(KLZA)-- Citroniq Chemicals, LLC, a company based in Houston, Texas and an innovator in biochemical manufacturing, has selected a location about 2 miles south of Falls City for the world's largest decarbonized plastics production facility according to a news release.

The $5 billion investment is one of the largest in state history.

The landmark project is part of the Nebraska BioEconomy Initiative, which aims to advance Nebraska's economic strength, fortify rural communities, and create sustainable, high-paying careers.

Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise Executive Director Lucas Froeschl provided information to MSC News about the plant which will produce polypropylene pellets, which are the plastic pellets used to make everyday plastic goods such as water bottles and components for automobiles. The pellets will be made from ethanol instead of petroleum.

The use of ethanol will mean the company is not in competition with area elevators and will require large amounts of ethanol and a large investment in rail spurs at the site. 400 million gallons of ethanol will be shipped in by rail which will require 10 - 12 rail spurs to allow parking for 4,000 rail cars which will be a large part of the investment. It is projected that 80 tank cars of ethanol would be delivered to the plant each day with 50 hopper cars of polypropylene shipped out each day.

There will be no pollution and no odors with the creation of the pellets. A private wastewater treatment facility to process 300 gallons of environmentally friendly water per minute.

It is anticipated that during construction of the plant, 2,000 workers will be required. Once built, it's anticipated to become one of the areas largest employers with an expected workforce of 160 persons. The jobs created will be premium, high-wage positions requiring engineers, chemists and maintenance technicians. The plant itself will be fully automated.

Plans are for the plant to be in production by 2029 with ground to be broken within the next year and about three years to complete the project for operation.

Contacts about this particular plant were first discussed about 14 months ago. While Falls City was originally a backup site, the original location fell through and Falls City was up next. Froeschl said that about five weeks ago the company began to focus more of Falls City as the location.

Since the project has been announced many questions have come up from the public. EDGE will host a Community Engagement Session in a few weeks allowing citizens to ask questions and meet the co-owners.

Froeschl says EDGE does not expect the project to cannabalize current industries.

EDGE is excited to partner with Citroniq and establish Falls City as a leader in the Nebraska BioEconomy.

Citroniq Chemicals President Mel Badheka says Nebraska is an ideal location to create a bio-plastics manufacturing hub due to the availability of local ethanol feedstock, advantaged logistics to industrial plastics consumes and high-quality rail infrastructure to support the entire value chain.

It is projected that over the next three decades the economic impact will be in the tens of billions of dollars. The development should also increase local and state revenue, providing additional support for essential community needs such as police, fire service, streets, schools infrastructure, culture recreation and community development, benefiting Falls City, Richardson County, and all political subdivisions with taxing authority.

Kelly Knopp and Mel Badheka are the founders of Citroniq Chemicals, LLC. Citroniq has secured purchase agreements with companies in Chicago, Western Pennsylvania, and the Rust Belt region of the country.