CLEARFIELD – Sunnyside Ethanol LLC still plans to be the first ethanol plant in the county.
That, after a phone interview Friday with Eric Wallace, chief executive of Sunnyside Ethanol LLC. He responded to the press conference Gov. Edward G. Rendell held on Thursday.
“We’re real discouraged,” said an unhappy Wallace, who also claimed there was more to the issue than what was presented at the press conference.
Wallace’s company, Sunnyside Ethanol, is to be constructed on the site of the former Howe’s Leather Co. in Curwensville and includes a $110 million ethanol plant, a $60 million power plant and a $6.5 million carbon dioxide plant, according to a previous GantDaily report. His company’s announcement came months before.
BioEnergy International LLC, the company named in the governor’s press conference, is still looking for a site in the county. Wallace said that while no official construction date has been confirmed yet, Wallace said Sunnyside will still be the first ethanol plant in Pennsylvania and is the first of five Sunnyside has planned for the state.
Sunnyside is currently working toward remediation of the Howe’s site, a total of over 30,000 tons of polluted land. That project will cost around $2.1 million, according to a previous GantDaily report.
According to Wallace, he contacted the Clearfield County Commissioners and state Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, about the governor’s news conference.
Wallace said they are going to regroup and make sure everything is in place.
“We’re the only one with permits ready to go,” said Wallace.
“We don’t want anyone in Curwensville to get discouraged,” said Wallace.