Sioux City Journal

Refinery gets nod from North Sioux development group

12:30 PM

Posted: Thursday, November 08, 2007

NORTH SIOUX CITY -- The North Sioux City Economic Development Corp. today approved a resolution in support of a proposed oil refinery in rural Union County.

A site just north of Elk Point is a finalist for the Hyperion Energy Center, which would use cutting-edge technology to refine 400,000 barrels of Canadian oil per day into ultra low-sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel.

The controversial refinery, which would be the first built in the United States since 1976, would create an average of 4,500 construction jobs over four years, with as many as 10,000 workers on site at its peak. When up and running, the energy center would employ 1,800 workers at wages averaging $20 to $30 per hour.

In its resolution, North Sioux Economic Development says the project complements its ongoing efforts to diversify the local ceconomy.

The resolution also declares that Hyperion has "demonstrated a strong commitment to corporate citizenship and community involvement,'' and the proposed energy center would be "constructed and operated in a manner that exceeds all applicable regulatory and environmental rules.''

Story Comments

ed wrote on Nov 11, 2007 8:01 PM:

" It is an oppertunity for people in the area,1 to help quell the strangle hold on u.s citizens at the pumps.2bring a larger part of economic reality to the non corprate farming community.3 logisticly bring aproduct needed by every 1 in that region.4technologyof 31 years ago is not that of 2 day inherent fears are understandable. "

richland123 wrote on Nov 10, 2007 2:22 PM:

" "joe" The US has exported $5 billion in products to Russia thus far this year. Much of exports were related to agriculture. We have imported over $14 billion in Russian products. Considering this, I don't understand your concerns? It's okay for farmers to do business with Russia,but not oil guys? There is nothing for the Journal to report because there is nothing illegal or unethical about doing business with Russia or any other country that is not subject to national trade sanctions. As far as the pipeline is concerned, states have little, if any, power to control this outcome. Foreign and interstate commerce can not be impeded by a state. An executive order trumps anything a state can do. That's exactly what will happen here if any state drags it feet about approving the pipeline. The US economic machine needs the oil and a few paranoid residents or a state will not stop it. "

joe wrote on Nov 8, 2007 11:10 PM:

" Yawn, just like the vermillion chamber: "we don't care what it is, we support it. hopefully they can join us and pay dues to our organizations" Hyperion has demonstrated nothing to the public, just some 'donations' in the right political places. It'll be interesting to see if Fargo gets the pipeline stopped especially since the pipeline does not meet standard U.S. safety factors. Watch Fargo's concerns about the pipeline and we should have the same about the refinery. Where was the SCJ story about the Russian/Hyperion connection? I must have missed it. (Argus trumps SCJ again!) Most people don't even know who is on these committies, giving them almost no influence on votes. "