Groundbeaking set for local biodiesel plant

San Juan Biodiesel will break ground for its oil crush and biodiesel production facility at 3 p.m. on September 8 at the Weber Industrial Park in Dove Creek, Colorado.

According to General Manager Jeff Berman, “As we climb past the 90 percent mark in raising the finances to construct the facility and purchase this year’s crop, we are thrilled to announce that construction of our facility will begin early this fall. This would not have been possible without the assistance of so many farmers, investors, lenders, local governments, ski resorts, and others that have participated in the process.”

The whole community is invited to join San Juan Biodiesel for the event. Dinner by area vendors will be served courtesy of San Juan Biodiesel from 4 to 6 p.m.

Nathan Morris, the Company’s Technology Manager, noted “We plan to make several exciting announcements at the event, so we hope to see everyone that believes in sustainable economic development there on September 8.”

San Juan Biodiesel LLC is a new company constructing a five million gallon per year oil crush and biodiesel production facility. In 2007, the Company contracted with 41 farmers for approximately 11,000 acres of sunflower crops stretching from Alamosa to Price Utah, with the bulk of the production centered around the facility in Dolores, Montezuma, and San Juan County Utah.

When the plant is operational, up to 70,000 acres of sunflower crops will be needed.

For more information, go to www.sanjuanbiodiesel.com.