Missouri’s First Large Scale Biodiesel Plant Breaks Ground
Mid-America Biofuels to Begin Production in 2006

MEXICO, Mo.– The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) congratulated Mid-America Biofuels, LLC, today on breaking ground on the largest soy biodiesel plant in Missouri. The Mexico, Mo. plant, a partnership of Biofuels, LLC; Archer Daniels Midland (ADM); Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, Inc.; MFA Oil Co.; and GROWMARK, Inc., will have an annual production capacity of 30 million gallons.

Soy biodiesel, an alternative to traditional petroleum-based diesel fuel, is made from soybean oil. It burns cleaner than traditional diesel, can be used in any diesel engine with few or no engine modifications and is a renewable source of fuel.

“Biodiesel demand is growing fast, and we believe Missouri is the right place to produce biodiesel and fill that demand,” said Warren Stemme, a Missouri farmer in St. Charles County and president of Mid-America Biofuels, LLC. “Additionally, we have an unbeatable team in place with each member providing resources and experience which is sure to make Mid-America Biofuels a huge success.” Stemme is also in the Missouri Soybean Association, as well as a director of NBB.

The central Missouri majority farmer-owned plant includes nearly 400 farmers.

“Biodiesel is an American soybean farmer success story, and the national effort started right here with Missouri soybean farmers, and has now emanated throughout the country,” said Joe Jobe, chief executive officer of NBB. “One of the first public fuel pumps in the nation to offer B20 was at a Conoco station in Jefferson City, and now there are more than 600 nationwide, and more than 500 fleets using the cleaner fuel including the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA. It is rewarding to see the effort come full circle with a major farmer-owned biodiesel production facility in Missouri that will benefit Missouri agriculture and Missouri jobs.”

Governor Matt Blunt, Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) and Representative Kenny Hulshof (R-MO) were on hand at the announcement. Senators Bond and Jim Talent (R-MO) and Rep. Hulshof were instrumental earlier in the year with Energy and Transportation bills’ passage, which both contained key biodiesel provisions. The number one priority of the biodiesel industry - extension of the federal tax incentive – was passed in the Energy Bill with an extension through 2008, along with a Renewable Fuels Standard of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012 and a small producer incentive that will help the plant take root.

Biodiesel reduces emissions and poses no threat to human health. It is nontoxic, biodegradable and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics, significantly reducing emissions of carbon monoxide, particulate matter, unburned hydrocarbons and sulfates. On a lifecycle basis, biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide by 78 percent compared to petroleum diesel, making it the most effective greenhouse gas mitigation technology currently available for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. It has the highest energy balance of any fuel and can be used in its pure form, or blended with petroleum diesel at any level. Biodiesel offers similar fuel economy, horsepower and torque to petroleum diesel while providing superior lubricity.

Mid-America Biofuels plans to begin operating at full capacity within a year. There are currently 45 plants operating nationwide.

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