Company plans corn oil extraction plant

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 1:08 PM CST

JEFFERSON - Renew Oil LLC in Jefferson has submitted a permit application to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that includes plans and specifications for the construction of a corn oil extraction plant that would be located adjacent to the Renew Energy ethanol production facility along state Highway 26.

The DNR has made a preliminary determination that the application meets state and federal air pollution control requirements and that it should be approved.

According to Janell Tatro, a construction coordinator with Renew Oil, the local company is looking to construct four buildings at a total of approximately 52,000 square feet. The facilities would grind close to 438,000 tons of corn meal annually and produce 28.5 million gallons of food-grade corn oil, Tatro said. She added the co-product would be sold as animal feed.

Construction costs are estimated at $30 million and Tatro said Renew Oil would ensure it produces the highest quality of food-grade corn oil and value feed ingredients that are available anywhere.

With the new corn oil extraction plant, Renew Oil would add about 35 employees and annually provide $1.6 million in compensation to the local economy, Tatro said. The project would also have a peak of 200 construction jobs, she added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tatro said the facilities would also provide value-added support for area farms and businesses.

The corn oil plant in Jefferson would be the only one in Wisconsin, Tatro said.

A public hearing on the permit application will be held in room 205 of the Jefferson County Courthouse on Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m.

All of the comments at the public hearing will be considered by the DNR in its final decision regarding the project.