Each time I read a story about this project, it seems to be more and more likely to actually happen.
A planned alternative fuels plant along the Buffalo River stands to benefit from an ethanol tax credit plan proposed Wednesday by Sen. Charles E. Schumer.
Schumer, D-N.Y., used the planned RiverWright Energy plant site, at the foot of Childs Street in Buffalo’s Old First Ward, as the backdrop to unveil his proposed Ethanol Stimulus Act of 2006.
“This is a win-win-win for Western New York and Buffalo,” Schumer said, as he introduced a plan to provide tax breaks and accelerated equipment depreciation schedules for new ethanol plants located in areas of the country where ethanol is scarce.
About two weeks ago, I went on a boat ride down the Buffalo River and got a close up view of the grain elevators. I never really appreciated their true majesty as I usually see them in the distance from the I-190. I moved into the camp that they were worth saving as long as we could find a reuse for them as I’m not a fan of saving them for posterity with no real use.
The proposed ethanol plant is just such a use and I’m psyched that the project is privately funded and scheduled for completion in 2007. The design company that was brought on to retrofit the existing grain elevator into an ethanol production plant has demonstrated success with previous projects and is evidently well regarded in the industry.
Take a look at the spinoff employment and business that the Buffalo Ethanol plant will create:
Services required: Surveying, Electrical contractors, Plumbing contractors, Mechanical contractors, Welding contractors, Asphalting services, Sitework contractors, Rental of heavy-duty equipment, Control contractors, Grain Handling, Tank Erection, Steel Erection and Fabrication
Commodities required: Various construction materials (e.g. painting materials, mason tools, sand, gravel, ready mix concrete, cement, asphalt, concrete blocks), Electrical supplies, Carpentry and plumbing materials, Equipment & accessories of information technology, Electrical tools & accessories, Various office & accommodation furniture, Cleaning supplies, Supplies for IT equipment, Fuel supply, Safety supplies, Mechanical equipment and supplies, Pumps, valves and seals, Centrifuges, Compressors, Large and small tanks, Boilers, Condensers, Chillers, coolers and heaters, and Chemical supplies
Real spinoff development, real jobs, real entrepreneurial opportunities, and real progress.
Sounds good to me.