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Tuesday, by votes of 3-0 and 4-0, the Guthrie County Zoning Commission and the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors approved a zoning redesignation from (A-1) Agricultural to (M-2) Heavy Industrial for a proposed SynGest Bio Anhydrous Ammonia Plant to be constructed east of Menlo near the existing Hawkeye Renewables ethanol facility. The zoning change opened the door for SynGest to purchase 70.85 acres for construction of the proposed $72.5 million facility.
There was no public opposition voiced at either meeting.
Although there are still many state and federal guidelines to be met, SynGest CFO Don Frazer of Oelwein expressed hope construction on the project could begin in the spring of 2010 with anhydrous production beginning in the spring of 2012. Frazer stated the plant would use 130,000 tons of biomass (corn cobs) annually. Through the use of satellite storage facilities, Frazer also stated SynGest hopes to keep on-site storage of corn cobs to approximately 20 days worth of production. Once constructed, the plant will employ 40 people generating annual pay and benefits worth $2 million to the local economy.
Eric Sill, Senior Project Manager for the Des Moines base Weitz Corporation, is the construction manager for the project. Sill stated over 350 people will be employed at different times during the nearly two year construction phase of the plant.
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©Guthrie Center Times 2009
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