Fertilizer Project To Create Jobs In Region

A huge economic project appears headed for Roosevelt County in the near future.

The Eastern Montana Fertilizer Project, headed by Cyan H2 LLC., is planned to be constructed 15 miles east of the Fort Peck Reservation and near Culbertson.

The project is estimated to cost $1.6 billion. The lone public assistance will come from a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy that will be paid off with interest.

John K. Mues of Cyan H2 said early estimates are that the project will create 3,200 jobs including 2,000 during the construction phase, 200 permanent jobs and 1,000 of in-direct jobs created through economic opportunities.

Mues said 500 acres are under legal contract by the company east of the reservation in Roosevelt County.

“We could break ground if everything goes perfectly by the end of the year,” Mues said. “I feel the main challenges have been overcome.”

One of the things that still need to be achieved is establishing a Financial Investment Decision for public and private investors.

The project has been supported by U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, Gov. Greg Gianforte, Roosevelt County Commissioner Gordon Oelkers, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Electrical Workers Union and the AFL-CIO.

Tester wrote in a statement, “Boosting America’s energy independence and lowering costs for Montanans are two of my top priorities in the United States Senate, and the Cyan H2 Project can help do both by generating fertilizer and hydrogen in northeastern Montana. I will continue to fight to lower energy costs and strengthen our national security by lessening our reliance on a global market that’s shaped in part by adversaries like China and Russia, and I’m hopeful that the project will receive assistance through a competitive process at the Department of Energy.”

“It’s economic development,” Oelkers said of the project. “This will be a major taxpayer in Roosevelt County if it happens.” He added that it would bring good paying jobs to the area.

The county commissioner noted the project will be environmentally friendly. “It’s federally backed to move the U.S. to be more independent with fertilizer.”

Oelkers added that part of the project down is a solar farm. About 1,000 acres of land is needed for that portion. “It will happen in phases,” he explained.

Mues said he’s been told the fertilizer plant is the largest job creation project in Montana in four decades.

He said there are several reasons to develop the low-carbon fertilizer project in eastern Montana including renewable energy potential, land and water available. The project has the potential to let the country be least dependent on foreign countries China, Russia and the Middle East.

“Eastern Montana in general is one of the best regions in the world for low-carbon energy for agriculture production,” Mues said. He spent part of his childhood being raised in Wolf Point.

Cyan H2 is a Montana veteran- owned business. Four principles are veterans including two West Point graduates and two U.S. Naval graduates.

Wolf Point’s Lance FourStar recently accompanied State Sen. Jacob Small to discuss the project at the DoE Tribal Clean Energy Summit held in Temecula, Calif.

“I feel the fertilizer project is great and has a lot of support,” FourStar said. “It’s going to happen.”

Mues noted, “We’re pushing forward. Lance has been very supportive of how we can incorporate tribal members’ talents and skills set with the project.”

They agree that the project will be a great benefit to eastern Montana.

FourStar encourages the public to support the project.

“We’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” Mues said.