BRADENTON -- Minnesota-based
Rational Energies MC Inc. has selected Manatee County as the location
for the company's first green energy manufacturing facility,
according to Eric Basinger, executive director of the Manatee
Economic Development Council (EDC).
Rational Energies, which converts agricultural and municipal waste
into synthetic crude oil, plans to hire 21 employees in Manatee
County by early 2012.
The
Manatee Board of County Commissioners recently approved $21,600 in
performance-based incentives to match a $63,000 commitment from the
State of Florida's Qualified Tax Incentive program. To qualify for
the incentives, the company must hire 21 employees through 2012 at an
average wage that is 15 percent higher than the county average.
Rational Energies' renovation of an existing 36,000-square-foot
facility in south Manatee County will be expedited through the
county's rapid response permitting program.
"We considered other
locations in Florida, as well as Georgia and Tennessee, for our first
production facility," said Ed Driscoll, CEO at Rational Energies
(www.rationalenergies.com).
"Manatee County was the most desirable because it provided good
access to waste materials we use in production, attractive lease
rates, and a cooperative and pro-active county staff."
"Rational
Energies is a wonderful addition to Florida's green industry sector,"
Basinger said. "The company is seeking to become part of the
solution to global challenges of dealing with municipal waste and
creating sustainable transportation fuels. Manatee County also
welcomes the manufacturing jobs that Rational Energies will bring."
The EDC assisted the company in applying for economic development
incentives and working with county government on facility permitting.
Rational Energies was
formed in 2007 to produce and market valuable commodities, such as
crude oil, which are derived from the material in municipal solid
waste and agricultural residue. The company uses plastics that
otherwise would go to a landfill and produces a very clean form of
crude oil that refineries convert into high-value products like
gasoline and diesel fuel, Driscoll said. The Manatee County plant
will be the first in a global network of similar facilities, he said.
"We have an
experienced technical and production team," Driscoll said. "Our
Manatee County plant will convert roughly 15,000 tons per year of
waste plastics into 3 million gallons per year (71,000 barrels) of
synthetic crude oil."
The
production process uses commercially available equipment that grinds
plastic and then slowly heats it until it reverts to a liquid state.
The process consumes very little water and all discharged water is
first treated on site. The company's plant was designed to have
minimal impact on the site. No odor is associated, and noise and
truck traffic is typical of a small manufacturing business.
Driscoll expects to
complete hiring for the Manatee County plant by early 2012. Job
candidates may inquire via email to hr@rationalenergies.com.
"The Rational
Energies project is another example of how Manatee County's economic
development incentives package is contributing directly to the
creation of new, quality jobs here," said Manatee County
Administrator Ed Hunzeker. "Over time, those jobs are going to
add significant value to our community."
A list of Manatee County's
economic development incentives is available at
www.mymanatee.org/econ_dev.