The proposed natural gas-powered ethanol plant is the largest ever in Custer County costing nearly $170 million and adding 45 employees.

The Custer County Plant will use 30 million to 40 million bushels of corn annually to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol and 300,000 tons of cattle feed.

The plant will have a $1.5 million firt year payroll, employ a plant manager and four additional management positions.

A 2007 groundbreaking is to result in operations in 2008 or early 2009 of over $100 million annually.