GOVERNOR RILEY ANNOUNCES NEW BIODIESEL REFINERY AND INDUSTRY EXPANSION COMING TO MONROE COUNTY
BYLINE: States News Service
DATELINE: MONTGOMERY, Ala.
The following information was released by the office of the Alabama Governor Bob Riley:
During two stops in Monroe County today, Governor Bob Riley is announcing that more jobs are coming to the area.
This morning, Governor Riley announced a new $15 million biodiesel refinery will be built in Claiborne. Later today, he will announce an existing industry in Monroeville that manufactures lighted signs will expand. Both projects are expected to create at least 140 new jobs over the next two years.
The new biodiesel company, known as Independence Renewable Energy Corporation, will utilize state-of-the-art technology to produce up to 40 million gallons of biodiesel annually at the Claiborne refinery.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be made from vegetable oils and animal fats. The new Claiborne biodiesel plant will use soybean oil to produce the fuel, and it is expected to use more than 26 million bushels of soybeans a year. The Claiborne refinery's biodiesel will be sold to local distributors and mixed with petroleum diesel to make different fuel grades for consumers.
"We're working to make Alabama a national leader in alternative fuels," Governor Riley said, "Alternative fuels hold the promise of a cleaner environment, a stronger economy, especially for our farmers, and a way to reduce America's dependence on foreign energy sources."
Governor Riley is also joining officials from International Sign and Design at the Monroeville Industrial Park to announce the company will expand its business. The expansion will add 70,000-square feet to its existing building and another 130 to 180 jobs over the next 24 months.
The company, which manufactures lighted signs, already has 20 employees in Monroeville. International Sign and Design is based in Largo, Florida, but plans to move all its production manufacturing to Monroeville. Governor Riley announced the company was locating a plant in Monroeville back in November 2005.
"Companies that come to Alabama learn quickly that we have outstanding workers," Governor Riley said. "The quality of our workers is the best recruiting tool we have when it comes to economic development," Governor Riley said.
The announcement of the biodiesel refinery is the latest in a series of announcements that have taken place recently concerning alternative fuels in the state. Earlier this month, Governor Riley announced Alabama is receiving a federal grant to add pumps for E85 ethanol fuel and B20 biodiesel fuel at gas stations along Interstate 65.
Governor Riley has also proposed state tax incentives to encourage the commercial development and private use of alternative fuels in Alabama. His "Alabama Farms and Fuels Act" includes tax incentives to help fueling stations install or convert pumps so they can offer biofuels to the public, tax incentives to encourage biofuel production plants to locate in Alabama, and tax incentives to encourage motorists to purchase vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
Governor Riley has also pledged that by 2010 the majority of state-owned vehicles will be flex-fuel, meaning they can run on E85 or gasoline. Currently, 125 vehicles in State Motor Pool are flex-fuel vehicles. His administration has provided support and assistance to a number of projects related to the use of alternative fuels, including: the development of the state's first biodiesel production facility, the upcoming installation of E85 fuel pumps at the State Motor Pool and the manufacture of biodiesel from vegetable oil for use in Eufaula's city vehicles.