PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Supreme Court has removed the final obstacle for a $150 million ethanol plant in Sully County.
Justices this week denied the appeal of 11 Onida-area residents who oppose the plant's location. The neighbors maintain the county improperly issued a permit for the project.
The Supreme Court didn't rule on the merits — justices instead said the opponents didn't file their appeal within a 30-day window set in state law.
Ringneck Energy President and CEO Walt Wendland says the company this month received an air quality permit from the state, and construction is set to begin this fall. It will take about 14 months to build the plant.
The plant is to produce 70 million gallons of ethanol fuel annually from about 25 million bushels of corn.
