Highwater Ethanol breaks ground
To go on line next AprilBy FRITZ BUSCH, Journal Staff Writer
Article Photos
LAMBERTON - Although plant construction has been underway for months, a groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday for Highwater Ethanol, LLC, just west of town.
Located on a 120-acre site in the Lamberton Industrial Park, the producer-owned plant includes a 50 million gallon per year dry mill corn-processing ethanol plant.
Set to be operational next April, the plant will annually process about 18 million bushes of local corn into fuel grade ethanol and 160,000 tons of distiller's grain, mostly for animal feed.
Ron Fagen of Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, the country's largest ethanol plant builder, said he was impressed by the grassroots efforts of the plant's board of governors.
"These people are determined. They just wouldn't give up," said Fagen.
"Some may not agree, but ethanol plants are the right thing to do. They're a big deal, a strong economic tool...and it takes the whole team to get them done."
He added that all ten Fagen-built plants make money and they'll survive tough times.
Redwood County Commission John Schueller said corn was $1.80 a bushel when the project began.
"It recently hit $7 but it's coming back down again," Schueller said.
Sen. Jim Vickerman of Tracy said corn ethanol demand won't go away.
"I keep hearing ethanol plants use too much water and corn should be used for food. We have work to do to satisfy government (ethanol) mandates. This plant will be good for Minnesota and the U.S.," said Vickerman.
Located on the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern (DM&E) Railroad line with several rail spurs, the plant is expected to employ 33 people.
Ethanol plant water will come from wells located two and five miles south of the facility.
Highwater Ethanol Board President Brian Kletscher, said employment applications will be accepted early next year.
For more information, visit www.highwaterethanol.com.
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com
