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A story last week in the
Stephenville Empire-Tribune announcing that Dublin was “in the
running” for a $100 million ethanol plant sparked a great deal of
interest here in DeLeon. Two Comanche County sites were also listed
as possibilities.
Many people, including some
DeLeon civic leaders, understand that such a plant, even in Dublin,
could provide an economic boost to this area.
“This is a $100 million
dollar plant, that they estimate would have a $100 million annual
revenue,” said Sandy Reed, Executive Director for Dublin’s Economic
Development Corporation. “What a benefit this would be to our area;
because of the number of employees, between 34 and 40, and because of
the spin-offs. It’ll bring new housing to this area, as well as water
sales for the Upper Leon, and it will bring in taxes, both sales tax
and ad valorem.”
Reed, who has worked on the
project from the beginning, shared a little of the history of the
project with the Free Press this week.
“I was originally contacted
by the Fort Worth Western Railroad, asking if I would submit a
proposal for an ethanol plant in the Dublin area,” Reed said. “They
provided me with five different criteria that they needed in their
location. They needed rail, a piece of property that was
approximately 110 acres, natural gas, an ample water supply, and
dairies.”
The company said it was
planning on making ethanol, using corn that would be railed in. It’s
for use in vehicles. (The proper name for what they do, according to
Reed, is “wet distiller’s grain” -- that’s what is left over after
they do the process of extracting the ethanol.)
“With that criteria, I went
about talking to the Upper Leon Water District,” Reed said, “as well
as the Atmos Gas Company and some property owners in this area. I
found a piece of property
and talked with the land-owner, and then
gathered information about the number of cows in our area. I then put
together a formal proposal and sent it the railroad.”
Although “half a dozen” sites
were still being considered at that point, Reed said they were told to
expect a visit from the ethanol company officials “in the near
future.”
“About a week later, I got a
call from the railroad again,” Reed said, “saying that one of the
representatives from the company (they’ve asked not to be identified
at this point) would be in town, and asking if we could meet with him.
So James Fritts and I, James is the president of our EDC Board, met
with representatives of the company about two weeks ago. We talked in
more detail about what they wanted to do, and how our site could fit
into that. And I got a better understanding of other information they
needed, so I’ve been going about gathering that information for them.”
After all the information is
gathered, it’ll be a “wait and see” process for both Comanche and
Dublin.
“He (the company
representative) told us that he’s really narrowed his search to three
sites now,” Reed said. “Two are in Comanche, and the one just outside
of Dublin here. We’re extremely hopeful. This is a very exciting
thing.” |
