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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                      Press Contact:  Monte Shaw
April 2, 2007                                                                                                             515-252-6249

Tri-City Energy Begins Production at Biodiesel Refinery near Keokuk

Iowa Now Has Nine Biodiesel Refineries in Operation

JOHNSTON, IA – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) today congratulated Tri-City Energy for beginning production at its biodiesel refinery in Keokuk, Iowa.  The facility processes soybean oil into 5 million gallons of biodiesel and 500,000 gallons of glycerin annually.

            “It’s exciting to see a renewable fuels facility ‘renew’ a downtown industrial location,” said Monte Shaw, IRFA Executive Director.  “Tri-City Energy has made a commitment to quality.  Their investment in a full-scale lab to ensure quality should serve them well in the growing biodiesel marketplace.”

Tri-City Energy converted a former General Mills facility into a biodiesel refinery using a process design provided by Technochem, of Ames, Iowa.  In the future, Tri-City Energy plans to construct a soybean crushing facility and an additional 30 million gallon biodiesel production facility located on the Mississippi riverfront in Keokuk.

“We shipped our first load of high quality biodiesel on March 19,” said Al Moander, Sales and Marketing Manager for Tri-City.  “The plant now operates 24 hours a day and transport trucks are in and out every day.  We’re very excited about our quality product and have been very well received throughout the region.”

            A complete list of Iowa’s biodiesel refineries can be found at:  www.IowaRFA.org/biodiesel_refineries.php

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 9 biodiesel refineries with a combined annual capacity of over 137 million gallons in operation.  Five biodiesel refineries under construction will add 180 million gallons of capacity.  In addition, Iowa has 26 ethanol refineries with the capacity to produce over 1.7 billion gallons annually.  There are 21 ethanol refineries under construction or expansion that will add 1.6 billion 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.