Imperial Republican

    By Russ Pankonin
    The Imperial Republican
     Progress continues to be made towards the construction of an ethanol plant in Imperial.
     A spokesman with Central Bio-Energy LLC, (CBE) headquartered in Grand Island, said progress is being made towards the construction of a 100-million gallon plant in Imperial.
     CBE has filed for air quality permits with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. Those permits are still pending.
     A spokesman with DEQ said it would be at least 90 days before an air quality permit could be issued to allow construction to begin.
     The company planted a new sign at the site last week. The site is located just southwest of the Trinidad Benham facility at the Highway 6/61 junction and 333 Avenue at the southeast edge of Imperial.
     CBE earlier exercised an option with Dennis Kunnemann for the site land.
     The company has already received approval from the Upper Republican Natural Resource District for an industrial water allocation to operate the plant.
     The city council will give consideration this week to an agreement with CBE for an easement for rail access across city property near the sewer lagoons and transfer station south of town.
     The Community Redevelopment Authority in Imperial is completing a substandard and blight study which could allow the plant to request tax increment financing on public infrastructure improvements.
    Air quality permit for Wauneta
    plant in public notice stage
     The air quality permit for a 100-million gallon plant near Wauneta has moved into the public notice stage.
     A public notice appears in The Wauneta Breeze, notifying the public of a 30-day comment period on the proposed permit.
     If there are no requests for a public hearing on the permit, a construction permit will be issued by DEQ, allowing construction on the plant to begin.