Decision coming soon on ethanol plant permit

The state’s Environmental Improvement Board is scheduled to deliberate Monday the fate of an air quality permit for the Clovis Ethanol Plant.

The New Mexico Environment Department approved the permit in May.

Several community groups filed an appeal against the permit. They said the food company did not clearly state the location of the plant to residents who would live near it.

Plant representatives said the location of the plant never came up as an issue during information meetings and an open house prior to applying for the permit.

Owned by ConAgra Foods, the plant will produce 108 million gallons a year of ethanol about a mile west of the city limits on property it owns along U.S. 60/84 about a mile west of city limits.