The plant has no location or start date for construction. Commissioners were divided on whether investing the $500,00 was a smart move.
County staff indicated that the money would be refunded following the arrival of $3.2 million in stimulus funds.
Stimulus funds could take from six to 18 months to become available, with a maximum of three years said Commissioner Frank Mann.
No one is against building alternative sources of fuel, Mann said. But I don’t think the county should be in the business of fuel production.
Mann pointed out that biodiesel fuel is accessible for buying from the county’s current fuel supplier.
To me, it’s a win-win (situation), Mann said. It’s a way to look at waste as a resource … it’s a huge message we send to the world.
Representatives from Florida BioFuels said the company is within 12 months of producing their first batch of biodiesel fuel.
The three-year agreement between Florida BioFuels and Lee County would not kick in until the first batch is produced. The agreement also defers impact fees for Florida BioFuel around $25,000 for up to five years.
