Officials turn dirt on the headquarters for Lima Energy-- a company with the goal of brining ultra clean, high tech, and low cost energy to America.
Lima's mayor, David Berger says he first met with Lima Energy's chairman Harry Graves in 1998 on possibly taking over the site of the Lima Refinery. However, refinery operations continued just under another name. Now, more than a decade later, Lima Energy is taking over another historic industrial site-- the former Lima Locomotive Works.
The new technology innovation center will house administrative offices, lab space and a control center for the company.
Lima Energy is part of USA Synthetic Fuels. The main project, which is seeking additional funding, will produce low cost synthetic fuel for the gas, jet fuel ,and diesel markets. Mayor Berger says the groundbreaking is evidence that the project, which he's been working on for more than a decade, is becoming a reality.
Development of the headquarters is possible because of new money from Canadian investment firm, Third Eye Capital. Even though funding is still in the works for the converter project, both Graves and Berger are optimistic about the development of the entire site.
Graves says construction of the headquarters is expected to be finished within a year, and additional work on the $400 million converter project could begin in 2013.
