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Contact:  John Wright, Owensboro Grain
270.929.1465

50 Million Gallon Biodiesel Plant Opening in Kentucky

Owensboro, KY…August 18, 2007 – Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher will be joined by U.S. Congressmen Ron Lewis and Ed Whitfield in Owensboro, August 29^th at 10:00 am CST, to celebrate the opening of one of the nation’s largest Biodiesel production plants. 

The plant is the largest Biodiesel production plant in Kentucky and one of the largest in the nation. John Wright, VP of Strategic Planning & Development, and a 4^th generation family operator of Owensboro Grain says that fuel quality will be of utmost importance. “This is a multi million dollar investment by Owensboro Grain. We have selected a technology that will give us the ability t meet today’s American fuel quality standard and future fuel standards as they evolve” said Wright. “A grant from the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board and a low interest loan from the Agriculture Finance Corporation are well invested for the future” he added.

Owensboro Grain broke ground on the plant in May of 2006.  It is expected to produce 50 million gallons annually from soybean oil. The plant will utilize soybeans from Kentucky and across the region.  Kentucky produces 54 million bushels of soybeans annually with 11 pounds of oil processed from each bushel.  Owensboro Grain produces 75 million gallons of soy oil each year currently at its vegetable oil refinery.  The Biodiesel plant is located adjacent to that refinery.

There are now 148 plants operating throughout the country with an average plant size of 9.5 million gallons annually.  National production is expected to exceed 300 million gallons this year, up from 25 million gallons in 2004.  “The Owensboro Grain plant will further our industry’s goals to augment America’s energy independence by providing environmentally friendly, domestically produced renewable fuels,”  said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board.  “Plants like these add valuable refining capacity to our nation’s fuel supply.  They also contribute to the local economy while stimulating the agricultural sector.  That’s a positive step for Kentucky and for the nation.”

Biodiesel is a renewable transportation and stationary fuel made from vegetable oil or animal fat and can be blended with diesel fuel.  It significantly reduces emissions.

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