FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lucy Norton, Managing Director, 515-225-9242
Monte Shaw, Executive Director, 515-225-9242

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

East Fork Biodiesel Begins Construction on Biodiesel Refinery near Algona
Biodiesel Refinery Will Be Largest in Iowa

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today congratulated East Fork Biodiesel, LLC for beginning construction on its biodiesel refinery near Algona, Iowa.  The facility will process soybean oil into 60 million gallons of biodiesel and 6 million gallons of glycerin annually.

“East Fork Biodiesel certainly raised the bar for biodiesel production in Iowa,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA Executive Director.  “This locally owned project will be the largest biodiesel producer in Iowa and one of the largest in the entire U.S.  The positive economic impact of this state-of-the-art facility will be felt throughout the Algona region.”

East Fork Biodiesel President Ken Clark stated:  “Our goal was to provide an excellent investment opportunity for Iowans, manufacture high quality renewable energy to reduce demand for foreign oil, and create good paying jobs.  We believe East Fork Biodiesel will accomplish all of these things.”

The refinery is being built by the Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG).  REG was formed through the combination of West Central’s biodiesel business and REG, LLC’s biodiesel plant construction business.  REG is the leading marketer of B100 and is the only full service biodiesel company offering plant management, risk management, raw material procurement, plant construction, and biodiesel marketing.

“Renewable Energy Group is proud to partner with the members of East Fork Biodiesel to construct Iowa's largest commercial scale, state-of-the-art biodiesel plant,” said Jeff Stroburg, CEO of Renewable Energy Group, Inc. “We look forward to working with East Fork Biodiesel to market high quality biodiesel as well as managing the operations of this 60 mgy facility.”

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Currently, Iowa has 14 biodiesel refineries with a combined annual capacity of over 315 million gallons either in operation or under construction.  In addition, Iowa has 25 ethanol refineries with the capacity to produce nearly 1.6 billion gallons annually.  There are 8 ethanol refineries under construction or expansion that will add 575 million gallons of annual capacity.   Many additional renewable fuels projects are under development.

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.