Baker worries about small ethanol plants

Thursday, April 1, 2004

Nebraska Sen. Tom Baker is concerned that the temporary ethanol stills being moved into position around the state will cause a real problem for the state of Nebraska.

The pilot plants, one of which is being planned west of McCook and another in Cambridge, " are making life tough for getting LB1065 built," Baker said.

LB1065 is the bill that helps fund the establishment of ethanol plants in the state. Many people in the capital are under the impression that the temporary stills are going in to get free money, he said.

Baker also said he was concerned for the investors who were putting money into the pilot projects.

Rex Nelson, Executive Director of the McCook Economic Development Corp., told the senator the group of individuals he has been dealing with "won't put up a $3 million temporary plant without putting in a permanent plant. These investors are committed to doing this," he said.

Baker told the McCook Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee he's afraid both the McCook plant and the Cambridge plant will run into topography problems.

"It's going to cost them a lot more than they expect," he said.

Baker told Jim Coady the whispers around Lincoln are that the only water that will be released from area reservoirs will be released from Medicine Creek.

Coady asked him to watch for possible releases to supplement Harlan Reservoir near Alma. Baker assured him that even if water was released, it would most likely never make it as far as Harlan.

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