ALGONA-Plant officials and community leaders were on hand on Nov. 30 to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the East Fork Biodiesel plant near Algona. Algona mayor Lynn Kueck, county supervisors Don McGregor and Don Tietz, state representatives Jack Kibbie and Delores Mertz as well as the president of Renewable Energy Group Nile Ramsbottom and president of the East Fork Biodiesel facility David Rosenmeyer and manager Lance White were all present at the ribbon cutting.
"We are excited that East Fork Biodiesel LLC will soon be in operation. This is another big step toward Iowa's renewable energy future," said Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board.
"Renewable fuels have helped lead a change across the country and the world," Kibbie said. "We're not using enough bio-fuels here in Iowa. We're not using any more E10 than we did in 2005. That all comes back to the fuel or food argument. We need to be educating people about that."
"There's something wrong with the fact that even though there isn't a shortage of fuel, there is no bio-diesel fuel here in Clear Lake and Milford, meaning that we have to send truck drivers to Des Moines or Omaha to get fuel. There's something wrong that the cost of gas is over $0.10 higher a gallon than it is in Des Moines."
Kibbie also said it is sad that the cost of bio-fuel is $0.10 higher than that of regular fuel, and that he met with Gov. Culver to discuss the agenda of next year for the Energy and Farm bills.
"By taking measures in these industries, Iowa shouldn't be measured as a red or blue state but as a green state, " Mertz said.
"This is one of the largest bio-diesel plants in the state of Iowa," Ramsbottom said. "That's something we should all feel proud of. Fifteen-hundred people invested in this plant, putting their belief and money behind this new technology. R.E.G. is proud to be a partner with this facility."
East Fork....see page A2
East Fork
From page A1
Ramsbottom even touted some of the benefits of fueling with bio-diesel. Any diesel engine can use bio-fuel to power itself. There are limited carbon emissions from using bio-fuels. The more bio-fuels produced locally means less imports from foreign oil companies. The crops are renewable and can be replenished locally and building bio-diesel plants adds more refining capability to the United States.
Following the speakers, the board of directors of the East Fork Biodiesel plant came forward to cut the ribbon, along with Mertz, Rosenmeyer, Kibbie and Ramsbottom. The board includes members Kenneth M. Clark, Mike Duffy, Dale Mechler, Michael Kohlhaas, Larry Sterk, Dean Ulrich, Jack Limbaugh, James Meyer, Allen Kramer, Akshay Mahadevia, Dan Muller and Lennon Brandt.
"The best thing for Algona is the new jobs created here," Kueck said. "There's the possibility of 36 more people being hired there, which can attract new families and children to the area.
"This plant is great for Kossuth County and economic development here," Rosenmeyer said. "It's great that Kossuth County is bringing new things to this community, including the Hydrogen Engine Center, East Fork Biodiesel and wind energy facilities. It's great that Kossuth County is breaking ground for those living in Kossuth County."
East Fork Biodiesel LLC has the capacity to produce 60 million gallons of biodiesel each year, making it the largest biodiesel facility in Iowa and the Midwest. Construction of the plant created more than 100 jobs, bringing economic development to Algona, Kossuth County and the region.
The facility, when it is at the height of its production, can produce 188,000 gallons of bio-diesel fuel a day and plans to employ 36 employees. The first tentative day the bio-diesel plant was up and running was on Tuesday, Dec. 4.