Ethanol plant in Dodge

[Detector]

Source: http://www.hutchnews.com/news/region...nt080506.shtml

Omaha firm Dial Energy plans to build ethanol plant in Dodge

DODGE CITY - An Omaha, Neb., firm, Dial Energy, wants to build an ethanol plant here and entered into an agreement Friday to purchase land on the eastern periphery of town for the complex.

"It's an exciting day for Dial, and I hope it's an exciting day for Dodge City," said Dave Wehner, president of Dial Resources, which will be handling the land transaction for Dial Energy.

Plans call for construction of a 100 million gallon per year plant on a 126-acre tract where the Hawleywood RV Ranch currently sits, just south of Dodge City Regional Airport, Wehner said. Dial entered into a purchase accord Friday with the owners of the land, Bill and Karen Hawley, and now the Nebraska company will be looking closer into the feasibility of the location.

"But our plan is to build here," Wehner said.
Pouring of concrete probably won't begin for a year. When complete, the complex, with an estimated price tag of $130 million to $160 million, will employ up to 50 people.

In the meantime, Dial officials plan to sponsor a meeting here to search out local investors among farmers, ranchers and others.

Dial Energy and Dial Resources are affiliates of the Dial Companies. Wehner said Dial officials are looking to build five ethanol complexes in all, including at least one in Nebraska and another at a second Kansas site that has yet to be disclosed.

Interest in production of ethanol, a corn- and sorghum-based alternative to gasoline, is booming. Bob Wetmore of the Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce said several groups are investigating the Ford County area.

[Bubba]

Well, at least that is a business that makes sense in this area that isn't a meat packer. Although, I've heard that an ethanol plant can be quite odoriferous. With, it's close proximity to feed yards and the other packing plants the smells shouldn't be too overwhelming.

[Detector]

I have mixed feelings about this news.

Is this plants decision to build in dodge based on location or the readily available undocumented immigrants?

Is this just going to be another High-plains/National and suck up the remaining resources(water etc) in dodge while sidestepping taxes?

If this plant, like our others, have no interest in checking the documentation of it's employees it will only serve as a final nail in our coffin.

[wordsmythe]

The ethanol plants I've visited smell like grain and thats about it. They generally have about 12 people working per shift max and are highly automated so I wouldn't see how the illegal population would figure into the mix.

[lurker]

Corn-gratulations to the Hawley's for their land sale.

I'm sure glad Wetmore didn't tell Dial Energy that the High Plains Aquifer's about tapped-out and this region's corn production is dwindling.

FWIW, ethanol's a short term alternative to oil. It's limited in supply and too expensive to produce. The oil companies like it cuz it won't replace them; but hydrogen will.

Here's the secret:
Any viable alternative to oil must be captured with minimal costs. The oil that comes from a well is ready for refining. Earth did the majority of work for us and for free. Corn requires tremendous input costs just to get it ready for harvest.

A barrel of oil and a bushel of corn have about the same production costs but the available number of Btu's (energy) aren't even close in comparison. One bbl of oil ='s 5.8 million Btu's. One bushel of corn produces 200,000 Btu's but it takes 98,000 Btu's to distill it. Even when the markup (profit taken from the wellhead to the refiner) of oil is considered, ethanol can't compete in the "energy can't be created or destroyed" equation.

Hydrogen will remain elusive until the smart-ones figger out that our wind turbines are better suited for generating electricity for the electrolysis of water into H2 + O. God created the water, the Sun stirs the wind so we can break water's bonds, we then oxygenate (burn) the hydrogen to release the energy the electrolysis input'd and the output is locomotion...... and..... water.

That's what scares big oil.

[HeddaLettuce]

Although, I've heard that an ethanol plant can be quite odoriferous

At its worst - it smells like a day old keg party.

The by-product is a cheap and efficient feedstuff for cattle.

If you have the $$$$ for the initial buy in - it has proved to be a sound investment - at least in my experience it has. Payback - plus more, within the first year of operation. Usually takes less than 12 hours to have more than enough investors.

[Made in the USA]

Operation does consume a great deal of water, though. A commodity that is getting harder to come by in Western Kansas. In addition, alot of this water is put to atmosphere by steam and evaporation, thus you have water vapor clouds. I would think that could be a problem beings the property is close to the airport. One last point, I am sure that they will be applying for tax abatements and other free handouts. Other than these, I am glad that we finally got something coming besides more "slaughter/rendering" facilities.

[Turiel]

I'm happy to see that we will get new industry, anything to help this town grow some more..

[macdaddy]

Ethanol Plant + Corn = less water in an already arid South West Kansas.

Don't get me wrong, I am for whatever brings commerce to the area but lets look at this from all sides.

First off corn, which I believe, is used in Ethanol IS one of the most water intensive crops a farmer can plant. Not saying that we don't have a lot of corn being grown around here already but that is all being used for other purposes right now. If an ethanol plant is built it will need corn for operations and for it to be cost effective it will need to be grown in close proximity of the plant. That being realized, lets look at our water needs that already put a strain on our falling aquifer water level.

Second as stated above it will probably not be a unskilled labor force driven entity. These places are and will always be run by a few highly skilled technicians.

Third, what will the production of ethanol do for this community? Will we see the benefits of a successful development of this industry or will it be just like out packing plants. Good for them and the community sees little benefits and feels the added pressure of the, "help us out or we will leave corporate attitudes?"

So what we must look at for future developments in the trade industry here in Dodge City are things that have a positive financial return with very little negative impact on the city and our resources.

Just MO ( sorry just read the above posts noticed all the points I made are already available above. However since it is My Opnion I will leave it as posted, everyone have a nice day! )

[Made in the USA]

Good sumnation Mac!