Hyperion refinery: possibility or politics?

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 18, 2008 by James Carlson

Hyperion has run into some problems lately in South Dakota. The company's CEO, Albert Huddleston, is being sued by the trustees of his wife's multi-million dollar inheritance to try to block those funds from being used for the refinery.

The company also has applied for a $10 billion federal loan guarantee, which critics say is evidence of the project's shaky financial standing.

Open for business

The 17 million tons of CO2 the Hyperion refinery is projected to emit, according to its South Dakota application, is well above that of the rejected Sunflower plant.

Still, Kansas is interested.

"We cannot speak with any certainty as to what level of emissions would be generated at a Kansas version of the proposed Hyperion facility," said Mike Heideman, KDHE spokesman.

Carlson said he has heard there may be renewed interest by Hyperion in the state, and Monaco with the commerce department said "fairly recent" conversations with the company have been promising, though he declined to go into more detail.

Nicole Corcoran, spokeswoman for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, said Kansas is still interested. "We're definitely open to continuing conversations with Hyperion, but we're not saying that this specific project would be approved," Corcoran said.

James Carlson can be reached

at (785) 233-7470

or james.carlson@cjonline.com.