The biodiesel biorefinery located in Danville, Illinois is showing off its new upgrades and enhancements. REG, the owner of the 45 million gallon per year biodiesel plant that has expanded from 8 acres to nearly 30 acres, invested $34.5 million into the facility. REG hosted a public celebration to showcase the completed project that included a ribbon cutting. On hand for the event was Illinois Congressman John Shimkus (R) as well as area civic and business leaders and contractors involved in the project.
In order to enable the biodiesel plant to utilize a wider array of low-carbon feedstocks, the upgrades included the addition of a biodiesel distillation unit along with various manufacturing improvements. The project also included several logistical improvements including an additional truck loadout, new warehouse and office space. With the acquisition and integration of the neighboring Bunge facility, the biodiesel biorefinery now has an additional 13 million gallons of feedstock and biofuel storage, that according to REG, will significantly improve year-round production and storage capability.
“This is a culmination of more than two years of work not just within REG, but also with our contractors, our longtime lending partner Fifth Third Bank, the city of Danville, Vermillion County, and local residents,” said REG President and CEO Daniel Oh. “We now have a stronger REG Danville that can produce high quality, lower carbon intensity biofuel from a wider variety of crude raw materials in a part of the country where they are abundant.”
Renewable Energy Group celebrated the completion of $34.5 million in upgrades to its Danville, IL biorefinery. Pictured (L to R)—Gary Haer, REG Vice President, Sales & Marketing; Cong. John Shimkus (R-IL); Brad Albin, Vice President, Manufacturing; Mike Jackson, REG Board Member; Chad Stone, Chief Financial Officer; Daniel Oh, President and CEO; Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer; Natalie Merrill, REG Vice President & Chief of Staff; Paul Calamari, REG Danville Plant Manager; and Bruce Lutes, REG Danville General Manager. (Photo: Business Wire)
Among the speakers was Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, a senior member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and long-time biodiesel advocate. “Biodiesel adds value to the economy and it helps improve the environment, supports jobs throughout the supply chain and strengthens our energy security,” he said.
REG acquired the Danville biorefinery in 2010 from Blackhawk Biofuels, LLC. It is one of the company’s 11 biomass-based diesel refineries across the U.S. that have a combined nameplate production capacity of 452 million gallons annually, making REG the leading producer of advanced biofuels in North America.