The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) recently congratulated the 875 farmer-owners of Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) on the groundbreaking for an expansion which will double the production capacity of their plant.

"Farmers continue to lead the way in expanding the ethanol industry," said Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association. "I congratulate the farmer-owners of CVEC on the beginning of this project. With the demand for ethanol growing around the country, we are seeing not only new ethanol plants being built, but a series of expansions to existing facilities." CVEC, located in Benson, Minnesota, currently produces more than 20 million gallons of ethanol per year. Production will continue as the plant expands to a total of 40 mmgy production capacity. The expansion should be complete by March of 2003. CVEC is managing the construction project and has secured the services of Delta-T Corporation for process design.

"The owners and employees of the CVEC believe the time is right to do our part to meet the nation's increasing needs for renewable transportation fuel," said Bill Lee, CVEC general manager. "With this project, CVEC will be able to expand the many benefits we have brought to our shareholders and our community over the past six years. We are confident that our expanded facility, which will incorporate the latest processing and environmental controls technologies, will help keep CVEC a cost-competitive producer in a growing industry."