Gasification facility, foreign trade zone and other updates

RECAP

The RECAP feasibility study “executive summary” was expected back from the printer this week, Nevanen reported.

The summary is a 61-page document that highlights key points from the complete feasibility study, which Nevanen described as three large 3-ring binders full of information. The summary is intended for the public, and especially legislators and other officials to gain understanding of the project many years in the making.

Nevanen said the summary would provide a “good flavor” of the work that has already gone into possibly siting a waste-to-energy facility in Borderland.

With the upcoming release of the feasibility study summary, the project is ready to move to the design stage, reported Commissioner Mike Hanson, who serves on the KEDA Board and has been instrumental in the RECAP project.

However, the officials agreed there was work to be done before moving forward with this second phase of the project. One hiccup anticipated in moving forward is a change in the U.S. Department of Energy project manager assigned to RECAP.

“The only kerfuffle is with the DOE project manager going to Afghanistan,” Hanson said. He noted that with the changing of personnel, there was also changing criteria and a learning curve to get all parties on the same page.

Money made available from the DOE would allow design and permitting work to take place.

The RECAP project involves development of a facility that would use a plasma arc torch to vaporize garbage and other waste to produce synthetic gas and slag. The “syngas” comes from organic waste and would be sold as sources of energy, such as steam. Slag, the byproduct of gasifying inorganic waste, can be sold as road aggregate, tile and bricks, among other products.

Estimated cost for the project is $36 million to $40 million, with much of the money coming from the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal and state agencies and programs. Private money may also be used. Local money has not been used on the initial phases of the project.

Hanson said public forums would be planned this summer to get input on the facility.

FTZ

Nevanen reported that a subcommittee to investigate developing a foreign trade zone was making progress towards a marketing plan.

The marketing plan would include several conceptual site designs that could be used to entice prospective tenants to use the zone near Ranier.

One main hurdle officials are attempting to overcome involves working with Canadian National Railway to get an idea of cost of accessing the adjacent rail lines and what the project could look like.

Although Nevanen said it has taken longer to get the information than anticipated, they are working with CN to gather information for these magazine-quality advertisements.

Nevanen said he has been working with consultant Jim Theusch, formerly a site selector for Target Corp., to associate a time schedule with each of the three conceptual scenarios. This schedule would be broken down by individual process for investors to get a clear picture of how long it would take the site to be readied to their specifications.

Nevanen added he hopes to leverage some Department of Employment and Economic Development funds for the project.

Cold weather testing

Nevanen reported that the cold weather testing season is nearing completion.

“It was a tremendous success,” he said.

He explained that he gauged success by the number of clients using the facility, the duration of their stay, the types of projects undertaken and the bookings for next winter.

“We’re way ahead for next year,” Nevanen said based on current schedules.