Forest City, IA- What's being described as a revolutionary biodiesel plant is closer to getting built in North Iowa.
Its developers say they could break ground late next month.
We first learned about the plant last fall. It will use what's called "the MCGYAN process," which can convert waste products like restaurant grease and leftovers from ethanol plants into biodiesel in a matter of seconds.
Its developers tell us it could be ready to go late next month. The first gallon of fuel might be ready for sale early next year.
Growth Design Corp. CEO Byron Tweeten and Vice President of Operations and Planning Bill Luetscher have spent the past two years making their dream a reality in Forest City.
"We've dedicated 5 acres plus two acres to make this happen and we expect there will be a lot of activity over the summer," said Tweeten.
Luetsher says aside from its speed, the recently developed MCGYAN process, which uses a metal oxide reactor to convert different waste products into fuel, offers several advantages over the traditional way of producing biodiesel.
For one it takes up a lot less space.
"This is something that is going to be a 3500 square foot building, it's going to be a very small footprint architecturally it will blend in with the environment," Luetscher said.
He says the process is so new, state and federal regulations need to catch up.
“The regulations have really not kept up with the technology so we're sort of dealing with some old thinking around that," he said.
While he says EPA regulations will cause them to slow the start of production. The prototype refinery in Minnesota is now selling fuel which is helping to speed their development.
"So the technology is a proven technology and they are producing ASDM quality biodiesel at that plant," said Luetscher.
Tweeten says they're also looking at ways of using waste like methane gas to provide electrical power to the plant. He says it’s an effort to close their renewable energy loop.
He's expecting the facility will have a big impact on the local economy.
"We are going to have significant job development here we've already met with colleges in the area they want to be a part of training and curriculum development," Tweeten said.
They tell us they're also working with local businesses and contractors, which should help boost the area's economy.
They are on schedule and the refinery should be completed this fall, but it will take a few months after that before they can start producing the fuel.
Company leaders tell us they will add 20 jobs at the plant alone. They're also turning the site into a hub as they expand they're operations globally. It could create as many as 60 positions over the next five years.
