George Co. site for new wood pellet plant

LUCEDALE, Miss. (AP) — Gulf Coast Renewable Energy has announced it will spend $25 million on a wood pellet plant to locate in the industrial park in George County.

The company asked the board of supervisors for help in building an access road to the site.

Officials say the plant will employ 30 full-time workers.

GCRE is buying from Mississippi Export Railroad about 40 acres at the industrial park.

GCRE will tie into the existing railroad spur, and officials say about 3 railroad cars of pellets will be sent to the port in Theodore, Ala., every 2 to 3 days.

Wood pellets are shipped overseas to European utilities plants to use as biomass energy that complies with their stricter sustainability guidelines. The pellets are made from a mix of soft and hard woods.