Bio-refinery plan still moving ahead
Firm attempting to stabilize funding package
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Thursday, August 7, 2008 10:20 AM PDT
ONTARIO — Even as a local company explores the possibility of starting an ethanol plant in Nyssa, officials behind a similar venture near Ontario said they already have the green light to begin construction.
They’re just waiting to finalize fiscal issues.
“We are making progress,” John Hamilton, general manager of Treasure Valley Renewable Resources, said. “We’re working to get our funding in place.”
Everything else is ready, he said, and construction can begin as soon as the funding is complete.
“We are hopeful it is soon,” he said.
TVRR proposes to build the multi-million dollar facility on its property south of Ontario, next to the Oregon Eastern Railroad on the north side and the Union Pacific Railroad.
The facility has been in the planning stages for several years and gained support from a number of key local political leaders, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and the Oregon Economic & Community Development (OECDD).
Nearly every city and Malheur County elected board has signed off in support of the plant.
The venture initially encountered resistance, though, from a small group of local residents. Dubbed, “Concerned Citizens of Malheur County,” the citizens’ coalition eventually filed an appeal with the state land use board regarding a Malheur County Court decision on a land-use zone change for the facility.
The citizens group eventually lost the appeal.
Ethanol would be produced at both the Nyssa facility and at the site south of Ontario. While ethanol would be the primary product of the Nyssa plant, it is listed as a secondary product of the TVRR’s planned bio-refinery, utilizing the remaining waste product from the processing of food-grade corn, wheat and barley, for products such as fiber, germ, protein and starches. Both operations plan to use trucks and trains to carry product in and out of their facilities and both will require some additional rail facilities, in addition to what is already available. Oregon Eastern Railroad is planning to build a spur or spurs into the TVRR property. A rail loop spur is proposed for the Nyssa plant.
Earl wrote on Aug 7, 2008 5:57 PM: