Duncan Breaks Ground on $400 Million Refinery and Advances Retail Development District
Duncan’s combination of large-scale industrial redevelopment and targeted retail investment reflects an effort to diversify the local economy while leveraging the community’s historic strengths in energy-related industry
Duncan Breaks Ground on $400 Million Refinery and Advances Retail Development District
Duncan and Stephens County have taken a major step forward in industrial redevelopment with the groundbreaking of a new $400 million refinery, while the city also advances plans for a retail-focused Tax Increment District.
$400 Million Green Fuels Refinery Underway
In late May, Green Fuels Operating broke ground on a new refinery at the site of a former refining complex that dates back to the 1920s. The project marks the first major new U.S. refining investment of its kind in decades and is expected to create 75 to 80 permanent full-time jobs, along with hundreds of indirect positions in skilled trades, engineering, operations, and related fields.
The facility is designed with an initial capacity of 30,000 barrels per day, expandable to 50,000, and will include storage for up to one million barrels. It will produce a range of refined products including asphalt, naphtha, kerosene, diesel, gasoline, and aviation fuel, operating around the clock across three shifts.
The Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation has been working with Stephens County to market and redevelop the long-idle industrial site. Brownfield certification cleared the path for new investment, and the partnership with Green Fuels Operating is the first major result of those efforts.
Retail Tax Increment District Moving Forward
Separately, the City of Duncan has advanced plans for a Tax Increment District at the northeast intersection of Plato Road and Highway 81. The proposed district is intended to support public infrastructure and economic incentives for a development that includes a national grocery store as an anchor, along with additional retail and restaurant sites.
Projected project costs total roughly $18.27 million. Preliminary estimates show approximately $48 million in total capital investment within the district and significant sales-tax and ad-valorem revenue generation over the life of the TIF. Public hearings have been held to gather input before a formal vote.
Positioning for Long-Term Opportunity
Duncan’s combination of large-scale industrial redevelopment and targeted retail investment reflects an effort to diversify the local economy while leveraging the community’s historic strengths in energy-related industry. Residents can expect continued construction activity at the refinery site and further public discussion of the proposed retail district in the months ahead.
City and economic development leaders describe the current period as one of practical preparation—returning a significant industrial site to productive use while creating new commercial opportunities for residents.
