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Green Industry
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When it comes to being green, we’re not just talking about it, we’re doing it! Here is a introduction to what makes Randolph County the perfect place for alternative energy businesses.
Wind Energy
- Randolph County is the juncture between two Regional Transmission Organizations—PJM and Midwest ISO—perfect for nationwide distribution of power from wind farms and other alternative energy sources
- Randolph County has significant wind resources and transmission infrastructure
- Countywide pro-wind zoning ordinance enacted in early 2010
- Indiana is the fastest-growing state for wind energy installations
Source: American Wind Energy Association, Wind Power Outlook 2009
- The county has a vast network of specialized machine shops, including ISO certified manufacturers capable of fulfilling the needs of the wind energy supply chain.
Ethanol
Randolph County is home to a large ethanol facility, Cardinal Ethanol, which began production at its plant near Union City late 2008. The Cardinal Ethanol facility:
- Uses 36 million bushels of corn per year
- Produces 100 million gallons of ethanol per year
- Makes 320,000 tons of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) each year, which is used primarily as a high-protein cattle and dairy feed.
- Owns a dual-switch rail spur off the CSX Railroad mainline, which runs parallel to the facility
- For more information about Cardinal Ethanol, visit www.cardinalethanol.com
Hybrid and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversions
Randolph County is home to Productive Concepts, Inc. (PCI), an ISO-9001:2000 certified tier 1 supplier to the commercial truck, RV and bus industries. PCI offers a variety of hybrid-electric and alternative fuels conversion options, including CNG and LPG. PCI also does armored vehicle conversions.
Alternative Energy in K-12 Education
The Randolph Eastern School Corporation has embraced alternative energy by:
- Incorporating alternative energy education into all levels of curriculum.
- Utilizing a small wind turbine and a large solar panel to power the school. These devices are monitored by students.
- Boasting the first converted hybrid electric school bus in the nation (converted by PCI, a Randolph County company).
Partnering with the City of Union City to erect two 1MW Nordic wind turbines, Indiana's first community wind project. Click here for more information.
- Partnering with Ivy Tech East Central to develop the first Alternative Energy Technology Program in the country. This program will soon become available to all Indiana high school students interested in wind, solar, or biofuels technology engineering.
