Five and a half years ago I began my career as and economic developer in Levelland Texas. The first project I was able to work on was the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant. Although at that time it was just a dream. The Farmer's Co-op Elevator had just completed a feasibility study on the possibility of producing Ethanol in Hockley County and the results were promising albeit a challenging proposition.
There were a lot of naysayers who pointed out every challenge we would face and said it couldn't be done. Each time we were able to overcome a challenge a new one would appear. For two years we worked to eliminate the barriers that stood in the way and at each turn someone made sure to point out how we were wasting our time and would never get it open.
Then in October 2006 we broke ground on the $64 million dollar plant 6 miles east of Levelland. It was a great day filled with excitement and accomplishment. Still there were naysayers telling us that it would never be successful. Well here we are Three years later and the plant continues to produce Ethanol.
Today the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol Plant is hosting a Bar-b-que lunch at the plant and I have been honored with an invite. I can't wait to break bread with those that helped make this dream become a reality. During the process of getting the plant to this point my good friend Nick Williams often quoted James Arthur Baldwin, "Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it." He was right.
If something is worth doing you can bet there is going to be someone telling you how it can't be done. Thank goodness in Levelland we like a good challenge and don't mind doing what "they" say can't be done.
While the Ethanol plant is still in the start up phase as a business and each day challenging for sure, they continue to work to make it successful. If you are wondering, "What does this mean to our local economy?" Let me tell you.
As a company they have paid taxes in excess of $500,000 to the local taxing entities and have employed an average of 40 people for a two year period with an annual payroll over $1,200,000. Click on the link to see a one page report generated by the Texas Comptroller's Office titled "Estimated Economic Impact of the Ethanol Production on the City of Levelland, Hockley County and the Nine-County Region" .
Maybe now people will stop wondering when it is going to fail and start asking how they can help make it succeed. Congratulations to the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant for making it this far. I'll see you at lunch.
Let me know how you feel about the ethanol plant and/or the future of agriculture in Levelland by leaving a comment to this post. I would love to hear your what you have to say.
Continuing a tradition that stretches back several Legislative Sessions, the Texas Renewable Energies Industry Association (TREIA) has declared March 2-5 as Texas Energy Independence Week, this year playing off Texas Independence Day of March 2.
TREIA will host a number of events at the state capital to promote renewable energies and energy independence. This year's events include Education Exhibits, Legislative Reception for TREIA members, Texas Renewable Energy Projects Showcase, a noon TREIA Policy Luncheon, and an afternoon Texas Economic Development Briefing.
Dave Quinn, Executive Director of the Levelland Economic Development Corporation has been invited to speak during the Texas Economic Development Briefing at the Texas State Capital on Thursday afternoon. The briefing will be held in Capitol Auditorium (E1.004) from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dave will be speaking on the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant project, the new Levelland Industrial Rail Park project, and Levelland's focus to build synergy in the biomass energy sector.
Check out this SlideShare Presentation on LinkedIn : Treia Presentaton 2009 http://tinyurl.com/adgbnp
If you would like to download a copy simply send a direct message to Levelland EDC on Twitter.com/LevellandEDC
This year's Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exposition was an intimate show that allowed Levelland and other members of the High Ground of Texas delegation to visit with key players in the renewable energy sector.
For three days members of the High Ground of Texas pitched the opportunities in West Texas to entrepreneurs and other prospects including representatives from around the globe with representatives from Japan, Denmark and Italy coming by the booth.
Also while at the show Levelland Economic Development Corporation's Executive Director, Dave Quinn, had an opportunity to share information about the High Ground of Texas and Levelland during a live web cast hosted by Matthew Lesko. Watch the interview below.
Free Webcam Chat at Ustream
The
Levelland Economic Devleopment Corporation is expected to close on a deal with Eco Blue, a cotton fiber insulation manufacturer that will create more than 40 jobs in the community located just west of Lubbock, Texas.
Officials with Eco Blue have accepted the incentive package offered by the Levelland EDC. Eco Blue could begin manufacturing cotton fiber insulation by the second quater of 2009. The company previously produced the cotton insulation in Post, Texas but decided to relocate to Levelland to take advantage of land, infrastructure and workforce assets.
Under the agreement Eco Blue will purchase an existing 40,000 sq. ft facility located on Industrial drive in Levelland. The Levelland EDC offered Eco Blue a corporate incentive equal to $5000 per job and applied it toward the over all purchase price of the building. Eco Blue will pay the Levelland EDC $550,000 for the building and the LEDC will carry the note on the building for a 10 year period at a reduced interest rate. "This is a win/win for Levelland and Eco Blue," said Elgin Conner the LEDC chairman. "It allows Eco Blue to begin operating immediately while putting the building back on the tax roles for the community of Levelland and Hockley County."
The Levelland EDC has sites available in the new Levelland Industrial Rail Park that offers full city utilities, rail access and employees can be easily drawn from the Lubbock South Plains Workforce Development Area, with a pool of over 200,000 employees in the surrounding area.
The new "Texas Renewable Energy Resource Assessment," prepared by Frontier Associates, LLC, has been released and is posted in PDF format on the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) web site.
This is the most comprehensive study of Texas renewable energy resource data and projections available today, including numerous maps, charts, graphs and useful statistics.
Originally published in 1996 by Virtus Energy Research Associates for the Texas Sustainable Energy Development Council, SECO was directed to update the report in time for the 2009 Legislature. Click the link below to download the PDF version of the assessment.
"Texas Renewable Energy Resource Assessment"
- Table of Contents PDF (152 KB)
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Texas Climate
- Chapter 3: Solar Energy
- Chapter 4: Wind Energy
- Chapter 5: Biomass Energy
- Chapter 6: Energy From Water
- Chapter 7: Geothermal Energy
- Chapter 8: End-Use Energy Efficiency
- Chapter 9: Summary and Conclusions
- Glossary
- Acknowledgments
- Contributors