VeraSun Energy Announces Startup of Dyersville, Iowa, Ethanol Biorefinery
Brookings, USA - VeraSun Energy Corp., one of the USA's largest ethanol producers, announced the startup of its 110 million gallon per year (MMGY) ethanol biorefinery located near Dyersville, Iowa.
"We are pleased to bring another large-scale, environmentally friendly ethanol production facility on-line in the state of Iowa," VeraSun CEO Don Endres said. "The state continues to be a leader in renewable fuels production, helping our nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. We commend the Dyersville community, its leadership, and the local corn producers for making this day a reality."
According to the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, VeraSun Dyersville is the 32nd operating biorefinery in Iowa, increasing overall annual production capacity in the state to almost 2.5 billion gallons. The Dyersville facility is VeraSun's fifth production facility in Iowa, joining other 110MMGY biorefineries in Albert City, Charles City, Fort Dodge, and Hartley. At 550MMGY of annual production capacity, VeraSun is the largest ethanol producer in the state.
Located on approximately 200 acres west of Dyersville, construction on the facility began in October 2006. The biorefinery will annually process approximately 39 million bushels of corn and produce about 350,000 tons of distillers grains for livestock feed, in addition to employing approximately 55 workers. VeraSun took ownership of the plant on April 1, 2008, following its merger with U.S. BioEnergy.
VeraSun Dyersville is the fifth VeraSun facility to come on-line this year, joining sister production facilities in Marion, S.D., Bloomingburg, Ohio, Hankinson, N.D., and Hartley, Iowa.
Source: IWR Online, 08 Sep 2008
