“Letter to the Editor”
July 21, 2005
To the editor;
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's more cost-effective and cleaner for the environment.
Northeast Biofuels plans to utilize a 90-acre
subdivision of the former Miller Brewery in Fulton to construct
a 100-million-gallon-per-year ethanol production facility which
will make 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 the 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; and
- An average-sized ethanol plant employs
people with good-paying, high-skill 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, CEcD
Executive Director, Operation Oswego County
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