Despite paying more than $600,000 in local, county and school taxes, officials say hope of a shuttered ethanol plant reopening in Clearfield is fading.

Officials at the Clearfield Chamber of Commerce told 6News that they’ve have not received any indications of Bionol Clearfield LCC resuming production or been given any updates about the status of plant employees since summer.

The corn-based ethanol producer, which filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and went on "hot idle" in July, did not return calls for comment from 6News.

Bionol is still waiting for a response from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, after requesting to alter its withdrawal permit from the West Branch of the Susquehanna, which would allow the sale of hundreds of gallons of water to contractors, which haul water to Marcellus Shale drilling sites to be used in the hydrofracturing process.

Clearfield County Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen told 6News that officials are optimistic that high-tech facility, which cost nearly $275 million to build, will be brought back to life in 2012.

“With the Marcellus opening many opportunities, it does sit right along the river. It is an excellent facility,” said Robinson-McMillen. “We would welcome any, if not an ethanol plant because we do sit so far away from the corn belt, some other industry that will employ more folks with high paying jobs.”