Boost for local economy
Last month, Governor George Pataki announced that Northeast Biofuels and a unique combination of business, labor, educational institutions, and government will combine resources to facilitate a $157 million project to produce ethanol—an alternative fuel that is more cost-effective and cleaner for the environment.
Northeast Biofuels plans to utilize a 90-acre subdivision of the former Miller Brewing facility in Fulton to construct a 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility, making it one of the largest ethanol producers in the nation.
The company will retrofit approximately 300,000 square feet of the existing building and construct two grain silos and one cooling tower. In addition, the facility will be the first in the nation to produce ethanol and biodiesel fuels in one central location.
By fall, NextGen Fuel will begin production of transportation biodiesel and bioheating fuel, which will help offset the use of imported petroleum products and reduce emissions.
Two of Northeast Biofuels’ major partner-suppliers, Perdue Farms and BOC Gases, will also make major investments in the project.
Not only will this project position Oswego County as a leader in the renewable fuels industry, but it will also provide the Fulton area and the county with new jobs and economic opportunities.
According to the American Coalition for Ethanol:
• The combination of reduced farm program payments and increased tax revenues adds at least $1.30 to the U.S. Treasury for every gallon of ethanol produced;
• Ethanol has a tremendously positive impact on local economies around the plants themselves. Local people are employed, local crops are purchased to make the ethanol, and local tax bases are significantly expanded.
• An average-sized ethanol plant employs people with good-paying, high-skilled jobs and provides spin-off jobs through local providers of goods and services for the plant.
Northeast Biofuels, Perdue, and BOC Gases will employ an estimated 100 workers, while over 1,000 indirect jobs are projected to be created in the agriculture and transportation sectors alone. More than 300 will be employed during the 15 month construction phase.
In addition to commending Northeast Biofuels and its partners for their visionary leadership in the renewable energy industry and investment in Oswego County, I would like to publicly acknowledge the invaluable support of this project by Governor Pataki, Senator James Wright, Congressman John McHugh, Assemblyman Will Barclay, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Empire State Development, IBEW Local 43, and Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 73.
Sincerely yours,
L. Michael Treadwell, Executive Director
Operation Oswego County
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