By Ray King
While the projected gas to liquid fuel plant is still years away from opening, members of the Economic Development Corporation of Jefferson County have a vital interest and received a briefing on its progress Tuesday.
The group that administers the three-eights cent sales tax that was collected for economic development in Jefferson County still owns the more than 1,800 acres of land in the northern part of the county where the plant is to be located.
Scott McGeorge, chairman of the EDCJC board was asked his impression of the update which was presented by Leon Codron, president and chief development officer of Energy Security Partners, the parent company of GTL Americas.
When the plant is opened, which is projected to be in 2030, it will produce 4,400 barrels of fuel which Codron and Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bigger described as “ultra-clean low emission fuel for transportation, creating a fuel that’s as clear as water.”
Before construction, which is expected to take three years begins, McGeorge said a lot of work still has to be done.
In his presentation, Cordon cited several accomplishments including letters of intent for gas supply, sale of products in place and licensing agreements with the world’s technology providers for GTL processing.
With 2,000 to 3,000 workers going into and out of the site, and before that trucks hauling building material, as well as equipment for clearing, the road into the site off I-530 is on the list of things that need to be done as soon as possible.
McGeorge was asked about that, particularly about the believe that decisions about highways take a long time to make.
He went on to say this.
