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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Monte Shaw, 515-252-6249
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13 , 2008
Over $10,000 in Biodiesel Donated for the Parkersburg Tornado Recovery Effort
GATX Rail Donates Thousands to Help Parkersburg
JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and plants in the Ames-based Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) network today announced that they raised over $10,000 in biodiesel donations to assist the recovery of Parkersburg and surrounding communities from the recent devastating EF5 tornado.
To prime the pump, IRFA, REG, Western Iowa Energy (Wall Lake), Iowa Renewable Energy (Washington), Western Dubuque Biodiesel (Farley), and Central Iowa Energy (Newton) each donated $500 toward purchasing biodiesel to fuel the numerous diesel generators, bulldozers, trucks, tractors and other heavy equipment the cleanup effort will require.
“First wind and now rain is challenging our fellow Iowans,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA Executive Director. “It comes as no surprise that Iowans have once again rallied to the aid of others. We felt that donating biodiesel to the recovery effort would be a uniquely Iowa way of lending a hand. We are deeply grateful to the numerous Iowans who donated five dollars and to those groups going above and beyond by donating hundreds or thousands of dollars.”
In addition to the dozens of individual Iowans who generously donated to the relief effort, three groups stood out.
GATX Rail owns or manages approximately 161,000 railcars of all types, and is one of
the largest railcar lessors in North America and to the biodiesel industry.
- KCPS Radio (West Burlington, Iowa)
KCPS challenged their listeners to help and they responded with nearly $1000 in donations.
- Iowa Biodiesel Board (IBB)
IBB is a voluntary nonprofit organization that promotes the commercial success of biodiesel
in Iowa throughout the supply chain from producers to end users.
Nile Ramsbottom, President of REG stated, “We could think of no better way to help our neighbors than by making a donation of the fuel we produce each day. We hope this biodiesel will fuel their community spirit as well as their recovery equipment.”
Bob’s Farm Center in Conrad and Wellsburg Ag in Wellsburg are partnering to distribute the fuel to those in need.
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Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production. Iowa has 14 biodiesel refineries with a combined annual capacity of nearly 320 million gallons in operation. Two biodiesel refineries under construction will add 35 million gallons of capacity. In addition, Iowa has 29 ethanol refineries with the capacity to produce over 2.2 billion gallons annually. There are 14 ethanol refineries under construction or expansion that will add nearly 1.5 billion gallons of annual capacity. Many additional renewable fuels projects are under development.
About Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s ethanol and biodiesel producers. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.
For more information, please contact Alicia Clancy at 515-239-8118, (C) 515-450-9692 or alicia.clancy@regfuel.com
About Renewable Energy Group, Inc.
Renewable Energy Group, Inc., (REG) is a biodiesel industry sales leader and is a full-service biodiesel company offering plant management, risk management, raw material procurement, plant construction management, and biodiesel production, sales and marketing services. REG’s network of biodiesel production facilities includes a wholly owned biodiesel plant and management of third party-owned plants. Renewable Energy Group, Inc., markets biodiesel to fuel distributors and customers in many industries including on-highway fleets, municipal transit authorities, maritime, military, home heating and agriculture industries.
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