Soperton Ethanol Plant to Shut Down

An ethanol plant in Soperton is temporarily shutting down.

That's according to David Aldous, CEO of Range Fuels based in Colorado.

They hope to reopen in a few months.

The plant broke ground in 2007, with a $75 million federal grant to turn pine-tree wood waste into fuel.

Later, the federal government gave them an $80 million loan guarantee.

Aldous says the company continues to pay back portions of the loan each month.

Soperton resident Douglas McDaniel says, "It's kind of disheartening to hear it's shut down."

The plant produced its first batch of fuel this summer.

But Friday, Aldous said they haven't been able to get enough investment to expand and the plant is too small to compete in the market.

He says they plan to lay off a handful of employees and shut down, while they seek new investors and that could take months.

Executive Director of the Treutlen County Development Authority says, "They told us a skeletal crew will set up 24/7. I'm guessing that's sort of a maintenance operations."

The temporary shutdown and layoffs were not what the development authority was hoping for from the one year old company.

Lee says, "We were hoping they'd be hiring, but we'll keep our chin up and fingers crossed."

Many in Soperton hope the company can rebound.

Bruce Ely says, "That's something to put Treutlen County people back to work and put us on the map."

source: 13wmaz