(Published Friday, February 23, 2007 10:04:25 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Mike Heine Gazette Staff
SHARON
Support is growing like corn for a proposed ethanol plant outside Sharon that will produce twice as much ethanol as the plant that's nearing completion in Milton.
A standing-room-only crowd applauded after a meeting Thursday night at the Sharon Village Hall.
Officials from Global Renewable, the company that wants to build the facility on 200 acres off Highway 67 west of the village, presented an "Ethanol 101" lesson and answered questions about the plant and production process.
"What I'm hearing is more pro than con," said Michael Brooke, a local contractor. "The more education we get on the facility, the process, the products-just the more we are being educated about it-I think it will change a lot of people's thoughts about it."
Others aren't so sure.
Several questioned Global Renewable officials about the efficiencies of producing ethanol. Some asked about impacts on village life-the water supply, roads, noise and traffic.
If the plant is built, Ken and Alice Wells' backyard will abut the plant property line. It's a project they'd be in favor of, if it wasn't in their backyard.
The couple was concerned about increased truck traffic and the safety of their three children, all under age 7.
"We here in Sharon have a certain way of life where nothing has changed in a long time, Alice said. "This is going to make a lot of changes."
Others neighbors wondered about noise and light pollution.
While the lights would be on, the plant won't look like a house decorated at Christmas, company officials said. They promised that noise will lower than at a nearby grain co-op.
Global Renewable picked Sharon because of its proximity to the Interstate, railway lines and corn, said Jeff Knight, company director.
"This is one of the best regions for corn in the entire country," Knight said.
An ethanol plant is being proposed in Jefferson and another already is nearing completion in Milton.
Knight said there is enough corn in the area to supply all of the plants. The Sharon plant, billed as Sharon Ethanol, will use 40.5 million bushels of corn per year to produce about 110 million gallons of ethanol and 365,000 tons of dried distillers grains.
That's about twice as much as the United Ethanol plant in Milton, which will use about 15 million bushels of corn to produce 42 million to 52 million gallons of ethanol annually.
Global Renewable officials said the Sharon plant will improve the community's economy by bringing in at least 55 full-time jobs. Local corn growers can expect to sell their product for 16 cents more per bushel because of the plant, Knight said.
Engineering studies are not done, but officials assured residents the plant would not impact the village's water supply or surrounding shallow wells. It will use a deep aquifer well at least 150 feet below the village's deepest well.
"We'd rather not build here if it's going to affect anyone's drinking water," Knight said.
While traffic will increase, Knight said truck and rail traffic to and from the site would only be in the daytime hours.
WHAT'S NEXT
Global Renewable still is going through approvals processes with the village, the state Department of Natural Resources and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Knight said the company needs air permits from the DNR and EPA and zoning and annexation approvals from the village of Sharon.
Decisions on those requests should be made within the next few months.
Global Renewable wants to break ground in July or August and to open the $179 million plant in late 2008 or early 2009.
