Renewable Energy Group Touts Minnesota Biorefinery Expansion
Renewable Energy Group® (NASDAQ: REGI) celebrated completion of upgrades to its 30-million gallon biodiesel refinery in southern Minnesota with a ribbon cutting and visit by U.S. Senator Al Franken, along with state and local leaders.
REG began the $21 million project last October to upgrade the Albert Lea biorefinery, which enables the plant to utilize multiple raw materials such as waste animal fats and greases and inedible corn oil, in addition to the refined vegetable oils the facility was originally built to process. The project was completed in June.
“We completed the upgrades at REG Albert Lea on time and on budget,” said Daniel J. Oh, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. “That is a testament to the hard work of our team and contractors.”
Within days of start-up, all biodiesel produced at Albert Lea met the company’s REG-9000® quality specifications, which exceed the industry’s ASTM B100 standard. Multi-feedstock biodiesel has been available at Albert Lea since June 19. The upgrade project supported between 70 and 80 construction jobs.
REG initially constructed the facility for SoyMor in 2005 before acquiring it in 2011. With the recent acquisition of the former SoyEnergy, LLC plant in nearby Mason City, Iowa, REG now has 8 active biorefineries in 5 states with a combined annual production capacity of more than 255 million gallons.
“With these upgrades, REG Albert Lea stands ready to supply more high-quality biodiesel in Minnesota as the state prepares to increase its blending from B5 to B10,” Oh said. “Minnesota is one of a growing number of states that recognize how biodiesel helps make us more energy secure and environmentally sustainable.”
Renewable Energy Group® is a leading North American biodiesel producer with a nationwide distribution and logistics system. Utilizing an integrated value chain model, Renewable Energy Group is focused on converting natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels. With more than 255 million gallons of owned/operated annual production capacity at biorefineries across the country, REG is a proven biodiesel partner in the distillate marketplace.
Category: Fuel & Oil, General Update, Green
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