Published: July 22, 2009 04:33 pm      

Hamilton comes to terms with biomass corp.

The county commission has agreed to cut property taxes to lure a biomass plant to Hamilton County. Commissioners will provide Adage corporation a 70 percent property tax exemption for five years to be followed by an 80 percent exemption for another five years. The company had asked for a 10-year 85 percent reduction.

The company, Adage Hamilton LLC, plans to build what they term a "World class renewable energy facility, which will be the first of its kind in the United States and will feature advanced technology, high efficiency and state of the art emission controls."

Biomass plants convert organic matter, including tree limbs and other debris, into energy.

The proposed site is off State Road 6 West in Jasper. Construction of the plant is expected to create 400 jobs over 30 months and is targeted to begin in December.

Once online, the plant will to provide 24 high-paying jobs in plant operations and an estimated 100 new jobs on wood fuel production and transportation.

"You have our thanks and commitment to your county," Reed Wills, president of Adage Hamilton LLC, told commissioners at Tuesday’s commission meeting after the deal was struck. "We want to put down roots here in your community."

"We appreciate your willingness to work with us," County Commissioner Ron Morgan told the nine members of Adage Hamilton LLC who were present.

In other business, a manufacturing company is making plans to do business in Jasper, in a venture that proposes to establish a warehouse and employ 10 staff members during the first year, begin production and have a staff of approximately 90 by the second year, and be in full production with a staff of 185 by the third year. Negotiations between the company, members of Economic Development Board and the county commission are ongoing.