Alcester Union & Hudsonite Online

ELK POINT – Officials from Hyperion Resources announced late last week that they will ask Union County voters to decide on the fate of the proposed oil refinery and energy center in the county.

Hyperion officials asked the Union County Commission on Tuesday to rezone more than 10,000 acres of land in the county from agricultural to a planned development district for the construction of an $8 billion oil refinery and energy center, the first new refinery built in the United States in 30 years.

Project executive Preston Phillips said the company would like voters in Union County to decide if they want the facility built here.

“In the spirit of our corporate dedication to transparency, we think it is only responsible for us to encourage the residents of the county to make this decision,” Phillips said.

Phillips said he believes voters will approve the proposed refinery project, but if not, the company will find another location for the project. He said the company is also looking at a minimum of two other locations in the Midwest.

For the past 18 months Hyperion has been acquiring land-purchase options to buy nearly 20 square miles of land for the project in west central Union County. Company officials say they want to purchase a parcel of land large enough to allow for a substantial buffer zone around the refinery.

Regardless of Hyperion’s announcement asking for a vote of the people, it was likely that the project would be referred to a vote anyway. Opponents of the project said that they would likely circulate petitions to force the issue to a vote.

State law requires that the signatures of only 5 percent of registered voters are needed to refer the issue to a vote of the people. In this case the company will likely circulate petitions to bring the issue to a public vote.

Last week the Elk Point City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting the project. They joined the Elk Point Economic Development Corp., the Vermillion Chamber of Commerce, and the North Sioux City Economic Development Corp. in similar resolutions.

If constructed, the proposed oil refinery and energy center will refine 400,000 barrels of Canadian crude oil per day into low-sulfur diesel fuel, gasoline, and other petroleum products. Company officials say the state-of-the-art refinery will be one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly facilities in the world, and will employ around 1,800 people.

Company officials are also hosting a series of informational seminars next week at the Beresford Community Center on December 10, Dakota Valley Elementary School on December 11, and at the Elk Point-Jefferson High School on December 12. All programs run from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

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