Collingwood’s Ethanol plant, now called Amaizeingly Green LP, is starting to shut-down to make repairs that will end the 2 years of noise and odour problems.
Plant shareholder Bruce Chandler says the plant runs 24/7, so a complete shutdown is a difficult task, and it will take two weeks to shut everything down inside.
He says everything will be taken out, and there will be no grain left inside either.
All the equipment will get a full cleaning before the new equipment is brought in.
Chandler says in order to get the new equipment inside, and operational, a full shutdown was their only option.
He says the shutdown has been received warmly by the town, and surrounding businesses too.
But he says there is also a big price tag for the changes.
The plant won’t be making any money, and Chandler says they have had to let some workers go as well.
But he says they are glad to make the necessary changes.
Chandler says there isn’t a set date on when the plant will re-open, but they will be bringing in some extra help to install the equipment.
He adds the plant is glad to put the charges from the MOE last week behind them now, and they will be pressing on with a new attitude.
Two charges related to the mechanical failure of the pump last August, and Chandler says it released a terrible smell, which the plant apologized for.
He says the other charge was for having a piece of equipment in the plant that wasn’t on their certificate of approval.
The fines amounted to about 340 thousand dollars.