A site near Elkin was chosen for the second of three poultry litter fueled energy plants in North Carolina.

The long-awaited announcement came Thursday at the Surry County government center in Dobson. The decision provides a $140 million investment to the county's tax base and 100 jobs to a county that has lost 2,000 in the last 18 months

Fibrowatt contracts with local poultry producers to purchase chicken litter, which is then combusted to heat water and produce energy through turbines driven by high-pressured steam.

The energy is then available for purchase by energy producers in a plan made possible after a bill was introduced in 2007 requiring the production of renewable energy resources by 2012. Representative Jim Harrell III of Elkin was instrumental in sponsoring this Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

"The bill allows us to take advantage of renewable sources that would otherwise be too expensive," Harrell said. "Once we have an infrastructure in place we can sell power back to the grid. It will be an important advantage going forward to help our area set up well for other renewable companies to tie onto the line."

Harrell said Thursday that other renewable energy sources native to North Carolina such as agricultural products, solar and wind energy could then become harnessed through the new infrastructure. Harrell said that he thought other companies would be interested in Fibrowatt's investment and turn their attention toward North Carolina.

The decision has been long awaited between Wilkes and Surry county site proposals. Robin Rhyne, president of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership has been communicating and working to recruit Fibrowatt over the past few years.

"When we look for companies to recruit we only look for the best," Rhyne said at the Fibrowatt announcement Thursday.

Fibrowatt's $140 million investment will be the largest single investment made in Surry County to date, according to Economic Development Chairman Ted Ashby who consulted past tax records.

CEO and Founder Rupert Fraser said that Surry was chosen based on it's proximity to interstate and highways, potential fuel supply and community support. Duke's electrical substation was a major consideration in choosing Surry over Wilkes county, which Frazer called a close decision between the two counties.

Fibrowatt is expected to create 60 jobs in litter transportation, 30 plant positions and ten positions through their byproduct fertilizer plant, according to Fibrowatt economic impact reports.

"It will be job construction," Elkin Mayor Lestine Hutchens said. "From one end of the county to the other." Hutchens heard the news that Elkin would be host to the Fibrowatt plant late Wednesday night. "I was extremely excited to hear."

Frazer said at the press conference that Fibrowatt takes their relationships with its host communities seriously and would form a community advisory panel to share information on up-coming developments.

"We will help northwest North Carolina become more self sufficient," Frazer said. "Bring high quality jobs, employment and services to the poultry industry. And we will focus on improving bio-security, hygiene and health services."

The plant should produce enough electricity to power 30,000 local homes according to Frazer. Along side energy, Fibrowatt will also produce a secondary ash byproduct that can then be used as fertilizer.

The 60-acre site is located east of Elkin between N.C 268 and the Yadkin River just east of Gentry Rd.

Poultry litter will be transported along I-77, U.S. 421, 268 and N.C. 67, according to Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Carl Strickler.

"We hire hauling companies to work for us," Strickler said. "The trucks must be tarped and follow strict safety standards. We encourage people to call when they aren't enforced. The trucks are then washed and sanitized after they unload." Strickler said they expect an average of 100 truck deliveries a day, Monday through Friday and half-day Saturday.

"We will work with all farmers," Strickler said. "We will contract with local farms and have direct communication with the poultry growers of any size."

Kasia Wieronski, Fibrowatt public relations manager, said that construction should start in 2009 with a completion date of 2011. She estimated an additional 200 construction jobs created during that timeframe.