West Louisville methane plant scrapped after public outcry

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – A company seeking to build a new facility that produces methane gas from manure and other organic material has scrapped plans to build at a western Louisville site amid outcry from residents and local leaders.

STAR BioEnergy announced on Thursday that it would withdraw its application to the city’s zoning board to build the methane plant on the city’s western end.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had supported the project, but some residents opposed building the facility in a residential area. The Courier-Journal reports Fischer urged the company to pull back on the project weeks ago after previously supporting it. The mayor says other sites may be available.

The company sought to build a 3,700-square-foot building and four 44-foot-tall sealed tanks at a site owned by Heaven Hill Distillery.