Renewable Energy Group Inc. announced June 27 it is establishing a Monarch Fueling Station at its plant near Newton, Iowa.

The monarch habitat will span roughly one-and-a-half acres. The biorefinery will start the process by spraying to eradicate nonnative grasses this summer and again this fall. A dormant seeding of native plants and milkweed this November will follow the fall spraying.

“Creating our Monarch Fueling Station is a great project that REG Newton is proud to be adding to our facility,” said Phil Abels, plant manager. “Protecting the environment is what REG does every day and providing habitat for pollinators is something all of us at REG Newton can get excited about and participate in. This effort is a great way to make an immediate impact on preserving the longevity of Iowa’s wildlife."   

The location and size of the plot was decided in consultation with Kevin Reynolds, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s habitat establishment coordinator.

“Phil and his team at REG Newton are passionate about this project,” Reynolds said. “I look forward to seeing their Monarch Fueling Station grow and make a difference for the monarch butterfly.”

The Monarch Fueling Station Project was established by IRFA in partnership with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium in December 2017. It is a program to help Iowa’s ethanol and biodiesel plants establish monarch habitat on plant grounds.