News

Iowa biodiesel plant completes upgrades

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has completed upgrades to its 30-million gallon biorefinery in Mason City, Iowa.

The upgrades will allow the plant to produce biodiesel from a wider variety of raw materials such as inedible corn oil, animal fats and greases.  That’s in addition to the refined vegetable oils the plant was originally designed to process.

REG officials says the increased feedstock flexibility will help lower input costs while still producing a high-quality biomass-based diesel.  They say they’re well-positioned to meet growing demand in Iowa, with its retail incentive for advanced biofuels, and in Minnesota as it increases its use of high biodiesel blends.

REG acquired the idled Mason City plant from Soy Energy LLC in July 2013 and reopened the facility three months later.