GREYBULL, WYOMING - Business promoters say construction may begin next summer on an ethanol plant in Greybull Wyoming. Big Horn Basin Ethanol says it's obtained up to $45 million dollars in construction investment. Some citizens are welcoming the plant. Some are protesting it.
Greybull is a Big Horn Basin town of about 1800 people. On the south end of town are the remains of an old oil refinery. The President of Big Horn Basin Ethanol thinks construction of an ethanol plant will begin on the site in July Big Horn Basin Ethanol President Tom Johnson said, "I think that approximately by September 9 it will be up and operational” Promoters say the plant will bring jobs, and more.
Johnson said, “This plant is slated to employ 33 people, and those are 33 full time positions.” The President of The Bank of Greybull, John Koller said, “It offers job opportunities for our workforce, and it also offers the opportunity to diversify our agricultural economy.” Big Horn Basin Ethanol recently acquired a $45 dollar investment from a Canadian company for plant construction. But when they made the public announcement, a group of townspeople protested the plant's in-town location.
Former City Council Member Marvin Hunt told KULR 8, “We did have signs.” Hunt estimates about citizens told him they’re concerned about odors from the plant, air pollution from it’s coal power, and safety. Hunt explained, “We are prone to a temperature inversion in the winters especially, and things seem to sit in this hole. And if we could get it up on a hill, up off the river, I think it would help things immensely.”
Hunt’s wife says the plant site is less than a mile from Greybull’s new elementary school. Cheryl Hunt said, “If something goes wrong to get all those kids out of there and safe is going to take an act of God.” Johnson says there will be little, if any odor from the plant. Monday night, he told a group of about 80 basin farmers, ranchers, and livestock feeders the ethanol plant would help them, and the local economy.
Meeting at the same time, the Greybull City council voted to hold a hearing January 9th, to hear citizens concerns. The Greybull town hearing will be held at the Big Horn Federal Bank basement 6:30 p.m. January 9th.