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PORT ARTHUR, May 09, 2008 (The Port Arthur News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- With the recent talk of using alternative fuels to decrease the use of fossil fuels, one company is making plans to capitalize on that market with a proposed plant in Port Arthur.

According to Councilmember Jack Chatman, a Neofuel, USA plant would create 110 permanent jobs and bring in millions to the local economy. If approved, the plant will be built near Port Iron on 7th St. and could be in operation at the end of the year.

The plant will break down rubber tires into their basic components of oil, metal and rubber. The oil could then be sold on its own. A mixture of different chemicals will break down the tires instead of an incendiary process.

A non-consent item was on Wednesday's city council agenda at their regular meeting authorizing and incentive agreement with the company. The motion was tabled because some councilmembers had questions about the process, Chatman said. Negotiations by City Manager Stephen Fitzgibbons also need to be ironed out. Chatman believes approval is soon pending.

Chatman believes the item was prematurely placed on the city's agenda.

"It's a clean project. The buzz word in the environment is green. The company has a prototype plant in New Mexico that's one-third the scale of what this would be. Several councilmembers and some on the EDC (Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation) toured the plant there and saw how the emissions are contained within," he said.

Those councilmembers who didn't go to the New Mexico plant, however, still had questions on the nature of the external emissions since the plant will have an external flare. Chatman said if something does go wrong at the plant, the emissions would have to be released through the flare. Otherwise, there are no emissions if everything is operating properly.

Chatman said he plans to host a community meeting for west side residents to answer the public's questions.

"When I was first elected, I wanted to bring business to the west side of town for economic growth, but also not to jeopardize the health and welfare of the citizens. I promised construction on the west side with no more dirty industries added there. This information will lower anxieties on external emissions," Chatman said.

Chatman said he and fellow Councilmember John Beard were instrumental in bringing Neofuel to town. He added he wants to be involved with any new or existing business in his district and to listen to their concerns and to serve them by being involved.

To see more of The Port Arthur News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.panews.com/. Copyright (c) 2008, The Port Arthur News, Texas Distributed
by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
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David Ball

Copyright (C) 2008 The Port Arthur News, Texas

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