• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
Monday, February 6, 2023
Smith County News Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
    • Crytpocurrency
    • Gaming
    • Gadgets
  • Sports
  • Health
  • General
    • Business Services
  • Travel
  • Press Releases
  • Popular
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News Local News

Messer To Build $50 Million Gas Plant In McGregor – Waco Tribune-Herald

by NewsReporter
February 23, 2022
in Local News
messer-to-build-$50-million-gas-plant-in-mcgregor-–-waco-tribune-herald
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Messer to build $50 million gas plant in McGregor

A Germany-based company, Messer, will build a $50 million air separation unit in McGregor’s industrial park powered by its own solar farm, the first such facility in the United States, the company claims.

Messer produces gases used in industries including aerospace, health care, electronics, food and more. Its McGregor plant will occupy 85 acres along Bluebonnet Parkway, near McGuffey Road, in the same 9,600-acre industrial park that a SpaceX rocket-testing facility calls home. SpaceX also is placing there a Raptor 2 engine-assembly plant vital to powering Mars-bound rockets.

Local economic development officials said Messer’s ties to aerospace would suggest it could serve as a supplier to SpaceX, but they had no specific information about such a relationship and Messer did not comment.

The proposed plant hardly is labor intensive, but will create 22 long-term jobs paying an average of $60,000 a year. Messer estimates construction may create another 80 jobs, with completion the second quarter of 2024.

“Their specialty is compressed gases of all kinds,” McGregor Mayor Jim Hering said. “We will convey to them 35 acres, meaning they would hold title to the land, and we’re going to lease another 50 acres to them, which may or may not be used right away. That could become the solar yard.”

Messer will pay McGregor $75 per acre annually under the lease. Hering said the conveyance amounts to McGregor giving the company 35 acres.

Hering said Messer’s announcement may not match SpaceX’s high profile, nor SpaceX’s intention to employ almost 1,000 people locally. And it may fall short of Knauf Insulation’s spending $700 million to build a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in McGregor employing almost 200 people.

“But I don’t want to downplay this,” Hering said. “Any company that chooses to invest $50 million in this city, and proposes paying $60,000 on average, we consider an outstanding corporate citizen. Messer is locating in a (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone), which means tax dollars it pitches off can pay for improvements within the zone, including those for Knauf. The more industry in TIRZ, the faster we pay off any associated debt.”

McGregor is eyeing possible railroad and infrastructure improvements in its industrial park to serve Knauf and impress prospects.

“On behalf of the City of McGregor, we are excited to welcome Messer to our community,” Hering said in a statement. “Over the years, as we have developed our industrial park, we have become highly selective in what types of people and industries we want to attract and invest our future in.

“Messer checks all of the boxes. They bring cutting edge technology, high quality jobs, and most importantly, first class people.”

Messer’s product list on its website includes argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. The gases are provided at whatever volume, purity and pressure the customer desires, and are shipped via railroad car, bulk truck, independent distributors and pipeline.

“It will be trucked out,” said Andrew Smith, executive director for the McGregor Economic Development Corp., commenting on Messer’s primary means of transport. “There will be additional truck traffic, but not an insane amount. I don’t know exact counts off the top of my head.”

He said Messer compresses air into components, creating liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, for example. He said a company’s focus on fuel often raises safety concerns, but Messer passed McGregor’s vetting process.

“They are hyper-focused on safety, which is one of their founding principles,” Smith said. “They presented a package we are very comfortable with, in terms of not creating a danger to the community.”

He said Messer is not perceived as a threat to air quality.

“Messer plants comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations and our site in Texas will not be an exception,” Messer Americas spokesperson Amy Ficon said by email. “We do not anticipate any issues in obtaining the required permits prior to the construction phase.”

McLennan County commissioners voted to award Messer a 50% break on personal property taxes over 10 years beginning with property additions to its plant made on or before Jan. 31, 2025, according to documents.

“With our expansion in Texas and the inclusion of solar energy, Messer is focused on sustainability and environmental protection,” Messer Americas President and CEO Jens Luehring said in a press release.

It will be Messer’s first plant powered by a renewable source on the same site, according to the press release.

Ficon said the solar array is designed to meet the plant’s needs during normal operations, though during the hottest days of a Texas summer, it could provide enough power for more than 1,800 residential households.

Messer calls itself “the largest privately held industrial gas business in the world, and a leading industrial and medical gas company in North and South America.”

Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

Related Posts

tarleton-state-to-sell-beer,-wine-at-spring-football-game-–-stephenville-empire-tribune

Tarleton State To Sell Beer, Wine At Spring Football Game – Stephenville Empire-Tribune

by NewsReporter
April 14, 2022
0

TSU Newsroom  |  Stephenville Empire-TribuneSTEPHENVILLE — As a trial run to enhance its Texan fan experience, Tarleton State University will sale beer and wine at its spring football game April 23 at Memorial Stadium. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issued a one-day permit.If the university receives a full two-year TABC...

ronnie-forbes-|-obituaries-–-the-daily-courier

Ronnie Forbes | Obituaries – The Daily Courier

by NewsReporter
April 14, 2022
0

Ronald “Ronnie” Charles Forbes, 52, of Charlotte, passed away April 12, 2022 at his home. He was born February 18, 1970 in Cleveland County, North Carolina, a son of Jack Forbes and the late Sandra Martin Forbes.Ronnie graduated from East Rutherford High School in 1988 and attended Central Piedmont Community...

the-woodlands-edition-|-april-2022-–-community-impact

The Woodlands Edition | April 2022 – Community Impact

by NewsReporter
April 13, 2022
0

THEWOODLANDS EDITION VOLUME 11, ISSUE 8 APRIL 13MAY 10, 2022 ONLINE AT LOCAL VOTER GUIDE 2022 SAMPLE BALLOT ShenandoahPolice Department shifts focuses to city limit 31 IMPACTS 8 PUBLIC SAFETY TA’BLEYAH 23 41 TheWoodlands-area entities feel increasing eects of ination PR I CES ON THE RISE Prices of household staples...

1-dead,-2-arrested-after-shooting-in-hereford-–-kfda

1 Dead, 2 Arrested After Shooting In Hereford – KFDA

by NewsReporter
April 13, 2022
0

HEREFORD, Texas (KFDA) - The Hereford Police Department has arrested two men involved in a shooting resulting a person dead this afternoon.According to the release, today, at around 4:30 p.m., the Hereford Police Department received a call near 13th Street and Star Street regarding a fight.More information showed two men...

Smith County News Online

© 2021 Smith County News Online

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Smith County News Online

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT