About 300 investors, workers and local officials toured the new Producers’ Choice Soy Energy biodiesel plant near the north-central Missouri town of Moberly over the weekend.

After a ceremonial ribbon cutting, officials said the 5-million-gallon-a-year refinery should be cranking out biodiesel sometime this summer:

David Zielke, the CEO for Producers’ Choice said “This project has created jobs, stimulated the economy, and provided a new market for area soybean producers.” He also recognized the efforts of the Board and the investors. “Biodiesel production is just one component of this operation. This facility combines state-of-the art technology. It’s a showplace for how to create renewable fuels and add value to our agricultural economy.”

Mark Johnston, the president of Process Concepts which designed and built the plant was also on hand for the ceremony. “Our company has built a number of biodiesel projects in the Midwest, but this one is easily the best combination of technology and planning. The PCSE Board deserves a lot of credit for its vision and efforts.”

The $17.5 million plant will make biodiesel out of soybeans and animal fat and produce 65,000 tons of bean meal annually.