Pike County Ethanol Plant will turn Appalachian Garbage into Fuel

The $200 million facility will be built on a 40-acre site on Ford Mountain, that is currently being mined and where the county’s landfill is located. Pike County  Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford  spoke about the project following the regular meeting of Fiscal Court. He was joined by Zig Resiak, an associate with Agresti. representatives from Oppenhiemer and the Royal Canadian Bank.

Resiak explained the process which will turn garbage into fuel.  The first step is to separate the recyclables from the solid waste, which is done using a patented water sorting method. There will be no "pickersâ€, people who have to sort through the waste, it was explained, and so reducing odors from the plant.  Once sorted, the biomass will be sent to an underground  concrete enclosed vessel where it will be mixed with a very weak acid solution to be converted into sugars. The sugars will then be fermented and distilled into alcohol. The fermentation step produces carbon dioxide, which, instead of being released into the atmosphere, is funneled through a closed system and used to generate the weak acid that is required in the biomass conversion process. The type of plant proposed by Agresti generates about 800,000 gallons of clean water each month, and reuses its water. The facility, officials said, is "environmentally friendly.â€

When fully operational, the Central Appalachian Ethanol Plant could process as much as 1,500 tons per day, and could accept garbage for processing from all counties in Eastern Kentucky, western Virginia and southern West Virginia. Pike County currently receives 400 tons of MSW each day. The Pike County hollow landfill is nearing capacity, and the government will not authorize the creation of any more landfills.

 According to Rutherford, the plant will cost $200 million to build, provide a projected $87.3 million in construction wages to the local economy and once constructed, create 120 jobs and $30 million in wages at full production. "Pike County could realize up to $750,000 in revenue per year, with a contract we’re negotiating,â€ Rutherford said. The income would come in the form of fuel-offset credits, carbon credits and recyclable materials.

To read more see the following articles:

Appalachian News Express http://www.news-expressky.com/articles/2008/08/20/top_story/01trash.txt

The Williamson (WVa.) Dailey News http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2008/08/20/news/doc48ac5029060ed017296111.txt

and WYMT, including public comments, http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/27150479.html