Southeast Colorado is getting its first biodiesel plant as a group of investors has bought an old pickle factory with the intention of re-opening the vacant plant as a 10-million gallon/year refinery. The project is expected to be up and running in June. From this story in the Pueblo (CO) Chieftain:

Wayne Snider, director of economic development in La Junta, [says], “They will use local crops – their plan is to produce 5 million gallons using soy beans and 5 million gallons utilizing sunflowers.”

The announcement comes nearly one year to the day the pickle factory closed… and 118 people were suddenly without jobs. Local officials say the new biodiesel plant will be a boon to the economy.