DOVE CREEK, Colo.—Work will begin Sept. 8 on a plant that will convert sunflowers into biodiesel fuel and other uses in this area known for its high-altitude pinto beans.
The plant is opening way ahead of schedule.
“We figured it would take five years when we started to talk about the biodiesel plant in late 2004,” said Jeff Berman, general manager of San Juan Biodiesel.
He told the Durango Herald that the company has raised $4.1 million of $4.6 million needed to build the facility and buy this year’s crop of sunflowers. It will produce products for human and vehicle use.
The plant, which will consist of an 8,000-square-foot, oil-crush facility and biodiesel production area of 3,000 square feet, will take nine or 10 months to build.
It will ultimately employ 24 workers, though at the debut there will only be 11.
San Juan Biodiesel has contracts with 41 growers from Alamosa to Price, Utah, for the production of 11,000 acres of sunflowers. Most of the acreage is in Dolores and Montezuma counties in Colorado and San Juan County in Utah.
“We’re thrilled to announce the construction of our facility,” Berman said. “We are climbing past the 90 percent mark in raising the finances. This would not have been possible without the assistance of farmers, investors, lenders, local government and others that participated in the process.”
Price will determine how much biodiesel will be produced. Initially most of the sunflowers will be produced for human consumption.
Scientists say biodiesel produces fewer pollutants including carbon dioxide, No. 1 contributor to greenhouse gases.
