$600M Waste-to-Fuel Plant Coming to Gary
(photo courtesy of Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc.)
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA California-based renewable jet fuel and diesel producer has announced plans for a massive investment in northwest Indiana. Fulcrum BioEnergy Inc. says it will invest $600 million to build the Centerpoint BioFuels Plant in Gary, which will convert municipal solid waste into renewable transportation fuel. The project is expected to create up to 163 jobs by the end of 2022.
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. says Centerpoint will be located at an industrial site that will be at least 50 acres, though the site is currently in final negotiations. Fulcrum plans to begin construction in 2020 and have the plant operational in 2022.
When complete, the facility will have the capability of producing 33 million gallons of fuel annually while diverting about 700,000 tons of waste from local landfills. The IEDC says the company will use its proprietary process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent compared to conventional fossil fuels.
"Launching our business in Indiana is an important next step in expanding Fulcrum’s capabilities to new cities rich in innovation and opportunity," Jim Macias, chief executive officer of Fulcrum said in a news release. "Fulcrum’s municipal solid waste-to-fuels process will positively impact climate change and boost the economy by providing low-carbon transportation fuel while also creating high-paying jobs and investment in northwest Indiana."
This will be Fulcrum’s second waste-to-fuels plant in the U.S. The first is currently under construction near Reno, Nevada. The company plans to begin hiring for management, technical, operations, maintenance, and administrative positions over the next few years.
The IEDC has offered Fulcrum up to $2.1 million in conditional tax credits, which the company will not be eligible to claim until Hoosier workers are hired for the new jobs. The city of Gary will also consider additional incentives.