Hyperion CEO meets landowners who sold options
By Michele Linck Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007
Union County, S.D., residents who sold options on their farmland, most of them for a then-unexplained economic development project, were picnicking Wednesday evening with the men behind it: Albert Huddleston and R.E. White.
Huddleston is CEO of Hyperion Resources, the Dallas company considering Union County as the site for what it touts as an "environmentally friendly" oil refinery, or Hyperion Energy Center.
Richard E. White became known to Union County residents as the man whose signature appeared as an agent for the Elk Point Economic Development Corp. on the registration forms for some of the land options.
The men, too, were once mysterious. Their identities and the nature of their project were unveiled in mid-June. Until then, whatever was afoot in Union County was known only as "the Gorilla."
'Down to earth'
Joyce Bortscheller, a member of the Elk Point Economic Development Board and president of the Elk Point City Council, said Huddleston wanted to meet the property owners and she was asked to host the picnic at her home on Elk Point's Main Street. She spoke by phone from home just an hour or so before her company was to arrive.
She said she had met Huddleston for the first time just 15 minutes earlier.
"He's a very down-to-earth, friendly man," she said. "He's concerned about community and the people who live in our county."
Asked if she perceived Huddleston as genuine, Bortscheller said, "Absolutely."
"Until I know that they're not who they say they are, I'm for (the refinery)," she said. "I think it's great for the whole tri-state area. I just feel our state leaders will keep on top of things and see to it everything's above-board and everything's what they say it is. If it isn't, it won't happen."
Bortscheller said she hadn't seen the guest list, but was planning for 75 people. She said that number included some spouses or other family members, not just landowners.
Huddleston is known as a Dallas oilman and generous donor, largely to Republican candidates and to environmental causes. A story in the Dallas Morning News describes him as a son-in-law of Bunker Hunt, a son of the legendary Texas oilman H.L. Hunt.
Huddleston and his privately held Hyperion Resources received international attention last year when they flew Iraq's under-14 boys' soccer team to Dallas to play in the Dallas Cup youth soccer tournament. He was said to have admired their spirit -- and to have acknowledged spending more than $100,000 to bring the team to America.
The newspaper also reported in 2006 that Hyperion had been helping train Iraqi oil industry workers for the past two years, with an eye to having a role in developing that country's large oil reserves.
About the brochure
Perfect timing?
The timing of Huddleston's picnic was likely no accident. The company mailed out brochures earlier this week, apparently from Chicago, which began arriving in Union County residents' mailboxes on Wednesday.
In addition to laying out the company's "three founding principles," the third of which states that refineries "should be more environmentally sensitive and technologically cutting edge," its front page states Hyperion's philosophy on how the United States produces energy: "We can, and should, do better."
Inside the brochure, the company explains some of the technology it plans to use, such as a hydrogen-producing Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle power plant; it could even incorporate an ethanol facility or fertilizer plant.
And, it says, the Energy Center will use technology that uses synthetic gasoline as a clean fuel source. It goes on to pledge good policies regarding water conservation, recycling, environmental stewardship regulatory compliance and a commitment to community involvement.
'P.R. fluff'
Jason Quam, a Union County resident who has actively opposed the project since it was revealed, said Wednesday night that he saw the brochure as "a lot of P.R. fluff."
"There's really no information there," he said. "It's just a lot of feel-good terms. They're talking about a 'green charter' and I really wonder about that, if its something three guys sat at a bar and put together or if they actually brought in some consultants."
Quam also contended that the company has never owned or operated a refinery. "Where's the track record?"
Huddleston is CEO of Hyperion Resources, the Dallas company considering Union County as the site for what it touts as an "environmentally friendly" oil refinery, or Hyperion Energy Center.
Richard E. White became known to Union County residents as the man whose signature appeared as an agent for the Elk Point Economic Development Corp. on the registration forms for some of the land options.
The men, too, were once mysterious. Their identities and the nature of their project were unveiled in mid-June. Until then, whatever was afoot in Union County was known only as "the Gorilla."
'Down to earth'
Joyce Bortscheller, a member of the Elk Point Economic Development Board and president of the Elk Point City Council, said Huddleston wanted to meet the property owners and she was asked to host the picnic at her home on Elk Point's Main Street. She spoke by phone from home just an hour or so before her company was to arrive.
She said she had met Huddleston for the first time just 15 minutes earlier.
"He's a very down-to-earth, friendly man," she said. "He's concerned about community and the people who live in our county."
Asked if she perceived Huddleston as genuine, Bortscheller said, "Absolutely."
"Until I know that they're not who they say they are, I'm for (the refinery)," she said. "I think it's great for the whole tri-state area. I just feel our state leaders will keep on top of things and see to it everything's above-board and everything's what they say it is. If it isn't, it won't happen."
Bortscheller said she hadn't seen the guest list, but was planning for 75 people. She said that number included some spouses or other family members, not just landowners.
Huddleston is known as a Dallas oilman and generous donor, largely to Republican candidates and to environmental causes. A story in the Dallas Morning News describes him as a son-in-law of Bunker Hunt, a son of the legendary Texas oilman H.L. Hunt.
Huddleston and his privately held Hyperion Resources received international attention last year when they flew Iraq's under-14 boys' soccer team to Dallas to play in the Dallas Cup youth soccer tournament. He was said to have admired their spirit -- and to have acknowledged spending more than $100,000 to bring the team to America.
The newspaper also reported in 2006 that Hyperion had been helping train Iraqi oil industry workers for the past two years, with an eye to having a role in developing that country's large oil reserves.
About the brochure
Perfect timing?
The timing of Huddleston's picnic was likely no accident. The company mailed out brochures earlier this week, apparently from Chicago, which began arriving in Union County residents' mailboxes on Wednesday.
In addition to laying out the company's "three founding principles," the third of which states that refineries "should be more environmentally sensitive and technologically cutting edge," its front page states Hyperion's philosophy on how the United States produces energy: "We can, and should, do better."
Inside the brochure, the company explains some of the technology it plans to use, such as a hydrogen-producing Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle power plant; it could even incorporate an ethanol facility or fertilizer plant.
And, it says, the Energy Center will use technology that uses synthetic gasoline as a clean fuel source. It goes on to pledge good policies regarding water conservation, recycling, environmental stewardship regulatory compliance and a commitment to community involvement.
'P.R. fluff'
Jason Quam, a Union County resident who has actively opposed the project since it was revealed, said Wednesday night that he saw the brochure as "a lot of P.R. fluff."
"There's really no information there," he said. "It's just a lot of feel-good terms. They're talking about a 'green charter' and I really wonder about that, if its something three guys sat at a bar and put together or if they actually brought in some consultants."
Quam also contended that the company has never owned or operated a refinery. "Where's the track record?"
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John wrote on Aug 17, 2007 2:23 PM:
rose & quintin reimert wrote on Aug 16, 2007 11:11 PM:
John wrote on Aug 16, 2007 6:07 PM:
bill wrote on Aug 16, 2007 5:32 PM:
not a fan wrote on Aug 16, 2007 4:39 PM: