I read with interest your front-page article on Elevance. I must say that I am proud that Elevance is here, and truly feel that they will live up to the pledges they have made on their future here in Natchez.

However, I was a little disappointed in the way the article was written and how it depicted the “former Delta Fuels.”

To set the record straight, the plant was Delta BioFuels Inc., not Delta Fuels. Also, as the former president of Delta BioFuels Inc., I was offended by some of the comments made in the article.

A brief history of the plant: Delta Agri-Fuels’ LLC originally purchased the plant from Ethyl Corporation, who was going to scrap it. Delta Agri-Fuels’ intention was to make a 20 million gallon biodiesel plant, thus saving the plant from disappearing altogether. Delta BioFuels Inc. Bought it from Delta Agri-Fuels because they had the means and vision to retrofit it to a 60 million gallon plant.

The plant was retrofitted and produced product — biodiesel — until the government pulled tax incentives and support from the industry. A quick glance at the biodiesel industry during this time period will show a more than 50 percent bankruptcy rate of other biofuel plants. However, Delta BioFuels weathered this storm.

It is a very simple process; Delta Agri-Fuels LLC bought the Ethyl plant to make a biodiesel plant. Delta BioFuels bought it to improve and enlarge it and now Elevance has bought it to make it even better.

What is so bad about this process? Why does The Democrat have to put any negative spin on this wonderful plant and the evolution of it?

Delta BioFuels came in and spent millions of dollars on the plant, millions of dollars retrofitting it, and at times spent millions on payroll without ever asking for a dime of public money or political help.

I can only feel that is why we keep getting these negative comments by The Natchez Democrat. I am sorry we were not the media darling!

When Delta BioFuels Inc. came to the port, absolutely nothing was going on. I feel that Mr. Anthony Hauer will attest to this.

TDC’s tank farm was being scrapped, the warehouse was in bankruptcy or repossession, IP was being dismantled and Rentech was “coming to town.”

Delta BioFuels Inc. came to Natchez and quietly built their plant, paid their taxes and took care of their business. This is the way I have always been taught that business is conducted; not in the public arena.

To also clarify, Delta Fuel Company Inc. is a Ferriday-based wholesaler of petroleum products with seven locations in Louisiana and one in Mississippi.

Delta Fuel is listed in Hispanic Business Magazine as No. 92 in the largest Hispanic 500 Businesses in the U.S. and the 37th of the 100th fastest growing Hispanic businesses in the U.S.

Delta Fuel has recently acquired Independent Oil and Coal Inc. wholesale bulk and tank wagon business in Natchez. It will be locating at 23 Briel Ave., the former Cloutier Oil Bulk plant location.

So in closing, why can’t The Natchez Democrat accentuate the positive? There are plenty of great stories here; you just have to look around.

 

Clint Vegas

CEO and president, Delta Fuel Company Inc.

president, Delta Agri-Fuels LLC

former president, Delta BioFuels Inc.