News & Events

[Source: The Sampson Independent]

Montauk Ag Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary of publicly-traded Montauk Renewables, Inc., has chosen to open a facility in the county, the Sampson County Economic Development Commission and county officials announced this week.

Rumors had been swirling in recent weeks leading up to Monday’s announcement. Turkey officials were expected to hear from the company during a regular town meeting Tuesday night (see clintonnc.com for updates). The company will reportedly locate off Highway 24 in the former Bay Valley Foods Distribution Center in Turkey, with a facility named Turkey Creek Ag, LLC.

Montauk Renewables, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTK) is a renewable energy company specializing in the management, recovery and conversion of biogas into renewable natural gas. Montauk Ag Renewables, LLC is its subsidiary, “which plans to utilize its patented technology for the conversion of agricultural residuals into renewable energy, including swine waste and other biomass associated with the swine growing process,” the county announcement stated.

“We are very excited to be working to open a facility in Sampson County and believe it’s a great place for our business to take the next step in our development,” Montauk Ag Renewables President Joe Carroll said in a prepared statement. “We look forward to working with the county, and the great people living there, to offer quality, stable jobs, while working to positively impact the environment.”

According to the Sampson County EDC, the company’s anticipated products and service offerings include swine waste removal, lagoon maintenance, and spray field cover crop management. Montauk expects to use the Turkey Creek facility to enable them to seek to enact a plan of conversion of animal-agriculture-waste to renewable natural gas, and, with a goal of reformulating renewable energy residuals into other a potential organic, pathogen-free, soil supplements and chemical fertilizer alternative renewable energy products.

Some Turkey officials expressed apprehension at the announcement — a similar sentiment has been received regarding animal waste processing near residential areas in Sampson in recent years due to concerns of potential odor and traffic — however were hopeful at getting some clarity during Tuesday’s meeting as to the company’s intentions.

It will take some time for the company to actually be up and running, according to Monday’s announcement.

County officials said that the company anticipates a five-year process for the Turkey Creek facility to become fully operational, with expectations to hire 70 new team members over that time period. The positions are likely to include multiple managerial roles, administrative positions, mechanics and technicians, equipment operators, farm hands, truck drivers and lab technicians.

Sampson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Clark Wooten expressed his gratitude at the announcement.

“Montauk Ag Renewables will complement the strong concentration of agriculture and manufacturing companies in Sampson County and across the region,” Wooten stated. “The county is grateful that Montauk Ag Renewables chose Sampson County as one of their renewable energy facilities across the country.”

Steve Yost, president of North Carolina’s Southeast, also noted the company’s compatibility with industries in the county and region.

“Montauk Ag Renewables aligns well with our growing renewable energy cluster across Southeast North Carolina,” he said. “We look forward to supporting Sampson County’s continued economic development successes and promoting our 18-county region as a place of choice to do business.”