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RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) Officials in Belle Fourche say plans to build a $200 million ethanol plant have fizzled.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Teresa Schanzenbach says community leaders are disappointed. She says the 100-million-gallon-a-year plant would have provided "great-paying jobs" for area residents.

Many plants were planned and built when Gas Prices rose because Corn was cheap. But when corn prices rose, money for some projects dried up.

Schanzenbach says the city plans to build an industrial park on the land and continues to look for other renewable energy opportunities.

It would have been South Dakota's first ethanol plant west of the Missouri River.

In July, a developer said a delay in a water permit caused financing to dry up.

Information from: KOTA-TV, http://www.kotatv.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-13-08 0832CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list