(WYN)Western New York Energy is planning an expansion of its Medina Ethanol Plant. The biofuel producing company was granted a 700-kilowatt low-cost hydropower allocation by the New York Power Authority, as part of the agreement terms, to support WNY’s creation of 10 new jobs and expansion of their production plant.
WYN’s Medina Ethanol Plant expansion will cost around $33 million and will span across 15,000 square feet; with the support of the New York Power Authority‘s ten-year low-cost power allocation, the WYN is now working towards creating new jobs and making capital investments worth about $17.5 million, as well as handling construction work on about 8,000 square feet of the site.Â
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The Medina Ethanol Plant expansion will incorporate several upgrades which will enable the plant to produce a higher grade of ethanol. The production of this high-grade ethanol will enhance sanitizer manufacturing and craft distillers. This expansion project also provides the means to employ up to ten full-time workers and purchase more bushels of corn. A building will also be constructed for both loading and storage of the produced high-grade ethanol.Â
In addition, the Medina Ethanol Plant expansion also covers the construction of a world-class distillation tower which will be about 150 feet high, with the capability of producing 15 million gallons of high-purity ethanol. Some of the equipment that will be used in processing the grains might be taller than the distillation tower’s height and WNY will require a variance to be able to accommodate these modifications and additions.
Recommendations have been made by the County Planning Board to approve the needed variance, as well as the site plans for the Medina Ethanol Plant expansion project. The timeline for the completion of this project has not been set; although, it was projected that the construction would commence in the summer of this year.
Dina Barone, a spokesperson for WYN said, “We believe the diversification into high-purity alcohol will bolster resilient communities, the national supply chains, and regional businesses by supporting craft distilleries, industrial operations and sanitizer producers.”
Ken DeRoller, a County legislator, has also praised WNY Energy for following through with such an amazing diversification idea.
