Depperschmidt said.
After former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' resignation to become Health and Human Services Secretary under President Obama's administration, Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson brokered a compromise with Sunflower that would allow for a 895-megawatt plant.
The state made a commitment to Sunflower through the legislation that passed to grant the permit; the passage of legislation also was aimed at promoting renewable energy and conservation.
While the state has shown support for the project, it cannot control the federal Environmental Protection Agency's actions or pursuit of legislation that could affect construction, Parkinson has said.
In other FCEDC business, the board discussed a timeline for replacing two members who will be leaving at the end of the year.
Terms for board members Doug Keller, representing the city of Garden City, and Brett Crotts, representing Finney County, will expire at the end of this year. The four members of the board present this morning, also including Catherine McKinley representing the city, and Tom Walker representing the county, agreed to advertise for applicants as soon as possible.
Board chairman Ron Schwartz, representing Garden City Community College, Dwane Roth, representing Holcomb, and Bob Tempel, representing the county, were not present this morning.
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Biomass Plant
Is there any info to the quantity and BTU the plant will produce ?
Posted by: Steve Lang on 11/2/2009