Biofuel production plant planned for York: York Habitat for Humanity also wants to acquire building from York's Redevelopment Authority

Two York entrepreneurs want to acquire a former retail building on South Pine Street from York's Redevelopment Authority and turn into a biofuel production facility.

The building at 630 S. Pine St. would convert used cooking oil from restaurants and other commercial users into fuel used by diesel-powered cars and commercial vehicles, said Britta Schwab, one of the two partners in the venture.

Schwab is partnering with James Munene, who has already operated several small-scale biodiesel projects, said Schwab, who is owner of Central Penn Development Co. She is also human resources coordinator for Bell Socialization Services in York.

Schwab estimates it would take four or five months to retrofit the building. She and Munene hope to begin production in June. The two would invest a combined $100,000 in the project.

Schwab sees the project as providing a local and sustainable source of fuel and helping to boost employment in York.

She forecasts the project would create between 10 and 15 construction jobs and five to 10 permanent production jobs.

"We really hope down the road to expand that," Schwab said.

She and Munene plan to team up with Beihang University in Beijing, China, which would send Ph.D. candidates to learn the production process and help manage production at the facility.

Schwab and Munene aren't the only ones interested in the cement block building built in the 1960s.

York Habitat for Humanity, whose volunteers build houses for low-income people, wants to acquire the building to store construction equipment and building materials, said Debbie Krout-Althoff, York Habitat for Humanity's executive director.

The Redevelopment Authority, at its meeting on Nov. 19, tabled a decision on which group it would sell the building to, until the RDA's Dec. 17 meeting.

Source: YDR.com