Domestic Fuel

A biodiesel plant that will make biodiesel from animal fats has broken ground in Louisiana.

This story from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette says that Tyson Foods, Inc. of Springdale, Arkansas and Syntroleum Corp. of Tulsa, Ok. have formed a joint venture called Dynamic Fuels with the biodiesel plant expected to open late next year in Geismar, La., just outside Baton Rouge:

The plant will use a patent-pending technology developed by Syntroleum to make high-grade biodiesel and jet fuels from Tyson-produced nonfood grade animal fats such as beef tallow, pork lard, chicken fat and greases, a news release from Tyson stated.

Jeff Webster, senior vice president and general manager of Tyson Foods’ renewable products group, said the demand for biofuels should remain steady despite recent reductions in the price of crude oil and refined gasoline.

Jeffrey Bigger, director of the Dynamic Fuels LLC management committee, said the plant is the first such fuel production facility in the United States.

The plant is expected to produce 75 million gallons of biodiesel a year., the news release states.