"This is great news not only for Hyperion, but also Union County and the surrounding area," said Preston Phillips, Hyperion's project executive. "We want to give a heartfelt 'Thank You' to the Commissioners and the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the huge number of supporters we have in the community. This is a big step toward the energy center becoming a reality."

Phillips said Hyperion has been impressed with the level of due diligence that both the Planning and County Commission bodies gave Hyperion's application for a zone change on approximately 3,300 acres of land near Elk Point. "We've known all along our project will receive the highest level of scrutiny, and we continue to welcome that as the project moves into the referendum and additional permitting processes by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources."

The Hyperion Energy Center will include a 400,000 barrel-per-day refinery producing ultra-low sulfur gasoline and diesel and an IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) power plant. The center will incorporate green principles in its every day functions and integrate only the most advanced commercially feasible emission control technologies in its operations, as spelled out in the company's Green Charter.