Renewable Energy Group Inc. announced plans Nov. 1 to spend $24 million expanding production capacity at its first biodiesel plant, the 12 MMgy Ralston, Iowa, continuous flow facility built in 2001. The expansion would more than double capacity at the plant to 30 MMgy. REG plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Election Day, Nov. 8, with Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad as the featured speaker.

When the Ralston plant was built, REG was a division of the former West Central Cooperative (now Landus Cooperative). At the time, it was the largest biodiesel production facility in the U.S. A decade and a half later, the facility has become the company’s smallest biodiesel plant.

“Ralston is where it all began for REG and the experience and lessons we have learned, and are still learning, have helped our company grow into what it is today,” said Daniel J. Oh, president and CEO.

REG stated that the announcement to expand Ralston comes on the heels of Landus Cooperative expanding its adjacent soy crush operation.

“On behalf of our farmer-owners, we look forward to finalizing plans with REG for their expansion as another way to add value to our soybeans via oil utilization at the Ralston biorefinery,” said John Scott, an Odebolt, Iowa, farmer and president of the Landus Cooperative board of directors.

“With a greater, adjacent feedstock supply and continuous improvements at REG Ralston, this capacity expansion is a logical investment,” said Brad Albin, REG vice president of manufacturing. “We look forward to more good things from this outstanding biorefinery and our continued relationship with Landus Cooperative.”

When complete, the Ralston expansion would increase REG’s cumulative nameplate capacity to 470 MMgy from its 11 active U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel plants.