KINGMAN – A resolution declaring local support for Texas-based Nacero to build and operate a low carbon, zero sulfur gas processing facility in Mohave County was approved by a 4-1 vote during Monday’s board of supervisors meeting in Kingman. The resolution encourages federal approval of a tax credit and any other action that will expedite project development in the Griffith Energy Industrial corridor about 13 miles south of Kingman.
The proposed facility would use natural gas to convert to regular gasoline without the negative environmental carbon production that occurs when crude oil is used to produce gasoline.
Chairman Tom Tureen told supervisors the resolution is important because Nacero wants to be on the map as the Biden administration and Congress contemplate legislation in the infrastructure and alternative energy arenas.
“These measures that are being passed federally will allow us to accelerate development,” Tureen said. “This is all happening very quickly. We have a good lobbying team. We want to be right on top of whichever way things go to make sure that we’re not left out. That’s really what this resolution is about, just saying that the county would like Nacero to build here.”
Dist. 5 Sup. Ron Gould rejected the resolution because of the tax incentive component.
“I do not support tax credits because they create a distortion in the free market,” Gould said. “I support Nacero coming to the county but I just have an overall policy that I think tax credits are when government picks winners and losers and uses the tax credits to fulfill their misguided policies, so I’ll have to vote no.”
Dist. 4 Sup. Jean Bishop touted the project for its massive economic impact, projected at $13-billion over 40 years. Estimates include 2,500 construction jobs over a four-year buildout followed by 400 high paying permanent jobs once operations begin.
Tureen said the company has an option to purchase 1,500 acres for the facility. He said abundant natural gas supply, available rail service and the location are ideal for providing fuel in Arizona and states nearby.
Tureen said that the fuel conversion technology is already proven and safe eliminates hurdles that might otherwise slow development. He said the facility would use about the same amount of water required to irrigate a golf course.
“Our process makes 80% of the water it needs out of the air,” Tureen said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
Tureen said the facility, wherever located, could mean about 1,000 new students and associated revenue for the Kingman Unified School District.
“We’re also very interested in raising aspirations of kids. We think that having a facility like this proximate that they can see and touch will change their ideas of what they might do, what they might want to study,” Tureen said. “We intend as much as we’re welcome to be involved in the schools. We want our guys to be available to lecture. We’ll have a visitor’s center and there will be a viewing platform during construction so people who can see what’s going on.”
Tureen said it was a pleasure to meet the supervisors and he thanked them for their support.
“This is a big deal. It’s like a marriage without possibility of divorce,” he said. “If you spend $6-billion in a place, you can’t move it.”
Tureen said the company will start building a similar facility in Texas by the end of this year. He said he hopes construction can begin in Mohave County within 2 years.
Dave Hawkins
Write it down. I agree with Gould on something. Tax credits are terrible, especially in the Arizona tax code. Every special interest say they are unique and need a credit, than any tax burden is shifted to someone else. The private school tuition credit is the most obscene.
Write it down. I agree with Gould on something. Tax credits are terrible, especially in the Arizona tax code. Every special interest say they are unique and need a credit, than any tax burden is shifted to someone else. The private school tuition credit is the most obscene.