Clark County wins infrastructure grant

Clark County has won a $10,500 grant to fund a feasibility study into the design and cost of an energy park.

Clark County Economic Development Director Kerri Ellis said the focus of the work will be a multi-modal rail infrastructure project that would serve as a loading dock for both trucks and railroad cars for agricultural and other products compatible with a proposed waste energy plant in Dubois.

Dubois and Clark County have already partnered to buy 150 acres of ground to house the park and have established water and sewer service on the property.

The waste energy plant, originally intended to burn regional solid waste for production of electricity, has now been refocused on production of diesel fuel. Four counties, Clark, Fremont, Madison and Bonneville, were originally involved.

The grant award comes from the Rural Economic Development and Integrated Freight Transportation Program (REDIFIT) to benefit Idaho’s freight shipping infrastructure.

The Port of Lewiston will also receive a loan of $600,000 for a dock extension. Port officials said that extension would improve the efficiency, productivity, and safety of marine operations.