Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Developer seeks short‑term site control for proposed plastic‑to‑fuel facility in downtown Burlington
Summary
An investor presented plans for a proposed plastic‑to‑diesel facility that would use catalytic thermal decomposition to convert mixed plastics into diesel and carbon‑black byproducts; the developer requested short‑term site control for investor financing and said the initial project could cost roughly $135–150 million and create about 80–100 jobs if fully deployed.
Jonathan Hazel asked the council for a short‑term site‑control agreement for an 8–10‑acre downtown parcel (around the former GE/GEAB building) to finalize financing for a proposed plastic‑to‑fuel facility.
Hazel described a process (slides attributed to a company he referenced as Keepro) that he said can accept mixed plastics—wrappers, packaging, larger items—and convert them by catalytic thermal decomposition into low‑sulfur diesel (he cited an estimated yield of about 175 gallons per ton), carbon black byproducts and other off‑takes. Hazel said his model anticipates deploying five 50‑ton units in an initial phase and projected the preliminary capital requirement in the $135–150 million range. Hazel also said the project team has secured logistics partners and potential offtake discussions with regional fuel purchasers and rail operators.
Council members asked about jobs, local environmental impacts and next steps. Hazel estimated initial employment of about 80–100 positions on site (noting the figure depends on logistics and whether transportation or feed‑stock collection is contracted). When asked about emissions and odors, Hazel said the process is not incineration, described it as a thermochemical decomposition that recaptures heat and produces limited off‑gassing, and noted the team has prepared environmental review materials and discussed the project with state DNR staff. He emphasized the current request is for short‑term site control only; site plan review, zoning, environmental approvals and any formal lease would follow.
City staff (Eric and Chad) confirmed the draft short‑term site control and lease were in legal review and that a resolution appears in the packet for council consideration; they emphasized the agreement is preliminary and does not substitute for later permitting steps.
Next steps: council did not vote on a final lease during the work session; staff will return a formal agreement and continued review will cover zoning, site plan, environmental review and economic‑development considerations if site control proceeds.
