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Wood County Industrial Commission

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Wood County Industrial Commission
Praxair to invest $55-million to expand Hawkins facility
By JOHN SPARKS

Meeting in regular session Thursday, February 5 at Urban Eats in the Hawkins/Holly Lake Corridor, the board of the Wood County Industrial Commission (WCIC) heard a report by Executive Director Gary McKinley on plans for a major investment in the Hawkins area by Praxair and plans for a new pelletizing plant for biofuels north of Mineola.
In official action, the board approved the placement of a half-page advertisement in the East Texas tour guide "101 Things To Do" published by the East Texas Community Newspapers.
Praxair, Inc. plans an expansion of its industrial gases operations at the Exxon processing plant in Hawkins. The expansion cost is estimated at $55-million. Praxair, the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, recently entered into a contract with Cetane Energy LLC to supply hydrogen for the production of second-generation renewable diesel fuel from tallow (animal fat) at a Carlsbad N.M. bio-refinery.
McKinley also advised members of plans for a pelletizing plant for bio-fuels and put out a call to owners of agricultural land to investigate the opportunities available to them for the planting of switch grass, poplar and willow trees which are major raw materials for the pelletizing operation. Plantings can be economically accomplished in tracts as small as 50-acres.
McKinley also reported that Duke Energy officials have visited Wood County as they search for a site for an expansion of the firm's energy production based on bio-fuels. Duke also would be in the market for locally grown bio-fuels. Duke typically reimburses property owners on a lease basis for their property taxes plus an additional two or three percent.
Laurie O'Neal of the Governor's Office provided an update on legislative deliberations as they related to economic development. O'Neal also provided a list of some of the stimulus package projects that are being considered for Texas.
Neal Duncan, Hawkins said the first bid had been received by the web site improvement committee. Bid specifications were released last month and the committee expects vigorous competition from three or four firms for the project. Shane Shepard, Winnsboro and Glen Davis, Quitman also serve on the committee.
Executive Director's Report
WCIC Executive Director Gary McKinley also reported that agriculture continues to be a very major factor in the economy of Wood County with an impact of more than $400-million per year.
McKinley said sales tax applications for new businesses in Wood County during February 2009 totaled 39. Winnsboro led with 14 new business applications. Two new filings were made for Hawkins and one for Holly Lake.
The next meeting of the Wood County Industrial Commission is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009, 7 p.m. at Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins.

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 March 2009 22:37  

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