Partnership considers carbon plant in Weld

A proposed carbon and oil factory in southern Weld County is one step closer to construction after backers of the project completed a U.S. Department of Energy environmental assessment.

Changing World Technologies of Hempstead, N.Y., and ConAgra Foods Inc. are collaborating to build a factory that would convert agricultural residuals – such as inedible or unusable animal parts to energy and other valuable products.

The site for the plant lies between Platteville and Fort Lupton. Details about the plant and the corporate partnership were disclosed in the Department of Energy documents, as well on a company Web site.

On a daily basis the factory would initially convert 400 tons of turkey waste from Con Agra’s turkey processing plant in Longmont into 800-1,000 barrels of oil, 10 to 20 tons of carbon, 10 to 20 tons of dry mineral fertilizer, 5,000 to 10,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer and 58,000 gallons of water.

This is all possible using Thermal Conversion Process Technology which speeds up Mother Nature’s oil production process by 3 million years. TCP mimics the earth’s natural geothermal process by using water, heat and pressure to chemically reform organic and inorganic wastes into specialty chemicals, gases, carbons and fertilizers.

Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC – the name for the joint company created by Changing World Technologies and ConAgra – starts the conversion process by slurrying the unwanted materials with water and then heating the mixture under pressure to the desired temperature.

When the mixture reaches the proper temperature, it is quickly cooled and steam is released. The mixture is heated again to remove more water and produce light hydrocarbons. The whole process takes hours and the resulting crude oil will be processed in Commerce City into No. 2 diesel, which is used by electric plants.

The plant will be constructed on 80 acres owned by ConAgra located in southern Weld County, near the intersection of Weld County roads 24 and 39. The property is home to Mile High Turkey Hatchery Inc. and an auto junkyard. Patina Oil and Gas also owns nine leases for oil and gas development on the site.

Despite going through the formal Department of Energy assessment, officials for Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC are not ready to talk about the project.

P.J. Samson, president and CEO of Renewable Environmental Solutions, declined to comment on the company’s plans to build in Weld County, but the company’s Web site identifies Colorado as a state of interest.

“We would lose power in the negotiating process if we released information like that,” he said.

According to the environmental assessment, the plant will employ up to 25 full-time staff and construction will take approximately 18 months.

The plant will utilize agricultural waste from ConAgra’s Butterball turkey plant and from Swift & Co.’s lamb and beef processing plants in Greeley. The waste is currently disposed in local landfills.

Renewable Energy Solutions has publicly said the company will not build another plant until they get their Carthage, Mo., plant functioning successfully at capacity.

The Missouri plant opened in April 2003 and has gradually increased production since then. The plant processes 200 tons of waste – half of what the proposed Weld County plant will process.

Recently residents of Carthage have begun complaining about the smell associated with the factory. In some parts of town the smell has forced residents inside. They say the smell induces vomit and carries for up to five miles from the plant.

“The company is cooperating and they say the smell is not their fault,´ said Kenneth Johnson, mayor of Carthage. “The smell is that of burnt feathers and is very bad but the company has installed additional cleaners to help.”

The location of the Weld County plant is near Platteville and Fort Lupton. If odor becomes an issue with the Colorado plant, the smell could affect residents of these towns plus people living in Henderson and Brighton.

on Facebook on LinkedIn