Renew Kansas hosted Congressman Kevin Yoder‘s tour of East Kansas Agri-Energy (EKAE) located in Garnett, Kansas. While touring the facility, the Congressman and his staff heard from EKAE’s President and CEO Jeff Oestmann about the many opportunities and challenges facing the industry. Last month, EKAE celebrated its 10 year anniversary.

(l-r) Ron Seeber, Renew Kansas; Jeff Oestmann, EKAE President and CEO; Jacob DeBolt, EKAE Plant Manager; Congressman Kevin Yoder; and Greg Krissek, Kansas Corn.

Congressman Yoder learned that the plant produces more than 40 million gallons of renewable, clean-burning ethanol, 200,000 tons of livestock feed distillers grains and 5 million pounds of corn oil each year from more than 16 million bushels of locally-sourced corn. The Congressman was informed of the many positive impacts the ethanol industry has on the local, state, and national economies and was briefed on and witnessed the progress of the renewable diesel plant now under construction at the EKAE facility. Additionally, he also learned of their stellar work place safety with over 750,000 hours of operation without a lost time accident.

Renew Kansas thanked Congressman Yoder for taking the time to travel to Garnett and participate in a hands-on ethanol education. The Congressman is currently serving as Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.