Published: August 15, 2008 10:34 am      

West Lebanon looked at for plant

WEST LEBANON, Ind. — The operator of ethanol plants in seven Midwestern states is looking at Warren County.

POET LLC from Sioux Falls, S.D., might construct its fourth ethanol plant in Indiana along Indiana Route 28 north of West Lebanon.

“They have been looking at us for a while,” said West Lebanon town clerk Dana Craft. “They are looking to build a $260 million plant.”

The 115 million-gallon-per-year facility would be the company’s largest so far.

The Warren County Board of Zoning Appeals cleared the way earlier this week by granting a special exception permit for the 250-acre site, which is west of Indiana Route 263 and east of Indiana Route 63.

“There was a room full of people (at the zoning meeting) and only one person spoke against it,” Craft said.

The site is outside West Lebanon town limits, but the plant seeks utilities from the town. A test water well will be drilled next week. Natural gas is 20 miles away from the site.

“West Lebanon is involved in the water and sewer only,” Craft said. “No time frame has been set (for the plant plans).”

The plant, when up and running, would employ 40-50 people.

The company has commissioned a traffic study at the site.

“We got involved in this in the winter,” said Steve Eberly, director of the Warren County Local Economic Development Or-ganization. “I knew this was a company worth listening to. They are very attractive for livestock feeders.”

POET operates ethanol plants at Portland and Alexandria, in eastern Indiana, and is constructing a third one at North Manchester.

“We are anxious to see what happens in the next few months,” Eberly said. “Nothing has been finalized, but we are very optimistic.”