The Chippewa-Cree Tribe zeroes in on ethanol plant in Montana with $20 million in tax credits

The Chippewa-Cree Tribe Tuesday secured $20 million in tax credits — the potential key to landing private investors for a proposed $100 million ethanol plant near Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.

Neal Rosette, the National Tribal Development Association’s CEO, said the tribe is weeks away from inking a deal with a major international investor.

Construction could begin in spring 2007, with the plant going online a year later.

The plant would be capable of producing 40 million gallons of ethanol a year — enough to satisfy the requirement made by the 2005 Legislature to blend most gasoline with 10 percent ethanol.

The project also will be a boon for the tribe, creating about 200 construction jobs and another 43 to man it.

By KIM SKORNOGOSKI
Tribune Staff Writer

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