NATCHEZ — A utility authority aimed at supplying water and sewer services to the proposed Rentech plant is getting on its feet, officials said.

The St. Catherine Creek Utility Authority will purchase and operate the water and wastewater treatment plant at the International Paper Mill site.

Coal-to-liquid company Rentech is looking at buying the IP site to locate a proposed plant, which would turn coal or petroleum coke into liquid fuel.

The state legislature passed a bill earlier this year establishing a utility authority in the county.

The board of supervisors appointed members to the utility board, all of whom are also on the local economic development association board.

“It’s a totally separate authority,” EDA Chairman Woody Allen said. “The thinking was it all ties into economic development.”

The county won’t have anything more to do with the authority, he said.

The authority won’t operate the facilities, though, Allen said. Instead, they’ll oversee the operations and finances.

“The commission itself will send out requests for proposals for people to actually operate it,” Allen said.

The authority was a big draw for the company, Allen said.

“(Rentech) was not interested in being in the utility business,” Allen said. “It was something they wanted to have done in order to help their operations.”

Once it’s up and running, the authority will be able to serve other industries that locate nearby, Allen said.

Existing infrastructure, such as water and sewer, can serve as a big draw for industries, Rentech Project Developer Joe Regnery said.

“When a public enterprise develops infrastructure that supports industry in that area, it really entices an industry to locate there,” Regnery said. “One of the reasons we liked Adams County so much is all the infrastructure located in the area. Having water and wastewater services makes it even more enticing.”

Authority Chairman James West said he had high hopes of doing just that.

“Because of the capacity of water we have out there, the potential to expand is pretty great,” West said. “It’s going to be a pretty neat little deal.”

County Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said he hoped the authority would help sustain the EDA.

“There will be enough income generated from the sale of water that it will help underwrite the EDA down the road,” Grennell said. “That means it will save taxpayers money in the future.”