Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc.
March 17, 2014
BY Erin Krueger
Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. has announced the restart of its Otter Tail ethanol plant. The 60 MMgy facility located near Fergus Falls, Minn., was temporarily idled after a March 10 fire. According to information released by GPRE, the facility began producing ethanol again on March 16.
The fire broke out in the plant’s dryer system at approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 10. Information released by GPRE indicates the facility will produce “wet cake” until the dryer system can be repaired, which may take approximately 60 days.
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No injuries were reported due to the fire. Jim Stark, vice president of investor and media relations at GPRE, previously told Ethanol Producer Magazine that the fire deluge system performed as designed, helping to contain the fire.
GPRE owns 12 ethanol plants. The Otter Tail facility accounts for approximately 5 percent of the company’s total ethanol production.
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