LaHarpe, IL – A $38-million biodiesel plant might be built near LaHarpe. Mayor Ken Brown says LaHarpe could serve as a good location because it provides access to both rail and highway transportation.
Brown also says the plant would benefit the community. "It could hire up to 25 new jobs, right off the get go," says Brown. The plant will take in roughly 500 tons of soybeans a day. "Once the plant was operating, about 20 semi-loads would be coming in every day," Brown says.
Brown says the plant would produce at least 10-million gallons of biodiesel per year. It would sit on 17-acres of land. Brown says the plant could be up and running as early as next year if everything goes as planned. The developer is BIO-NRG, which is based in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
"Farmers have come to us and said they have land available to build the plant," says Brown. "I think all but maybe 1 of these 6 locations border LaHarpe."
Brown says the plant does not use any chemicals to produce the biodiesel. "When they crush the beans, they take the oil out," Brown says. "That is what makes the biodiesel. Then the part that's left they take and make a feeding meal out of it for swine, poultry, and cattle. There is very little waste, if any."