New Orleans area to witness massive $1.3 billion biofuel plant

Woodland Biofuels, a Toronto-based company that turns plant waste into fuel, said Tuesday it plans to build a $1.35 billion plant at the South Louisiana Port’s Globalplex terminal, creating 110 new jobs.

The company said the St. John the Baptist Parish project will require an engineering requirements study that will run through the first half of 2025 before a final investment decision is made. If it proves feasible, the facility is expected to be completed in 2028.

Woodland Biofuels CEO Greg Nutall said the plant, which will process plant materials into ethanol and natural gas, would be one of the world’s largest carbon-negative natural gas plants. But to do that, it would need to build an associated carbon capture and storage facility to store the carbon dioxide produced in the process.

Nutall said Louisiana’s existing oil and gas industry infrastructure, skilled labor force, and transportation connections via river, road and rail were all factors that helped Globalplex win the bidding for the site.

The project will receive a $10 million state grant for infrastructure improvements and is also eligible for LEDFastStart and Quality Jobs workforce development grants if it meets certain performance goals. It is also expected to apply for the Industrial Tax Exemption Program.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois said the project will bring much-needed, well-paying jobs to St. John the Baptist Parish.

GNO Inc. CEO Michael Hecht praised Woodland Biofuels’ decision, calling it a vindication of Louisiana’s energy strategy to pursue “all available” solutions while pursuing renewable fuel projects like this one while supporting the fossil fuel sector and controversial industries like carbon capture and storage.

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