Novozymes Constructs New Enzyme Plant in Nebraska to Support World's Largest Biofuels Hub

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Danish biotechnology company Novozymes A/S (CPH:NZYM B) (Bagsvaerd, Denmark) is progressing with the construction of a large enzyme plant to support biofuel production in Blair, Nebraska. Surrounded by square corn fields and wheat farms near the Missouri River, Novozymes is in the final push of completing construction of a new, $200 million enzymes plant that will support existing and advanced biofuels production in the area.

Construction started on the plant back in September 2009 and is being managed by NNE Pharmaplan NA (Clayton, North Carolina) and consultant Nebraska Air Quality Specialties LLC (Lincoln, Nebraska).

The 100,000-plus-square-foot plant will produce an estimated 100,000 tons per year of biological enzymes, mainly for use in corn-based and cellulosic ethanol production.

The 652-acre cluster also includes projects such as Cargill Incorporated's (Minneapolis, Minnesota) wet corn mill and ethanol plant; Evonik Industries AG's (Essen, Germany) lysine plant, which is currently increasing production capacity; Cargill's NatureWorks division, which also has a $35 million unit addition in the works and a long-term $85 million expansion and conversion that is waiting for approval; and PURAC America, which is wrapping up a lactic acid plant expansion.

Various other support companies are expanding to support the 2,300-plus workers in the area. A new trucking company has been established, the local YMCA has expanded, and SkyWerx Aviation built a new hangar at the Blair Airport.

Washington County is also home to Omaha Public Power's 482-megawatt nuclear power station in Fort Calhoun, which is wrapping up a one-year refueling outage and is expected to re-start in August of this year.

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