FeedsBiodiesel plant is approved
After representatives from a bioengineering firm answered lingering questions about how by-products left over from the creation of biodiesel fuel would be disposed of, city officials approved the opening of a facility in Romulus.
John Decker, the chief operating officer of Bethesda, MD-based Alternegy, flew in from the Texas offices of the firm to answer questions posed by Councilwoman Ellen Craig-Bragg about the amount of potentially hazardous material at the proposed refinery site at Middlebelt and Wick roads.
“Hazardous chemicals can be a sensitive subject around here, and I just needed to know more about what those chemicals are, and how they would be disposed of,” Craig-Bragg said.
Decker said some sulfuric acid would be used at the site, but that experienced contractors would be used to remove the chemicals when the need arises.
“We would used fully-permitted and licensed contractors to remove the chemicals off site,” he said.
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel, produced from a variety of fats and oil. It is a renewable fuel that is often touted as one of the solutions to weaning U.S. consumers from foreign oil dependence.
Though biodiesel contains no petroleum, it can be blended at any level with petroleum to create a “blend” that can be used in typical compression-ignition diesel without any engine modification.
The site at Middlebelt and Wick is adjacent to RKA Petroleum, a longtime Romulus business that has a partnership with Alternegy.
Feedstock and other materials are generally brought in by rail, which made the Romulus site attractive because of its proximity to the railroad tracks.
According to estimates, the facility will cost about $14 million to construct. When completed, anywhere from 10-11 million gallons of biodiesel per year.
Big incentives also helped the project move forward in Romulus. The council members also approved a 10-year tax abatement for the project. Decker also said the company secured Renaissance Zone status last month, and that more state tax breaks could be approved.
The push to create and use alternative fuel sources is touted by everyone from car manufacturers to President George W. Bush. Decker said that biodiesel is most embraced in Europe at this point, but that it’s becoming more common in the United States are refineries continue to crop up.
“The idea is to keep the money here in the United States, and to use something that is renewable,” he said.
The firm is also posed to add 30 more jobs that will be available as the project moves forward, Decker said.
Final site plan approval still needs to be worked out with the city planning commission, which will begin March 17, Decker said.
The current plan was also reviewed by the city environmental board, which will sign off on it providing all state requirements are met.
Decker said he’s glad to finally have movement on the project.
“We’re really excited about the facility,” he said. “We can’t wait to get started.”
