Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb and Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson today joined local officials and executives from Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. (Fulcrum), a producer of renewable jet fuel and diesel, as they announced plans to establish operations in Indiana. The company’s new plant, the Centerpoint BioFuels Plant (Centerpoint), will convert municipal solid waste into low-carbon, renewable transportation fuel, and will create up to 163 new, high-wage jobs by the end of 2022.
“Today is a great day for Gary and one that will have a significant impact on the city and surrounding communities for years to come,” said Gov. Holcomb. “The state’s strong roots in manufacturing paired with an emerging tech sector make Indiana the ideal destination for innovative companies like Fulcrum that are developing 21st century solutions and changing the way we address today’s challenges. This new waste-to-fuel plant is a huge win for the city of Gary and for the Hoosier workforce across northwest Indiana."
Fulcrum will invest approximately $600 million to establish Centerpoint at an industrial site in Gary that will be at least 50 acres in size. The site is in final negotiations. The company plans to begin construction in 2020, after finalizing site design plans and preparation. Fulcrum plans to be operational in 2022, following 18-24 months of construction. Once operational, Centerpoint will produce approximately 33 million gallons of fuel annually while diverting approximately 700,000 tons of waste each year from local landfills in the Greater Chicago area and convert it offsite into a prepared feedstock. Fulcrum will utilize its proprietary process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent when compared to conventional fossil fuels.
“Launching our business in Indiana is an important next step in expanding Fulcrum’s capabilities to new cities rich in innovation and opportunity,” said Jim Macias, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. “Fulcrum’s municipal solid waste-to-fuels process will positively impact climate change and boost the economy by providing low-carbon transportation fuel while also creating high-paying jobs and investment in northwest Indiana.”
Centerpoint will be Fulcrum's second waste-to-fuels plant, joining a plant near Reno, Nevada, which is currently under construction. The company currently employs 39 associates in the U.S. and U.K. – at its California headquarters, South Carolina engineering office, U.K. project development office, Nevada feedstock processing facility, and the Nevada Sierra BioFuels construction site. The company will begin hiring in Indiana for management, technical, operations, maintenance and administrative positions over the next few years as development and construction activities ramp up. Interested applicants are invited to submit resumes directly to Fulcrum.
“The attraction of new businesses that provide an entrée into new sectors has been a focus of our economic development team,” said Mayor Freeman-Wilson. “Our objective is to create jobs while raising the city’s assessed valuation. With a significant capital investment and noteworthy job creation, Fulcrum is a great example of the success of these efforts. This does not happen without the commitment and investment from Governor Holcomb and our partners in state government. We all understand that when Gary wins, Indiana wins.”
Fulcrum provides a reliable and efficient process for transforming municipal solid waste - or household garbage - into transportation fuels including jet fuel and diesel. The company's plants will provide customers with a low-carbon drop-in fuel that is competitively priced with traditional petroleum fuel. Fulcrum, a privately held company, has aligned itself with strategic feedstock, technology and fuel offtake partners to further strengthen and accelerate the company's innovative approach to commercially producing large volumes of renewable fuel from municipal solid waste. The company has strategic partners throughout the renewable fuels process chain including United Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, BP, Waste Management, Waste Connections, Marathon Petroleum, World Fuel Services, Marubeni, Japan Airlines and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Fulcrum up to $2.1 million in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Gary is considering additional incentives.
About Fulcrum: Based in Pleasanton, California, Fulcrum is leading the development of a reliable and efficient process for transforming municipal solid waste – or household garbage – into transportation fuels including jet fuel and diesel. The company's plants will provide customers with a low-cost, low-carbon drop-in fuel that is competitively priced with traditional petroleum fuel. Fulcrum, a privately held company, has aligned itself with strategic feedstock, technology and fuel offtake partners to further strengthen and accelerate the company's innovative approach to commercially producing large volumes of renewable fuel from municipal solid waste. For more information about Fulcrum, visit www.fulcrum-bioenergy.com.
About IEDC: The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.