Greenhouse project planned for Spiritwood

The Spiritwood Energy Park Association approved a letter of intent Tuesday, Aug. 25, for the construction of a 30-acre commercial greenhouse at Spiritwood, N.D.

The project is being developed by Glass Improvement Projects Inc., the development division of Houweling's Tomatoes of Delta, British Columbia. Hoewling's Tomatoes operates commercial greenhouses at Camarillo, Calif., Mona, Utah, and Delta and has approximately 150 acres of land under glass for raising tomatoes and other vegetables, according to the company's website.

Plans call for an initial project of 30 acres under glass with a planned expansion capability to up to 60 acres in the future. The plant will be located directly south of the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol plant with construction slated to start next spring. No completion date for the project was announced.

Project costs have not been released although the greenhouse will employ about 100 people when operational.

"The proposed location provides existing infrastructure and facilities, including the availability of carbon dioxide, steam, water supply and transportation logistics.," said Corry Shevlin, business development director for the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp., a partner in the Spiritwood Energy Park Association. "These attributes make the property an optimal location for the development and operation of a large-scale commercial greenhouse."

Shevlin said the greenhouse would draw steam for heat from Spiritwood Station, an electric generating plant at the industrial park, and carbon dioxide from Dakota Spirit AgEnergy.

Casey Houweling's, president of Glass Investment Projects, said the plan to come to North Dakota had been in the works for a couple of years.

"Our facilities are the most technically-advanced and environmentally-friendly greenhouse operations in the world. Building a greenhouse facility in the Spiritwood Energy Park will allow us to utilize all the synergies available in the energy park. In our quest for perfection," Houweling said. "We have become world-renowned as a pioneer of technologies that improve sustainability, food safety, yields, and consistency and are eager to bring these capabilities to North Dakota."

The project has had the support of the state of North Dakota and was awarded grants of $200,000 for research in 2017 and 2019 from the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said Gov. Doug Burgum in the press release announcing the project.

"We're thrilled for the Jamestown area and excited about the example this sets for current and future collaboration between our state's two largest industries, agriculture and energy," he said.

Doug Goehring, North Dakota commissioner of agriculture, said the project is a first of its kind for the state.

"The project is a great example of collaboration between local, private and state entities with development funding provided by the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission," he said.

Local leaders also expressed support for the project.

"This is an opportunity that will provide year-round permanent jobs for families to live, work and play in Jamestown/Stutsman County. It will also offer more opportunities to those owners of apartments looking for tenants," said Dwaine Heinrich, Jamestown mayor.

Mark Klose, chairman of the Stutsman County Commission, said the county would likely be willing to extend the same types of tax incentives for this project as it has for other value-added agriculture projects.

"This will provide a significant contribution to the community," he said.

Source: Ag Week

Photo: A 30-acre greenhouse is planned for this area adjacent to Dakota Spirit AgEnergy in the Spiritwood Energy Park Association industrial park. Construction is planned to begin next spring. John M. Steiner / The Sun

Source: Ag Week