Regulators reviewing permits for Kalama methanol plant

LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Federal and state regulators are weighing the first major permits requested for the proposed $1.8 billion methanol manufacturing plant at the Port of Kalama.

The Daily News reports that Northwest Innovation Works wants to start construction on the project next summer. The company is looking to convert natural gas to methanol, which would then be shipped to Asia for producing plastics.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering a clean water permit for the plant, which would be constructed along the Columbia River.

The state Department of Ecology will decide whether to issue a permit for the company to build a natural gas pipeline to supply the necessary raw material to make methanol.

Northwest Innovation says the methanol plant would create 240 permanent jobs and 1,000 construction jobs.