Port of Quincy working with ammonia company

QUINCY — The Port of Quincy is working with a Richland, Wash., man to start an ammonia company for fertilizer, an idea being touted as a renewable energy source.

If the facility is built on port property, between 25 to 50 new area jobs could result, said Quincy port Commissioner Brian Kuest on Friday.

Quincy port officials heard Doug McKinley, of the company NHThree, share his idea with members of the state House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee in Olympia the day before, Kuest says.

State law defines alternative fuel to include anhydrous fuel, according to a copy of McKinley’s PowerPoint presentation titled “Ammonia — A workhorse fertilizer that is also an abundant, affordable, emission-free fuel.”

“That gave us an opportunity to see how he was pitching his program,” Kuest said. “I think, by and large, it was well received.”

It was helpful for the port to have McKinley there, so they could learn how his project will be accepted politically, Kuest added.

The project entails converting nitrogen to ammonia with the use of steam and McKinley’s proprietary technology.

The idea is a renewable energy project, not a power production project. Ammonia will be produced without using natural gas.

The process would eliminate the normal production of greenhouse gases. There would be no carbon dioxide emissions.

McKinley would need 4,500 gallons of water daily and has an initial goal of producing 10 tons of ammonia daily. Production would later increase to 40 tons daily.

The issue of safety was brought up during the House committee meeting.

During the presentation, McKinley told committee members about an ammonia pipeline that runs through the U.S. with a “spotless safety record.”

The big focus is fertilizer, but there is other energy potential such as the use for fuel, Kuest explained.

The next step is for port officials to keep facilitating discussion and be visible in Olympia to obtain funding.

The company is looking for $5 million in grant or stimulus funds, Kuest explained.

“There’s a lot of money in the package for energy related projects,” Kuest says.

The port has offered ground, infrastructure and administrative services to McKinley, including the help of port lobbyist Pat Boss.

McKinley recently presented his idea to port commissioners from Moses Lake, Quincy, Ephrata, Mattawa and Royal City to gauge interest in his project.

Port of Ephrata Manager Mike Wren said Ephrata commissioners decided against getting involved with the project.

They wanted more details regarding distances required from other buildings during manufacturing and future storage plans for the product once production is running at maximum capacity, Wren says.

And McKinley wanted an answer in a few days.

Instead, talks started with the Port of Quincy, which is now working with McKinley.

Kuest said the Port of Quincy has three ingredients McKinley was looking for, water, land and sufficient power substations.

McKinley hasn’t started his business in the Tri-Cities because of power costs, Kuest noted.

Last year, McKinley presented his idea to the Douglas County Port Commission in East Wenatchee, Wash., during an October 2008 commissioners meeting.

He was seeking funding sources as well as commitments from wheat farmers and fertilizer co-ops to use a percentage of the product, according to port minute notes.

The Columbia Basin Herald was unable to reach McKinley for comment.