City officials sign sale option for new biofuels facility

ABERDEEN — Aberdeen officials have signed a sale option with SPW and Associates of Birmingham, Ala., in hopes of bringing in a biofuel plant.

Monroe County Chamber of Commerce executive director Tony Green said the company plans to produce diesel and jet fuel at the Aberdeen site.

He said SPW has put down earnest money, and if the purchase price is agreed upon, the sale could close in 60 days.

The plant site would be at the city-owned port.

Officials with SPW and its partner, Centra Energy, said it would take as long as a year to get the proper environmental permits and financing to start building. Construction could take another 18 months.

“We’re very excited to have the opportunity to come to Aberdeen to utilize as much existing equipment as possible and employ more people,” said Mark Warner, president and chief executive officer of Centra Energy.

Warner said the hiring process will begin during the latter phases of construction and the biofuel plant has the potential of creating more than 100 jobs at capacity.