$60 million Evansville facility will be largest in Wisconsin
(Published Tuesday, March 27, 2007 10:42:48 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Gina Duwe Gazette staff
EVANSVILLE-"Evansville loves this project."
Mayor Sandy Decker's words at Monday's groundbreaking for the $60 million biodiesel plant summed up a year of planning and fund-raising for the project.
While biofuel plants in cities as near as Milton have spawned lawsuits and filled city council meetings with angry residents, that hasn't been the case in Evansville.
"It is a perfect fit for our community," Decker said during a ceremony Monday near where the biodiesel plant will be built on the Evansville's east side.
The turnout and standing ovations are indications of support. About 400 business leaders, farmers, investors, government officials-including Gov. Jim Doyle-and area residents listened to project leaders describe how proud they are to bring the biofuel industry to Evansville.
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Doyle speaks at biodiesel groundbreaking
It's been a smooth ride planning for the state's largest biodiesel plant.
Less than a year after naming Evansville as its site, North Prairie Productions has received approval for all permits, has the site annexed into the city, has a TIF district designated and has more than its goal of $25 million raised from more than 700 Wisconsin investors.
In Milton, United Ethanol has not been so lucky in building a soon-to-open ethanol plant. That plant was the center of controversy when the city council in April 2005 cleared the way for construction despite pleas from opponents to postpone the annexation and rezoning.
Hundreds of dignitaries and residents turned out at groundbreaking ceremonies for Evansville's new biodiesel plant on the city's east side. The plant will sit across County M from the Landmark Services Co-op in the background.
Bill Olmsted/Gazette Staff
"You know, occasionally-just occasionally-sometimes these plants run into a little kind of local opposition," Doyle told the crowd. "It is wonderful to see a community that has embraced it and understands how important this is to the future of the state of Wisconsin."
Doyle called Evansville one of the state's great "green" cities and commended the city on its foresight to invest in renewable energy. The plant will aid Doyle's plan to generate 25 percent of the state's electricity and 25 percent of its transportation fuel from renewable fuels by 2025.
North Prairie's plant is scheduled to open in early 2008 and produce up to 45 million gallons of soy biodiesel annually. It will be located on County M south of Highway 14.
Bob Karls, director of Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board, said it's been an honor to work with North Prairie officials, who have been "amazing" and "fantastic."
"They know what grassroots is all about," he said. "Going out, beating the pavement, bringing people in-urban, rural-all coming to the table to make this happen, because that's what it's all about is teamwork."
Doyle announced the city will get a $250,000 boost from the state to help with the project.
Transportation and commerce funds will help to reconstruct a 2,600-foot section of County M and install a new water main near the facility. The city will cover the remaining costs of the construction project, which totals $503,600.
Despite Monday's celebration, North Prairie President Mike Robinson said there's still plenty of work ahead.
"The groundbreaking is not necessarily a celebration of accomplishment to date but more of a commitment," he said.
"There's a lot of work yet to be done. We have a plant to build, people to hire and manage … We are going to build what we think is going to be the best biodiesel plant in the United States. We're going to run it to the top quality and safety that we possibly can. We're going to be proud, and we want to make Evansville proud that this is located here."
Project history April 2005: Project identification.
September 2005: Secured funding for feasibility study.
March 2006: Completed business plan.
June 2006: Secured seed financing, launched engineering.
July 2006: Identified Evansville site.
September 2006: Launched equity drive.
November 2006: Secured air permit.
February 2007: Reached $25 million equity drive goal.
March 2007: Groundbreaking ceremony.
North Prairie Productions also now has a temporary office in Evansville at 155 Union St., Suite D.
