Iowa Opens New Biodiesel Production Facility

Newton, Iowa [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) and Central Iowa Energy, LLC (CIE) provided Iowa state and local officials with an early look at the new CIE biodiesel facility in Newton, which opened last month and adds more than 30 million additional gallons of soy-based biodiesel production annually.

The CIE plant in Newton is Iowa-owned, adds 30 new jobs to the central Iowa economy, and will increase the biodiesel supply within the state to more than 197 million gallons annually (mgy), keeping Iowa at the national forefront of the renewable fuels industry. “As a national leader in renewable fuel production and marketing, we are very proud of this plant and the expansion that has been made here in central Iowa,” said Nile Ramsbottom, president, REG. “We believe in the talent and vision of Iowans to shape this industry, and the CIE plant is a testament to that commitment.” Jim Johnston, chairman of the board, Central Iowa Energy, said, “We have worked hard the past two years to make the dream of this facility a reality, and we know this is only the beginning. The future is very bright for renewable fuels and for everyone whose lives will be touched by this tremendous facility.” Two more REG-built and managed plants are slated to open in late summer or early fall, in the Iowa communities of Washington and Farley. With the CIE Newton plant, and these two new planned facilities, REG’s network will expand to more than 212 million gallons of biodiesel capacity nationally by year-end.