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Ground was broken on this week in Algona, Iowa, for the state's first 60-million-gallon biodiesel plant.

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) has partnered with East Fork Biodiesel of Algona in this biodiesel project, taking a minority interest in the plant while also providing construction services.

Construction is underway for the $70 million plant and production is expected to begin in approximately 12 months. The commercial-scale plant will use soybean oil as its primary feedstock. Construction plans also call for the development of a pre-treatment area for other types of feedstock, including animal fats or other oils.

Overall, the project is expected to net about 100 jobs during the construction phase and more than 25 new jobs as the plant opens. Forecasted annual biodiesel sales for East Fork Biodiesel are $144.6 million.

Ground was broken on this week in Algona, Iowa, for the state's first 60-million-gallon biodiesel plant.

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biodiesel vivian bal 04/24/2012 @ 5:07am Previously, talking biodiesel meant referring to a small fringe group. Biodiesel, however, is now large business, with the problems that many large businesses face. Biodiesel slowly becoming more commercially viable. It's with the so called Syntroleum that uses animal byproducts, including fat, sinews and tallow, to create what is called a drop-in biodiesel fuel. This drop-in fuel can be used directly in place of oil-based diesel fuel, has lower particulate emissions and burns much more cleanly than traditional diesel fuel.

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