PULLMAN – Governor Jay Inslee met with the Port of Whitman County, AgTech OS, and other local and regional partners on Feb. 17 to learn about the Port’s proposed Agriculture Advancement Campus and AgTech OS’s proposed biofuels facility in Pullman.

The Port and AgTech OS shared information about the Port’s vision for the campus and AgTech OS’s vision for its facility, which would anchor the site, help attract industry innovators and support the Palouse’s agricultural economy. They also shared potential timelines for development and how the campus and facility support economic and environmental goals and fit with the community.

Local and regional partners also attended the meeting, including two farmers from Whitman County, Whitman County Commissioner Tom Handy, and representatives from the Washington State Department of Commerce and Avista Utilities.

“We appreciate Gov. Inslee and his staff taking the time to meet with us and learn about the possibilities the proposed campus and the AgTech OS facility bring to our region and state,” said Port Executive Director Kara Riebold. “There’s so much potential with this project to create the jobs, economic vitality, and environmental benefits that will sustain us today and build a foundation for our future.

“We have lots of work ahead of us and are looking forward to continuing to move through the process with our partners and community.”

About the Agricultural Advancement Campus

The Port of Whitman County has made an offer to purchase 184 acres on SW Old Wawawai Road in Pullman for a proposed Agricultural Advancement Campus. The Port is currently in the negotiations and due diligence stage; the property purchase is not final.

The Port plans to apply for a zoning change for 88 acres to heavy industrial and commercial. The commercial portion of the property would act as a buffer between industrial operations and nearby Pullman residences.

If the rezone is approved, the Port intends to create a campus for businesses in the agricultural technology industry. Committed private partner and startup company AgTech OS would serve as the anchor tenant. AgTech OS plans to establish an approximately 550,000-square-foot biofuels facility that will convert a local rotation crop, canola, into sustainable fuels for agricultural operations. The timeline for facility construction once permits are approved is about 12 to 24 months, according to AgTech OS.

Learn more about this proposed facility at www.farmfuel.tech. 

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About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities.