Bio-Refinery Brings Jobs to West Tennessee
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Memphis-based company Bio-Dimensions said it could soon bring thousands of jobs to West Tennessee. “A typical commercial bio-refinery like this we estimated will employ about 25 people and they will be in rural areas, but multiply that time hundreds if not thousands of bio-refineries and you can see the jobs impact is huge,” said program manager Randy Powell of Bio-Dimensions. Powell said the company converts sweet sorghum into sustainable sugars and feed. He said the sugar can be used to make carpet fibers, plastic bottles and ethanol. Officials said the refineries offer limitless opportunities for West Tennessee farmers. “Sorghum crops seem to be very resilient against these hot, dry summers. This sorghum seems to grow know matter how hot it gets,” said farmer, Willie German of German Farms. “We’re looking at growing sorghum as a different crop, a good rotational crop from our soybean and our cotton.” Powell said although the Whiteville operation is a pilot program, they hope to open their first commercial refinery next year. The location has yet to be decided.
