Renewable Energy Group Inc. celebrated the formal opening of the newest addition to its fleet of biomass-based diesel refineries Sept. 14 with a ribbon cutting at REG Grays Harbor LLC.

REG leaders were joined by state and local business, government and community leaders for the ceremony marking the transition to REG’s ownership of the former Imperium Grays Harbor 100 MMgy biodiesel production and terminal facility.

“REG Grays Harbor’s addition to REG is a significant milestone for our company,” said Daniel J. Oh, president and CEO, noting that the plant is the company’s 11th, and now largest, biorefinery and its first West Coast production facility. “The transition has been seamless thanks to the dedicated employees here and to other teams within our company.”

Oh also thanked local government leaders in Hoquiam and Aberdeen for working with the company during the transition and praised the work of Washington’s congressional delegation and Gov. Jay Inslee for being champions of advanced biofuels.

Gary Haer, vice president of sales and marketing for REG, told the crowd that production at the Grays Harbor biorefinery will aid REG’s efforts to grow biodiesel sales along the West Coast region. “We can now serve customers and expand sales of high-quality REG 9000 fuel in Washington, Oregon, western Canada as well as increase sales throughout California to meet LCFS demand,” Haer said. “And with the multimodal capabilities at the terminal and port, we increase our flexibility to fulfill orders via the use of truckload, rail car, or Panamax class tanker shipments.”

Local leaders welcomed REG to the area business community. “Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for biodiesel production in Grays Harbor,” said Dru Garson, CEO of Greater Grays Harbor Inc. “We’re excited by the prospects of having REG as a community partner, as their track record of operating plants and reinvesting in the community is impressive.”

In addition to its production capacity, REG Grays Harbor has 18 million gallons of onsite storage and a terminal that can accommodate feedstock intake and fuel shipments by truck, rail and deep-water vessel. The plant employs 39 full-time employees.