A Sedgwick County ethanol plant has closed, leaving dozens of employees out of work.
Abengoa Bioenergy closed its plant in Colwich after the company filed for bankruptcy protection about two weeks ago.
About 20 to 30 people worked at the plant.
Colwich Mayor Terry Spexarth says losing the plant will have an impact on the city’s finances.
"Of course we get their real estate fees, and of course their franchise fees off the gas and electric which is pretty astronomical," Spexarth says. "And then also we were selling them water which they had made pretty close to about a third of one of our water payments."
Spexarth says the plant was in a maintenance shut-down period when word came that it was not re-opening. Abengoa also closed its plant in Hugoton, in Stevens County, which affects about 50 workers.
Abengoa is based in Spain and has plants worldwide. Its debts total about $9.5 billion.
--
Follow Deborah Shaar on Twitter @deborahshaar.
To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.
