Renewable Energy Group (REG) has announced it is increasing the annual capacity of its Ralston, IA biodiesel plant to 30 million gallons. Once the company’s largest biodiesel facility at 12 million gallons per year, over time it became REG’s smallest nameplate capacity. When the plant was built in 2001, it was a division of West Central Cooperative, now Landus Corporation. REG is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the project on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 where Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will be a speaker.

REG Ralston is a 12 million gallon per year nameplate capacity biorefinery in Ralston, Iowa. REG announced today the company will increase Ralston’s capacity to 30 million gallons.

“Ralston is where it all began for REG and the experience and lessons we have learned, and are still learning, have helped our company grow into what it is today,” said Daniel J. Oh, President and CEO.

The REG Ralston expansion announcement comes on the heels of Landus Cooperative expanding their adjacent soy crush operation.

“On behalf of our farmer-owners, we look forward to finalizing plans with REG for their expansion as another way to add value to our soybeans via oil utilization at the Ralston biorefinery,” said John Scott, an Odebolt, Iowa farmer and President of the Landus Cooperative Board of Directors.

Brad Albin, REG vice president, manufacturing, added, “With a greater, adjacent feedstock supply and continuous improvements at REG Ralston, this capacity expansion is a logical investment. We look forward to more good things from this outstanding biorefinery and our continued relationship with Landus Cooperative.”

Once completed, the Ralston expansion would increase REG’s cumulative nameplate capacity from its 11 active biomass-based diesel plants across the country to 470 million gallons annually.